A Checklist of Richmond's Most Iconic Dynasty-Era Goals

Reliving the Richmond dynasty isn't just about watching the replay of a game. It’s about isolating those singular, breathtaking moments where the roar of the crowd, the swing of momentum, and the sheer audacity of a player converged into one perfect kick. These goals weren't just six points on the board; they were statements. They broke opposition spirits, sealed premierships, and became the defining snapshots of a golden era for the Yellow and Black.

This checklist is your guide to curating the ultimate highlights reel of the Tigers' most iconic dynasty-era goals. We’re going beyond the obvious to build a collection that captures the essence of what made this team a modern powerhouse. Follow these steps, and you’ll have a curated library of brilliance that explains exactly how the drought was broken and a legacy was built.

What You'll Need

Before we dive into the steps, let's get your toolkit ready. You don't need much, but having these at hand will make the process smooth and rewarding.

Access to Game Replays: The official AFL website or app is your best friend here, with full match replays and official highlights packages. Fan-made compilations on YouTube can also provide a starting point, but always verify with the source footage.
A Notepad or Digital Document: You'll want to jot down timestamps, player names, and the context of why a goal makes the cut. Organization is key!
About 90 Minutes of Time: You could rush this, but to truly appreciate the build-up and the aftermath of each goal, give yourself the space to watch and absorb.
A Tiger's Heart (Optional, but Recommended): A little bit of bias is allowed here. We're celebrating the moments that made us leap off the couch, after all.

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Your Step-by-Step Process to Building the Ultimate Goals Reel

Step 1: Establish Your "Big Three" Grand Final Foundation

Every Richmond dynasty collection must be anchored by the premiership goals. Start with the three Grand Final victories—they provide the narrative spine.

2017 AFL Grand Final (Breaking the Drought): This is non-negotiable. Find Dustin Martin's goal in the third quarter, where he fended off a Crows defender and snapped truly. The context? It was the moment 37 years of pressure evaporated and the Tigers truly believed the flag was theirs. The roar of the MCG says it all.
2019 AFL Grand Final (Back-to-Back): Seek out Dustin Martin's running goal in the last quarter. With the game already won, this was the exclamation point, a celebratory dash that cemented the back-to-back and Dusty's second Norm Smith. It’s pure, unadulterated dominance.
2020 AFL Grand Final (The Three-Peat): This one is about the unsung hero. Find Jack Riewoldt's checkside goal from the boundary in the second quarter. On a strange night at the Gabba, it was a moment of familiar, freakish Jack brilliance that ignited the Yellow and Black engine.

Pro Tip: Watch the two minutes of play before each of these goals. Notice the Richmond pressure rating—the harassing tackles, the forced turnovers. The goals are the glorious finish to a brutal, system-driven process.

Step 2: Hunt for the Momentum-Shifting Finals Goals

Premierships aren't won in Grand Finals alone; they're earned in the brutal finals en route. Your collection needs goals that broke preliminary finals and carved through qualifying finals.

2017 Preliminary Final vs. GWS: This is a two-goal step. First, find Shaun Grigg's soccer off the ground in the goal square during the first quarter onslaught. It was chaotic, opportunistic, and set the tone for the mauling. Second, include Kamdyn McIntosh's long-range bomb in the third term. It’s a symbol of a role player stepping up in a huge moment.
2019 Preliminary Final vs. Geelong: You're looking for Bachar Houli's goal. Late in the third quarter, with the Cats coming hard, the composed half-back flanker streamed forward and drilled a clutch set shot from outside 50. It was a dagger to Geelong's resurgence, a moment of calm leadership.
2020 Qualifying Final vs. Brisbane: In an empty Gabba, the Tigers needed a spark. Find Dustin Martin's left-foot snap from the boundary in the second quarter. Against the flow, it was a ridiculous piece of individual magic that only he could produce, swinging critical momentum.

Step 3: Identify the "System" Goals from Role Players

The dynasty wasn't just built on stars. It was built on a system where every player knew their role. Your checklist must honor the goals that exemplify this.

