are we still in the big 4 ?

[smokey_58au]

Collingwood Have alway's been the Most popular club in victoria (maybe with the exception of Essendon from 1995-2002). Richmond have never and will never be bigger then Collingwood. Collingwoods supporter base Australia Wide is twice as big as Richmonds. Collingwood also broke the all-tme attendace record in 2007 with 1,226,604 people attending collingwoods home and away matches!

Richmond have never been as big or bigger then Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton in my life time and I was born in 1981. Richmond's supporter base is very similar to Geelong, St.Kilda and Hawthorn. I don't know why they call it the Big 4 when it should only be the big 3 Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton.

In another 20 years Richmond will be like Melbourne once popular but now struggeling to survive.

Your ignorance shows through and to compound that you prove it to us by admitting you were born in 1981! I take it then that no-one prior to 1981 is still supporting an AFL team? Just a tiny bit of research would have done your case and credibility a lot of good but that's where your immaturity and ignorance rises to the top.

You are right about Collingwood's supporter base but did you know that Richmond figure in 4 of the all time top 10 highest attendances at any game? Did you also know that we figure in 3 of the all time top 10 home and away attendances? Did you know that 2007 we were ranked 6th in average home game attendances and 3rd in away games in the league? Not bad for a team that has perennially under-achieved since 1983 - right up there with the Collingwoods and Essendons and Carltons, and certainly far and away better than the Geelongs and St Kildas and Hawthorns. Don't make the foolish and naive mistake of thinking that the football world only started with your recent birth - Richmond has a huge supporter base and that will become 'painfully' obvious to you in the not too distant future.

And while we are on the subject about the size of your supporter base and bragging about your game attendance figures - how much more hypocritical can you be by being the loudest whingers in the league about Brisbane and Sydney's "unfair advantage" yet your club receives the most favourable draw with the most Melbourne games and least interstate travel EVERY single year, year in year out without fail? You get a leg up from the AFL every year and yet you can't stop bleating because you still can't come to terms with losing 2 Grand Finals to a team that was so superior to yours it was Brisbane 1st, daylight 2nd!

Take your plastic bat and plastic ball and go home - you're not fit to play with the big boys.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

You were born after we had our last major period of success you clown. We were the biggest club in the league and the first club to get 1 million fans to games in a season.

you cant keep on using luck of success as a excuse because every club could say if they had of won more premierships they would be more popular, Richmond are not the only club that can say this.Essendon and collingwood are a long way ahead of the rest and than carlton are an outright 3rd followed by richmond,geelong,stkilda and hawthorn

 

[Zzzur]

Its hard to debate whether we're part of the Big 4 because its not based on specific criteria like membership or on-field success, its about a lot of intangible things like the proud history and grandeur of our club, irrespective of current hardships. Richmond are like kings-in-exile, just waiting to regain our rightful glory.

 

[gopies1981]

Your ignorance shows through and to compound that you prove it to us by admitting you were born in 1981! I take it then that no-one prior to 1981 is still supporting an AFL team? Just a tiny bit of research would have done your case and credibility a lot of good but that's where your immaturity and ignorance rises to the top.

You are right about Collingwood's supporter base but did you know that Richmond figure in 4 of the all time top 10 highest attendances at any game? Did you also know that we figure in 3 of the all time top 10 home and away attendances? Did you know that 2007 we were ranked 6th in average home game attendances and 3rd in away games in the league? Not bad for a team that has perennially under-achieved since 1983 - right up there with the Collingwoods and Essendons and Carltons, and certainly far and away better than the Geelongs and St Kildas and Hawthorns. Don't make the foolish and naive mistake of thinking that the football world only started with your recent birth - Richmond has a huge supporter base and that will become 'painfully' obvious to you in the not too distant future.

And while we are on the subject about the size of your supporter base and bragging about your game attendance figures - how much more hypocritical can you be by being the loudest whingers in the league about Brisbane and Sydney's "unfair advantage" yet your club receives the most favourable draw with the most Melbourne games and least interstate travel EVERY single year, year in year out without fail? You get a leg up from the AFL every year and yet you can't stop bleating because you still can't come to terms with losing 2 Grand Finals to a team that was so superior to yours it was Brisbane 1st, daylight 2nd!

Take your plastic bat and plastic ball and go home - you're not fit to play with the big boys.

If u honestly think Richmond are even close to being as big as Collingwood and Essendon and even Carlton you are so wrong! For Christ sake In the 1950's Melbourne were propably the second most popular club behind Collingwood. Look at melbourne NOW! They are one of the least supported clubs in the AFL.

In 10 to 20 years from now Richmond will be like Melbourne. Richmonds supporterbase Austrlia Wide would be the same as Geelong, St.Kilda and Hawthorn atm.

