Richmond Tigers ownership claims to the MCG.

[Hayfever]

In 1965 in response to a Richmond Football Club initiative the MCC decided that Richmond could adopt the MCG as its home ground on alternate Saturdays. The move proved beneficial to all parties and was the forerunner to today's multiple-club home ground usage of the stadium.

 

[Hayfever]

The suburb of Richmond has always been synonymous with the formation of Australian rules football.

It was in a Richmond paddock that the first ever game was played, and it is in Richmond that the MCG is located.

It seemed only logical that Richmond should have its own football side, so in 1885 the Richmond club was formed. Always known as the Tigers, the club joined the VFL in 1908.

Often in the shadow of their more opulent MCG neighbours, the Tigers have fought hard to establish their own identity and have succeeded.

This has come about largely through their achievements at the MCG, both on Grand Final Day and as their playing home ground since 1965.

Richmond has quite an impressive overall record at the MCG having played (up to the start of the 2006 season) 550 games for 304 wins, 241 losses and 5 draws, but they had to wait until 1920 to open their Premiership account at the home of football.

http://www.mcg.org.au/default.asp?pg=footballdisplay&articleid=534

Presumably those 550 games include VFA games as well.

 

[Hayfever]

The Origins of Australian Rules Football

Like all great inventions, Australian Football did not develop overnight. Its birthplace, however, can be traced to Melbourne in 1858. At that time the needs, ideas and resources of the developing colonial community came together to create a winter diversion called football.

The first steps were far from tentative. On July 31,1858, a practice match was arranged in Richmond Paddock near the MCG.

http://www.mcg.org.au/default.asp?pg=footballdisplay&articleid=36