Richmond face a crunch clash with Fremantle to kick off round 19 in the AFL and coach Damien Hardwick wants to see a big crowd on hand at Marvel Stadium.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has called on the Tiger Army to turn out in numbers for the AFL clash with Fremantle after its official membership swelled past 100,000 for a fifth straight year.
Clinging to eighth spot on percentage, the Tigers host the fourth-placed Dockers in a rare 'home' fixture at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
It is their first home match at the league-owned venue since May last year, when Hardwick infamously said he "hates" playing there because Richmond fans don't like it.
"The truth of the matter is you can play Richmond games here (at Marvel Stadium), but they don't come," Hardwick said after just 18,798 fans turned up to witness a win over GWS.
"So if you want big crowds, play our home games at the 'G. It's a pretty simple solution for mine."
Richmond are one of several MCG tenant clubs who are forced to play select fixtures at Marvel Stadium each season because of long-standing AFL contracts.
While the 2021 attendance was lower than expected, the Tigers attracted crowds of more than 40,000 at Docklands for home games against Sydney in 2018 and 2019.
Hardwick was asked on Wednesday if fans will turn up to support Richmond in the important clash with Fremantle, which will be crucial in shaping both sides' finals prospects.
"I'd hope so," he said.
"They're seeing a side that's been incredibly proud over a long period of time and continues to give their best and play their best.
"Even last week, we played some incredible footy at various stages (in the upset loss to North Melbourne).
"We let ourselves down in other aspects but the fact of the matter is we had 67 inside-50s, we had 33 scoring shots and all those sorts of things I could reel out.
"We just didn't get the result but our fans know we come to play.
"They'd be disappointed, like we are, over the last couple of weeks in the close losses but we stick fat."
Richmond have a 3-7 record at Marvel Stadium in their last 10 trips to the venue, including a run of four consecutive defeats that includes losses to St Kilda and North Melbourne this season.
"It doesn't hold any fears for us," Hardwick said.
"Goalkicking-wise it might've been a little bit better on the weekend but we go there and any club will say the same, 'It's anytime, anywhere'.
"We've just got to make sure we play our very best footy against a very good side."
Richmond first crashed through the 100,000-member barrier in 2018 - the year after their drought-breaking premiership.
"Clearly we've had a lot on-field in recent years to be very happy about and thankful for," Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said.
"But when you consider these numbers have been maintained through unprecedented difficulty with a global pandemic, it's just a testament to the loyalty and passion and commitment and, in some circumstances, the sacrifice of our incredible members."
