It was 112 years ago, that one of the game's greatest rivalries began . . .

On June 4, 1892 at Punt Road, the Richmond Football Club met the Collingwood Football Club for the first time ever, at that stage under the VFA banner. That afternoon, Richmond won -- four goals to three.

Throughout history, the two clubs have created some of football's most memorable moments:

• Round 11, 1917 -- Collingwood's Dick Lee becomes the first league player to kick 500 career goals.

• Round 5, 1920 -- The old Members' Pavilion at Punt Road collapses with the weight of the huge crowd which was sitting on its roof. After the game both teams watched the Prince of Wales' Royal procession go by the ground down Punt Road.

• Grand Final 1920 -- Richmond wins its first VFL premiership, beating Collingwood by 17 pts. Bill James plays his first -- and only game ever -- with the Tigers that day.

• Between 1927-1929 Richmond and Collingwood face each other in three successive Grand Finals, the Tigers losing all three. In the 1927 Grand Final, Richmond scores only one goal in a game affected by heavy rain and wind. In the 1928 Grand Final, brothers Don and 'Jiggy' Harris oppose each other. In the 1929 Grand Final , Richmond loses by 29 points.

• Round 10, 1932 -- Richmond's oldest living player Sid Dockendorff debuts for the Tigers. Sid is now 95 yrs old.

• Round 4, 1934 -- Tigers' Hall of Fame member, Basil McCormack, kicks the only goal in his 199 games.

• Round 13, 1936 -- Richmond full-back, Joe Murdoch, and Collingwood full-forward, Gordon Coventry, clash, resulting in Coventry being reported for the only time in his career -- and subsequently suspended for eight matches.

• Round 2, 1943 -- Jack Titus breaks the league's consecutive games record held by Jock McHale, when he plays match No. 192 in-a-row.

• Round 6, 1953 -- Tommy Hafey makes his senior debut with Richmond, and scores a goal with his first kick.

• Round 3, 1938 -- Collingwood's Ron Todd kicks 7 goals 12 behinds, plus 5 out of bounds on the full against the Tigers.

• Round 3, 1942 -- Jack Titus kicks his 900th goal for Richmond.

• Round 17, 1953 -- Collingwood's Keith Bromage at 15 years of age, becomes the youngest player to make his league football debut.

• Round 15, 1966 -- The Magpies' Colin Tully kicks a drop-kick goal from the centre of the MCG.

• Round 20, 1978 -- Collingwood defeats Richmond after trailing by 55 pts, 10 minutes into the second quarter.

• Grand Final 1980 -- Richmond thrashes Collingwood by 80 points to take out its 10 league premiership. Kevin Bartlett kicks eight goals straight and wins the Norm Smith Medal.

• Round 19, 1983 -- Kevin Bartlett becomes the first player to reach the 400-game milestone in league football.

This will be the 198th meeting between the two clubs in football history -- and just the 13th time they have opened a premiership season.

Richmond's recent Round 1 performances include not losing consecutive season-openers since 1991-1993 (with the Tigers having a Round 1 bye in 1992). As well, Richmond has never lost consecutive Round 1 matches at the MCG.

Let's look back at some of the more interesting moments in the Club's 96-year VFL/AFL Round 1 history . . .

• 1908 -- The first ever VFL game in Richmond history results in victory over Melbourne by 11 points.

• 1909 -- Tiger Hall of Fame inductee Barney Herbert debuts.

• 1910 -- Hall of Fame inductee Victor Thorp debuts.

• 1912 -- After a win against St Kilda, each player is presented with a new hat.

• 1917 -- Richmond's score of 4.4 (28) is its lowest ever at Victoria Park.

• 1920 -- Dan Minogue coaches Richmond for the first time.

• 1925 -- Hawthorn's first VFL game is against Richmond.

• 1931 -- Doug and Gordon Strang debut for the Tigers.

• 1949 -- Ken Albiston kicks 7 goals against Footscray.

• 1957 -- Bob Dummett kicks 7 goals against North Melbourne.

• 1970 -- The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family watch reigning premier, Richmond, lose to Fitzroy by 20 points.

• 1978 -- Allan Edwards and David Cloke kick 7 goals each against Carlton in Dale Weightman's debut senior game for the Club.

• 1987 -- West Coast plays its inaugural game in the competition, against Richmond.

• 1992 -- For the first time in Richmond's history, the Club does not play a game in the opening round, because of a bye.

• 2003 -- Matthew Richardson kicks 1 goal 6 behinds against Collingwood, as the Tigers go down by 28 points.

- Rhett Bartlett (rhettrospective.com)