And as for Richmond supporters saying that they are the most loyal supporter's in the afl Collingwood supporters would have to be the most loyal supporters in the AFL. 1 Flag in 49 years and to still have 40,000 members, drawing record crowds and to still have the biggest following australia wide out of the the vivtorian clubs now that is loyal. Richmond don't even come close. CYA

 

[hagansbull]

If u honestly think Richmond are even close to being as big as Collingwood and Essendon and even Carlton you are so wrong! For Christ sake In the 1950's Melbourne were propably the second most popular club behind Collingwood. Look at melbourne NOW! They are one of the least supported clubs in the AFL.

In 10 to 20 years from now Richmond will be like Melbourne. Richmonds supporterbase Austrlia Wide would be the same as Geelong, St.Kilda and Hawthorn atm.

And as for Richmond supporters saying that they are the most loyal supporter's in the afl Collingwood supporters would have to be the most loyal supporters in the AFL. 1 Flag in 49 years and to still have 40,000 members, drawing record crowds and to still have the biggest following australia wide out of the the vivtorian clubs now that is loyal. Richmond don't even come close. CYA

not loyal just moronic. enough said. now go away! Oh and when you get 40k post it

 

[smasha]

Richmond are part of the big 4 but the reality is that there isnt much diffrence between Richmond, geelong ,hawthorn and stkilda in terms of supporter base size. collingwood and essendon have massive supporters bases and will always get a lot of Friday night games regardless of on field performances where as Richmond dont have a big enough supporter base to get Friday night games if they aren't performing on the field.

Geelong win a grand final and they think they own the world.

Back to your whiskas or we'll feed ya to the Tiger.

 

[smasha]

If u honestly think Richmond are even close to being as big as Collingwood and Essendon and even Carlton you are so wrong! For Christ sake In the 1950's Melbourne were propably the second most popular club behind Collingwood. Look at melbourne NOW! They are one of the least supported clubs in the AFL.

In 10 to 20 years from now Richmond will be like Melbourne. Richmonds supporterbase Austrlia Wide would be the same as Geelong, St.Kilda and Hawthorn atm.

And as for Richmond supporters saying that they are the most loyal supporter's in the afl Collingwood supporters would have to be the most loyal supporters in the AFL. 1 Flag in 49 years and to still have 40,000 members, drawing record crowds and to still have the biggest following australia wide out of the the vivtorian clubs now that is loyal. Richmond don't even come close. CYA

Collingwood gets sold better by Eddie and Collingwood have a huuge base of supporters that's why they get big membership numbers not loyalty.

 

[diligaf]

We will always be in the big 4. Always have been, always will be! Our membership may not be great, but we have pulled huge crowds (agst the other three) even when we are struggling.

 

[krustyman]

if they dont have any on field success, then a whole generation of supporters will be lost and they wont be big 4 any longer.

 

[Catsace]

It would be fair to say that no current club with Richmond's record over the last 25 years would be able to claim the support that Richmond still hold today. Just twice finallists in that time, yet there are still huge crowds to Richmond games against the big opposition at the 'G'. The Essendon game is testament to that, swelled perhaps to some extent by the Hird/Sheedy factor, but near 90K attending that game sans Collingwood does speak volumes for Richmond's place in the "Big 4".

I don't think though that as a Cats fan we are wrong in saying though that we also have huge crowds when we are playing well and are also playing big Victorian oppponents. In my memory from the late 70's onwards, Geelong has played against the Tigers and attracted crowds of between 50K to 70K in years that both sides have been strong....1980, 1995, 1996 spring to mind, big crowds at the 'G' in those games. Even in 1981 at the MCG, months after Richmond and Geelong played in a 2nd semi, there were 46,000 attending that match in Rd 5. Allthestats.com will give you a figure for attendances for when each side played one another, certainly from the 80's it has the crowd figures also.

Geelong's lack of crowds generally comes from the geographical necessity of playing at Skilled, and until that stadium is increased in capacity, Geelong will only get 'big' crowds at the MCG or to a lesser extent at Telstra Dome, and generally against the Collingwoods, Essendons and Richmonds of the comp. But i bet there will be at least 75K at the Rd 1 clash Richmond and Carlton, a hugely anticipated game. Few other sides finishing 15th and 16th the previous season could attract interest like that!

 

[boodsyboy]

What is all this crap both cats and the pies have gone through dry spells on field and off field so what if we have had a bad 27 years I do believe it tok both your clubs a long time to make a comeback and cat supporters should get down on their knees and thank Brian Cook he is one of the smartest men in football you are very,very lucky to have him at your club.

 

[Madtiger2006]

It would be fair to say that no current club with Richmond's record over the last 25 years would be able to claim the support that Richmond still hold today. Just twice finallists in that time, yet there are still huge crowds to Richmond games against the big opposition at the 'G'. The Essendon game is testament to that, swelled perhaps to some extent by the Hird/Sheedy factor, but near 90K attending that game sans Collingwood does speak volumes for Richmond's place in the "Big 4".

