<P> In 2016, Richmond failed to qualify for the finals for the first time in four years . Following a comprehensive Round 3 loss to Adelaide, coach Hardwick said the team would have to "take a little half - step back to go two steps forward ." It would go on to be the story of the season with several major defeats including one against Greater Western Sydney in which Richmond registered its lowest score since 1961 . The club debuted six players and brought in two recruits for their first games in the yellow and black . </P> <P> During the preseason period for 2016 / 17, Richmond made a number of changes to its playing list and coaching staff . Among these changes was the departure of Brett Deledio to Greater Western Sydney, in a three - way deal involving Geelong that saw the Tigers receive a 2017 first - round draft selection from the Cats, as well as a 2017 third - round selection from the Giants . Richmond also attained the services of Gold Coast Suns midfielder Dion Prestia, Geelong player Josh Caddy, and young Sydney Swans ruckman Toby Nankervis in preparation for the 2017 season . </P> <P> Richmond began 2017 with 5 straight wins, a feat it had not achieved since 1995 . A series of close losses hampered the Tigers throughout the middle of the season, including a 5 - point loss to the Western Bulldogs, 2 - point loss to Fremantle, and a 3 - point loss to the Giants . Richmond ended the season strongly with convincing victories over Fremantle and St Kilda in the final two rounds, elevating the club to 3rd on the ladder . Richmond's first final of the season against the Cats at the MCG attracted a record qualifying final crowd of 95,028; the Tigers won by 51 points . Having advanced to the first preliminary finals for the first time since 2001, Richmond defeated Greater Western Sydney by 36 points in front of a crowd of 94,258 to progress to the Grand Final against Adelaide, their first Grand Final appearance since 1982 . The attendance was 100,021, the largest crowd to a grand final since 1986 . The Crows led at quarter time and led by as many as 13, but the Tigers took over the game as it progressed and scored seven straight goals at one point . They eventually would win by 48 points--16.12 (108) to Adelaide's 8.12 (60)--to end their 37 - year flag drought . Dustin Martin also became the first player to win a Premiership medal, the Brownlow Medal and the Norm Smith Medal in the same season, while Damien Hardwick was named AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year . Richmond's jump from 13th to premiers also marked the biggest jump from one AFL season to the next . </P> <P> Initially, Richmond saw itself as a gentlemanly and sportsman - like club; it even went to the extent of sacking a player who used poor language . During the early 1900s, the club used the press as a forum to publicise a campaign against violence in the game, which earned the derision of some rival clubs . This image followed the club into the VFL in 1908 and during the First World War the club emphasised the number of men associated with the club who had enlisted and served overseas . But the club's actions in 1916, when it voted with three other clubs seen as representative of the working class (Collingwood, Fitzroy and Carlton) to continue playing football, left no doubt as to which side of the class divide that the Tigers belonged . The club's self - consciously non-confrontational image can be partly attributed to two of long serving presidents--George Bennett (1887--1908) and Frank Tudor (1909--1918). Both were Richmond men and respected parliamentarians who took the view that how the game was played was more important than whether the game was won . </P>

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