THE COMPETITION'S two biggest crowd pullers for 2015, Richmond and Collingwood, will go head to head in round 23 to earn a title the Magpies have held since 2004.

After 22 rounds, Richmond has attracted just 119 more fans to its games than Collingwood and will set Magpie fans a target in Friday night's clash at Etihad against North Melbourne.

The number of supporters who then turn up to Sunday's clash between Collingwood and Essendon will determine whether the Tigers or the Magpies have bragging rights for attracting the biggest home and away crowds for 2015.

The Tigers have not attracted more fans in the home and away season than the Magpies since 1982.

Collingwood, having attracted more than one million home and away fans once again for the 11th successive season (and 20 times in total) have not been topped for total home and away crowds since Essendon attracted more fans in 2004.

But Richmond has had a bumper season as it heads into its third consecutive finals series and only needs to attract more than 27,000 people against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Friday night to eclipse its biggest season home and away attendance ever of 1,040,290 (set in 2013).

It is just 159,982 spectators away from having its biggest season attendance including finals in its history

The Tigers attracted more than a million people to home and away games in 1998 and in 2013, but slipped below that figure last season after a poor start.

The Tigers also attracted more than one million people to games involving their club when finals are included in 1972, 73, 80, 95 and 2001.

The average crowd between Richmond and North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium is 36,100 while Collingwood and Essendon clashes have averaged 73,541 people in home and away games at the MCG, with Anzac Day of course boosting that average figure.

Collingwood averaged crowds of 56,551 at the MCG this season while Richmond has averaged 54,215.

Richmond president Peggy O'Neal said ahead of the club's game against Fremantle in round 17 that the club's increased attendances and membership was a sign of great loyalty from its supporters.

"I don't understand why commentators keep insisting our fans are fickle. They are not. They prove their loyalty time and again," O'Neal said.