I don't think though that as a Cats fan we are wrong in saying though that we also have huge crowds when we are playing well and are also playing big Victorian oppponents. In my memory from the late 70's onwards, Geelong has played against the Tigers and attracted crowds of between 50K to 70K in years that both sides have been strong....1980, 1995, 1996 spring to mind, big crowds at the 'G' in those games. Even in 1981 at the MCG, months after Richmond and Geelong played in a 2nd semi, there were 46,000 attending that match in Rd 5. Allthestats.com will give you a figure for attendances for when each side played one another, certainly from the 80's it has the crowd figures also.

Geelong's lack of crowds generally comes from the geographical necessity of playing at Skilled, and until that stadium is increased in capacity, Geelong will only get 'big' crowds at the MCG or to a lesser extent at Telstra Dome, and generally against the Collingwoods, Essendons and Richmonds of the comp. But i bet there will be at least 75K at the Rd 1 clash Richmond and Carlton, a hugely anticipated game. Few other sides finishing 15th and 16th the previous season could attract interest like that!

What will be the final capacity of Skilled stadium? I assume about 35,000-40,000. Will be a nice little stadium then

 

[Catsace]

What will be the final capacity of Skilled stadium? I assume about 35,000-40,000. Will be a nice little stadium then

I think plans are afoot to make it about 35,000, but that will still involve replacing the area from the delapidated past players stand and building around to where the current brownlow stand is. That would be good, as nowadays i think any more than 27,000 is impossible to fit in. Back in 1981 i was part of a crowd of almosr 42,000 there against Collingwood, in the wondrous days of standing room!

Richmond having the 'G' will always be Big 4 material. I was at a Demons/Roos game at the Telstra Dome later last season, and there was something like 18,000 there, and probably 75% were Kangas fans. Tigers would have had a much bigger crowd than that!

 

[Ron The Bear]

Richmond have never been as big or bigger then Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton in my life time and I was born in 1981. Richmond's supporter base is very similar to Geelong, St.Kilda and Hawthorn. I don't know why they call it the Big 4 when it should only be the big 3 Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton.

Essendon and collingwood are a long way ahead of the rest and than carlton are an outright 3rd followed by richmond,geelong,stkilda and hawthorn

Suggest you acquaint yourselves with the facts, being that Richmond is a clear third in attendances over the past decade. Carlton is fourth and Adelaide fifth.

 

[borissey]

I think the term is losing relevance these days with some good rilvaries developing across state lines.

The biggest thing you can do is turn up when your team plays - that really sets up who is a 'big team'. Pies and Bombers can gloat about this fairly, and unfortunately for both Carlton and Richmond fans who've had some rough years lately you'd have to say the fans have dropped off a bit.

But when the form rolls on, you and I and all of us know that the latent support for both Clubs is there and very big. I was reading up the other day about a Home & Away game in 1995 when both of us were near the top of the ladder attracting 84000 fans. Now that is not just BIG 4, thats BIG.

maybe when both teams are up and running again we can try to push Anzac Day to Carlton v Richmond

 

[2 jam donuts]

Carlton, Richmond, Collingwood and Essendon will always be the "big 4" Although with the introduction of interstate sides the Big 4 has become a thing of the past. When you have WA as a supporter base for 2 teams, SA with the same, QLD and NSW for 1 team and Vic with the rest, its hardly a level playing field anymore. When Vic was divided up between 12 teams, then the Big 4 was relevant.
(I dont mean to trivialise supporters who live interstate, this is just a general overview)

 

[Crumden]

maybe when both teams are up and running again we can try to push Anzac Day to Carlton v Richmond

I'm happy to leave Anzac day to collingwood and essendon, but I reckon if either Sheeds or Eddie McChins was at Richmond or Carlton there would already be a blockbuster match between us on the calendar. We have the Dreatime game against the bombers thanks to Sheeds, and someone at the club should be coming up with some ideas for a promotional blockbuster concept between the Tigers and the Blues. Perhaps the timing isn't perfect with our respective teams propping up the ladder, but it is a marketing opportunity that is currently going begging.

 

[tugga]

I'm happy to leave Anzac day to collingwood and essendon, but I reckon if either Sheeds or Eddie McChins was at Richmond or Carlton there would already be a blockbuster match between us on the calendar. We have the Dreatime game against the bombers thanks to Sheeds, and someone at the club should be coming up with some ideas for a promotional blockbuster concept between the Tigers and the Blues. Perhaps the timing isn't perfect with our respective teams propping up the ladder, but it is a marketing opportunity that is currently going begging.

Tigers wanted to play an annual Good Friday match with Carlton but the gestapo knocked it on the head, hence we get the Thursday game.
When the AFL eventually does allow Good Friday footy, we will push for it again.