AFL Toyota Premiership 2011

Match 1: Rd 7, 1974, Windy Hill
Richmond 16.19 (115) d Essendon 15.15 (105)

Richmond and Essendon were walking from the ground at half time of their round seven clash at Windy Hill when a brawl broke out that would go down in football folklore as one of the biggest ever. Richmond hard-nut Mal Brown was one of the central figures as players, officials and police came from all angles.

One of the most enduring memories of the brawl was the sight of a six-year-old boy wandering on to the ground just when all hell had broken loose. The blue was to have its sequel in the courts. A little known fact about this match is that Richmond won by 10 points.

Match 2: Rd 15, 1995, MCG
Richmond 15.11 (101) drew with Essendon 15.11 (101)

It was a chilly July evening but 76,628 piled in to the MCG for this Friday night thriller. As normal there were 41 players on the ground, but there was also James Hird, then just 22 years old. Hird was awesome but the Tigers held firm in a clash that was tight all night.

Teenager Stephen Jurica's five goals in just his fifth game kept Richmond firing and his last goal deep in time-on set up a tie. Hird ended with 23 disposals, 5.1 and four tackles but a 17-year-old Matthew Lloyd didn't fare as well, collecting just one handball for the night.

Match 3: Round 9, 2007, MCG
Essendon 12.20 (92) d Richmond 12.12 (84)

The third annual Dreamtime at the 'G match was a pulsating affair from go to whoa before a late hands-in-the-back penalty against Matthew Richardson spoiled the Tigers' night. Richo wasn't even supposed to play after fracturing an eye socket the previous round against Adelaide, but he had an outstanding night, booting 4.2.

However, his worst nightmare came late in the final term with the teams locked on 84 points apiece. Richo outmarked Mal Michael 45m out, played on and slotted a goal to put the Tigers ahead. But under the new AFL interpretation, the officiating umpire had little choice but to penalise Richo and disallow the goal. The Bombers rushed the ball up field and kicked two behinds to take the lead before Matthew Lloyd added a goal after the siren.