RICHMOND has ensured all its 2017 premiership players and drought-breaking coach Damien Hardwick are life members under a new provision in its constitution that prioritises flag success over games played. 

The Tigers passed a motion at their annual general meeting in December that would allow the board to award life membership at its discretion to all previous premiership players.  

Seventeen members of the 2017 premiership team, and Hardwick, were made life members of the club on Sunday in a ceremony at the Tigers' Punt Road Oval base.

Captain Trent Cotchin, Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin and senior players Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt and Shane Edwards were already life members, having met the 150-game criteria. 

The club also bestowed the honour on eight premiership players from the past – Eric Moore (1969), Mike Bowden (1969), Craig McKellar (1973), Stephen Rae (1973), David Thorpe (1974), Daryl Cumming (1974), Cameron Clayton (1974) and Stephen Mount (1980).

"It’s the highest honour we can bestow on those who serve, and those who have served our Club," president Peggy O’Neal said. 

"In April last year, the board made the decision to award life membership to each Richmond premiership player, regardless of the number of games that they’d played. 

"That’s to confirm that bringing premierships to Punt Road is the ultimate measure of service, and the measure of the club’s success." 

The change means midfielder Jack Graham, who has played five games, is a premiership player and a life member at just 19 after playing a heroic role in the Grand Final.

Recruits Josh Caddy, Dion Prestia and Toby Nankervis are also now life members after one season with the Tigers.