The "Pressure Goal": Look for any goal from Jason Castagna or Dan Butler during the 2017-2019 period that directly resulted from a smother, a tackle, or a chaotic forward-50 stoppage. These goals are the direct product of the team's defensive ethos.
The "Transition Goal": Find a goal that starts with Alex Rance or Dylan Grimes taking an intercept mark in defence, followed by rapid ball movement through the corridor, ending with a goal to a small forward. This captures the blistering counter-attack that defined the era. For a deeper look at the defensive genius that started these plays, our piece on Dylan Grimes and the defensive pillars is essential reading.
The "Captain's Goal": Search for Trent Cotchin's goal in the 2017 Grand Final. After a brutal, physical contest in the centre, Cotchin won the ball, took a bounce, and slotted it. It wasn't pretty, but it was tough, selfless, and embodied his "follow me" leadership.

Step 4: Don't Forget the Emotional & Symbolic Kicks

Some goals carry weight beyond the scoreboard. They're about narrative, emotion, and legacy.

The Drought-Breaker (Before the Flag): Find Jack Riewoldt's goal after the siren to beat the Bulldogs in Round 9, 2017. This wasn't a finals goal, but it was the moment a beleaguered team and its fanbase believed something special was happening. The iconic image of Jack being mobbed by teammates is pure joy.
The Farewell Goal: Include Alex Rance's final goal in the 2019 preliminary final. The champion defender, playing as a surprise forward, soccered through a goal in the last quarter. It was a fun, poignant moment for a legend of the club, a last hurrah on the MCG.
The "Meatball" Special: Look for a crucial goal from Dion Prestia in a final. Often sourced from a hard-ball get at the bottom of a pack, his goals are the reward for relentless, gritty midfield work.

Step 5: Curate, Sequence, and Add Context

Now, you have your list of goals. The final step is to assemble them into a story.

Create a Timeline: Order your goals chronologically from 2017 to 2020. Watch how the style evolves but the ruthless intent remains the same.
Write Short Descriptors: For each goal in your checklist, note: 1) The player, 2) The game & year, 3) The quarter/minute (if you want to be precise), and 4) In one sentence, why it matters. (e.g., "Martin's 2017 GF snap: The moment the drought-breaking premiership became a reality.")
Pair with Broader History: To understand how these moments fit into the bigger picture, revisit the full story of the Dynasty Era History.

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Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't Just Chase the Pretty: The most aesthetically perfect kick isn't always the most important. A scrappy, crumbed goal from a forward-pocket stoppage in a final can be more iconic than a routine set shot from the top of the 50.
Do Remember the Opposition & Context: A goal to put the Tigers 10 points up in a Preliminary Final carries infinitely more weight than one to put them 60 points up in a Round 19 thrashing.
Don't Overload on One Player: Yes, Dustin Martin has a catalogue worthy of his own film. But the beauty of this dynasty was its collectivism. Ensure your final list has a healthy mix of superstars and role players.
Do Listen to the Crowd Noise: When watching replays, turn the volume up. The eruption from the Tigers faithful is part of the goal's DNA. The sound of the MCG shaking is a key ingredient.
Don't Neglect 2020: Because it was played in Queensland, some goals from the 2020 premiership run can feel disconnected. Make the effort to include them—they represent the ultimate test of the team's resilience and system.

Your Ultimate Richmond Dynasty Goals Checklist Summary

Here’s your bullet-proof list to get started. Tick these off, and you'll have captured the soul of the era.

• Dustin Martin's fend-and-snap (2017 AFL Grand Final)


• Jack Riewoldt's post-siren winner (Round 9, 2017 vs. Bulldogs)


• Shaun Grigg's goal-square soccer (2017 Preliminary Final)


• Trent Cotchin's captain's goal (2017 AFL Grand Final)


• Bachar Houli's clutch set shot (2019 Preliminary Final)


• Dustin Martin's sealing runner (2019 AFL Grand Final)


• Alex Rance's forward-pocket farewell (2019 Preliminary Final)


• Dustin Martin's left-foot boundary snap (2020 Qualifying Final)


• Jack Riewoldt's Gabba checkside (2020 AFL Grand Final)


• One "Pressure Goal" from Castagna/Butler (Pick your favourite)


• One "Transition Goal" starting with Rance/Grimes


• One crucial "Meatball" goal from Dion Prestia in a final

Once you've checked every box, hit play on your sequence. You won't just see a series of goals. You'll see the story of a dynasty—a story of pressure, belief, sheer talent, and a team that turned moments into miracles, wearing the Yellow and Black stripes. Now, get to it. The roar of the G is waiting.