2013 – Elimination Final v Carlton
The Tigers were heavily fancied heading into the finals last year after finishing the season fifth. But question marks still hung over them in terms of their performances against Carlton. Just three weeks earlier, the Blues overcame a big quarter-time deficit before defeating Richmond, ending any chance of Damien Hardwick’s side sneaking into the top four. But surely, in their first final since 2001, the Tigers would prove good for a Carlton team that only made September after Essendon were booted out. That looked the case as Richmond dominated the first half and led by 32 points early in the third quarter. But five goals in eight minutes saw Carlton storm back into the contest to win the day by 20 points in front of a massive 94,960 people.
Steven Morris of the Tigers reacts after giving a free kick away to Eddie Betts of the Blues during the 2013 First Elimination Final. Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images
2009 - Round 1 v Carlton
The fall from grace didn't come much bigger for Tigers fans than 2009. The previous year, Richmond finished their season with a flurry, winning eight of their last 11 games to finish, you guessed it, in ninth. But times were still good. Richo had almost nabbed the 2008 Brownlow and the Tigers had just recruited an experienced campaigner to boost their midfield in Ben Cousins. Memberships were going through the roof and everything appeared set for a big challenge in 2009. That was until their Round 1 clash with Carlton. It proved the greatest of train wrecks as Cousins hurt his hamstring but was sent back into the field only to hurt it more severely. On top of those dramas, they conceded eight goals to three in the first quarter and were on their way to an 83-point loss. Worse was to follow as the Tigers lost eight of their first nine games to effectively end Terry Wallace's tenure at the club. From such high hopes, Wallace eventually stood down midway through the season to be replaced by Jade Rawlings.
2005 - Round 10 v Melbourne
Under Wallace, Richmond stormed into third on the ladder with seven wins from the first nine rounds in 2005. Wallace's side appeared an unstoppable force and looked to have found some real steel as they blew Collingwood apart in Round 8 with an eight-goal final term. That was until one of the most shocking moments in recent years as talismanic forward Nathan Brown horrifically snapped his leg in the Round 10 clash with Melbourne. Shellshocked by the injury, the Tigers lost that match and only managed a further three wins as they slumped to 12th by the end of the year.
Nathan Brown lies on the ground after breaking his leg during the 2005 round 10 match. Photo by Sean Garnsworthy/Getty Images
2001 - Qualifying Final v Essendon
What a difference a week makes. Richmond made the finals in 2001 but their final-round clash with reigning premiers Essendon was shrouded in controversy. Although the Bombers were blistering during the first half of this season, the latter stages of 2001 saw them drop their form somewhat even if they finished on top of the ladder. With that in mind, Essendon appeared to have wanted to avoid a clash with old foes Carlton during the first week of finals, a game that would have eventuated had Richmond lost to Essendon in Round 22 and slumped to fifth on the ladder. Instead, the Bombers lost their final round clash to the Tigers by 24 points, meaning the Tigers finished fourth and set up a qualifying final date with Essendon the following week. Richmond fans may have been daring to dream, but the Bombers soon turned it around as they slaughtered the hapless Tigers by 70 points. Richmond still made the preliminary final that season but were thrashed by eventual premier Brisbane by 68 points.
Matthew Lloyd is congratulated by teammates for having kicked his 100th for the season during the 2001 1st Qualifying Final. Photo by Mark Dadswell/ALLSPORT
2000 - Round 15 v Port Adelaide, Round 22 v Carlton
I may have been living in Edinburgh for the majority of that year but even Scotland wasn't far enough away to escape Richmond fans gloating at the prospect of finals football as the Tigers won nine out of 11 matches from Round 5 onwards. That was until the wheels fell off. The first indication of this was when they faced a Port Adelaide side that for much of 2000 were dreadful. But with Gavin Wanganeen booting four goals and Nick Stevens amassing 27 touches, Port proved too good for the Tigers as they won just their fourth match of the season. The result still didn't look likely to knock Richmond out of the finals but a one-point loss to Sydney in Round 21 meant they had to beat a heavily-fancied Carlton to make the eight. But as Scott Camporeale and Brendan Fevola kicked four goals apiece, the Blues romped away to a big win that consigned Richmond to ninth for a fourth time in seven seasons.
Brendan Fevola and Aaron Hamill share a laugh after their win in 2000. Photo by Darrin Braybrook/ALLSPORT
1998 - Round 22 v Melbourne
It promised to be a great day for Richmond fans. The sun was shining, the Tigers had won five of their last eight matches - including a 77-point belting of Brisbane the week before - and a finals spot beckoned if they could overcome Melbourne in the final round. In Round seven, Richmond, now under Jeff Gieschen's tutelage, had easily accounted for the Demons. But this Melbourne side had gained plenty of momentum during the back half of 1998 and proved an unstoppable force as they crushed Richmond's hopes with a brutal 76-point victory at the MCG. Once again the Tigers finished ninth and their brave challenge for a top-eight position was forgotten as Jeff Farmer took the mark of the year in this game at the same time.
Jeff Farmer flies high to take the Mark of the Year. Photo by Hamish Blair /Allsport
1996 - Round 22 v North Melbourne
Richmond made the finals in 1995 but any thoughts this would be a regular occurrence were dashed the following season, once again during the final round. Round 22 1996 will probably be remembered more for Jason Dunstall kicking 100 goals during the infamous Melbourne 'merger' match, but Tigers' fans will probably still be dwelling on a 32-point loss to eventual premiers North Melbourne that consigned them to ninth once again. Trailing the Kangaroos by just two points at three-quarter time, Robert Walls' side even dared to hit the lead during the final term But a five-goal performance from Craig Sholl ultimately broke the hearts of Tiger fans as North then kicked away, booting nine goals in the final term to win in style.
1994 - Round 24 v Geelong
Twelve years after Richmond last played in a Grand Final in 1982, the Tigers looked likely to return to September action in 1994. John Northey had led his team to eight wins from nine matches from Rounds 12 through to 20 but losses to Hawthorn (R21) and Carlton (R23) meant the Tigers needed to win their final-round clash with Geelong to make the eight. Heading into the game, Richmond were boosted by the fact their main rival for eighth position, Collingwood, were smashed on the Friday night by North Melbourne and just one more victory would see them head into September. However, what followed was a classic Richmond train wreck as Northey's side were humiliated by 76 points by a Cats outfit that ultimately lost the Grand Final to West Coast that year. Adding insult to injury, Richmond's loss allowed Collingwood to hang on to eighth position. It was the first of six times Richmond would finish ninth in the next 20 seasons and 'The Richmond Cup' was born.