Tigers set to cash in on AFL premiership

Richmond are set to profit handsomely from winning their first AFL premiership in 37 years.

Richmond's pubs and barber shops have already made a handsome profit from the Tigers' AFL premiership - now the club is poised to cash in.

The Tigers are set to reap the financial rewards after downing Adelaide by 48 points in Saturday's grand final to claim their first flag in 37 years.

After a blurry weekend in which more than a few supporters saluted Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin by adopting his distinctive mohawk haircut, the party has barely stopped for the Tigers faithful.

The celebrations will continue on Monday night when Martin is expected to cap off an astonishing campaign by winning a second-successive Jack Dyer Medal as Richmond's best and fairest player for the season.

As premiers, Richmond will receive $1 million in prize money.

The windfall from merchandise sales could quite realistically triple, if not quadruple, that figure.

Already the Tigers have encouraged fans to "own a piece of premiership history" in the form of a signed premiership guernsey - limited to 1000 editions - at the eye-watering cost of $1995 apiece.

The Tigers are also certain to benefit financially from a more lucrative fixture in 2017.

Richmond went from having six Friday night games last season to none this year - a result of their 13th-placed finish in 2016.

A return to the prized timeslot is inevitable for a side which topped the AFL for home-and-away attendances this season and boasts the best player in the league in recently re-signed Brownlow medallist Martin.

The Tigers are also poised to overtake Collingwood and Hawthorn as the biggest club in the AFL in terms of membership.

Last year's premiers the Western Bulldogs lifted their tally by 20 per cent to just shy of 48,000 after breaking their 62-year drought.

If the Tigers can bank a similar spike, they will take their total membership close to a whopping 90,000.

The unwavering loyalty of Richmond's supporters ensured they remained one of the AFL's biggest clubs despite a prolonged period without success.

Next year could be something scary for their rivals.

"This year has been a story of unity," Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale said after the grand final.

"In unity is strength. And there's power.

"Our fans have been a major part of that unity."


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Source: AAP



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