The Tiger Army will be out in force at the MCG on Saturday. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
RICHMOND chief executive Brendon Gale says the Tigers deserve their blockbuster test against the Pies in a contest which will draw the biggest crowd between the sides in three decades.
The Tigers are hopeful of a crowd well in excess of 80,000, which would not only continue the flood of new members but also significantly boost their bottom line.
The club wants to be debt-free by the end of next year, and will make a minimum of $500,000 from the game but potentially much more if the crowd rolls in.
The two sides haven't had a crowd above 80,000 since Round 19, 1983, when 81,966 fans watched Kevin Bartlett play his 400th game.
Now the Tigers are 3-0, and while they are under no illusions about the test Collingwood will provide, they hope they are ready.
"The fact is that for both sides the planets haven't aligned (in the past),'' Gale sad.
Please Explain: Bring back the Saturday arvo blockbuster
"There haven't been too many games of real significance. Collingwood have been an outstanding team for the last few years and we haven't been. But we deserve our shot at them. We are really excited and hopefully our fans and members are as well.
"It is a 2pm Saturday game against a traditional rival. It's a big game and it really means something. The stakes are significant. That's where our players want to be. They want to be tested, because that's where you get better.''
With fine conditions expected the MCG also expects a crowd in the mid-80,000s, although the ratio of walk-up ticket sales to members affects the money a club will take home.
"It depends upon the composition, but it's a strong return. It's a big return. But you budget for a very strong turn-up,'' Gale said.
The Tigers have just over 55,000 members, but Gale believes there are other benefits of a winning start.
Richmond stars Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin are all out of contract, and he says those types of players are buying into Richmond's story.
"I would like to think they can see what we are doing and what we are building. Those guys and all our players and the entire football club are on a journey and we have got a shared purpose. Clearly that's going to help everyone.''
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