RICHMOND’S shock loss to Collingwood in the preliminary final potentially cost the Tigers some statistical distinctions.
In a result that stunned the football world, Damien Hardwick’s seemingly invincible team suffered a 39-point defeat that, first and foremost, ended their bid to become the first Richmond outfit to win back-to-back premierships since 1973-74.
It also ended the Tigers’ record run of 22 consecutive wins at the MCG.
TIGERS BURNT BY HOT PIES Full match details and stats
And they missed out on what would have been another record – a clean sweep of their games in Victoria in the one season.
Before they were sensationally eliminated from the premiership race, the Tigers had an 18-0 record in their home state, which had been achieved just once before – by Collingwood’s ‘Machine’ team back in 1929.
Victory against Collingwood would have lifted Richmond to 19-0 - an unprecedented return in Victoria - while a 20th straight win in the Grand Final, as most experts had predicted, would have made them the first team to go through a season undefeated in Victoria.
Alas, the Tigers now sit fifth on the all-time list when it comes to the highest winning percentages in Victoria in a season.
All the others in the top bracket ended up winning the premiership, while Richmond finished third.
The Tigers’ streak in Victoria was actually 22, given they finished last season with four on the trot on their way to their drought-breaking premiership.
They lost just five games this season, the first four of which were on the road.
HIGHEST WINNING % IN VICTORIA IN A SEASON
(Minimum 15 wins)
Winning % | Club, Year | W-L | Best streak | Placing |
95.2% | Carl 1995 | 20-1 | Last 14 | Premiers |
95.2% | Ess 2000 | 20-1 | First 16 | Premiers |
95.0% | Carl 1908 | 19-1 | First 11 | Premiers |
95.0% | Coll 1929 | 19-1 | First 18 | Premiers |
95.0% | Ess 1950 | 19-1 | Last 14 | Premiers |
94.7% | Rich 2018 | 18-1 | First 18 | 3rd |
93.8% | SM 1918 | 15-1 | Last 12 | Premiers |
90.9% | Carl 1987 | 20-2 | 11 | Premiers |
90.9% | Haw 1989 | 20-2 | Last 12 | Premiers |
- Statistics supplied by AFL statistics and history consultant Col Hutchinson.