Richmond’s end-of-season Mad Monday celebrations have attracted attention, with the Tigers’ festivities unfolding as the AFL continues to deal with scrutiny over another club’s alleged wild night out.
Players from the Richmond Tigers were seen on Monday outside the Garfield Hotel in Garfield, a small country town about 80km southeast of Melbourne.
Mad Monday has long been part of AFL culture, giving players a chance to unwind once their season is over. On this occasion, Tigers players were spotted carrying an esky, drinking beers and later taking part in a drinking game on the pub’s balcony.
Richmond’s season ended on Saturday with a heavy 57-point defeat to the Geelong Cats.
The Tigers managed just three wins across the 2026 AFL season, beating West Coast twice and Essendon once.
At the Garfield Hotel, Richmond players were seen drinking pints of Guinness with eggs dropped into them before removing their shirts and relaxing in the sun. Several appeared to be wearing local netball jerseys during the celebrations.
Footage and images from the gathering also showed some players whipping each other with belts, while another appeared to mimic pole dancing.
Young Richmond star Sam Lalor smiles as pints of stout containing eggs are lined up at the Garfield Hotel during the club’s Mad Monday celebrations.
Tigers defender Tom Brown is open mouthed as a teammate does a spot of pole dancing
Some players went shirtless while others wore local netball jerseys
Kane Cornes, a Seven commentator, described the belt-whipping as ’embarrassing’.
‘Firstly, what are you celebrating? It’s a team that’s finished 17th for the second season in a row,’ he said.
‘They won three games and you’re out during the day celebrating while your fans are hurting.
‘To be there with your tops off in view of the public is just nothing more than an embarrassment to me.
‘It’s not the first time Richmond have done it. They’re not the only club that dresses up like morons when it comes to this stage of the year, particularly for teams that have nothing to celebrate.’
There is no suggestion any of the players broke behavioural rules.
However, the sight raised eyebrows amid an investigation into another AFL team – the Sydney Swans.
Five players – Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon – were suspended last week for ‘breaching club standards’.
Noah Balta and Nick Vlastuin enjoy the sunshine in Garfield
Tom Brown tosses an item of clothing as the players unwound after a long season
Tim Taranto and Dion Prestia carry an esky on the way into the pub
Veteran forward Tom Lynch goes shirtless and gets a hug from a teammate
Toby Nankervis and Tyler Sonsie were among those enjoying the day
Nathan Broad got some sun while showing off his impressive tattoos
At one point players took to the roof
Tom Lynch and fellow teammates enjoy the beer garden and the Garfield Hotel
The sanctions are separate to the police investigation into sexual assault allegations and the events at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel on August 17.
The club found they breached its standards by staying out late, drinking and bringing women back to the hotel.
No charges have been laid and all players have denied wrongdoing.
Daily Mail does not suggest any of the players are involved in any wrongdoing, just that they spoke to police about the alleged incident.
Also on Monday, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon delivered a strongly-worded statement at the league’s finals launch.
As the Swans crisis continues, Dillon said respect for women was not negotiable.
There have been several incidents over the past few years at Mad Monday celebrations – the day to mark a club’s end of season – that have sparked controversy about player behaviour.
AFL finals are set to kick-off on Friday with the wildcard games.
The Western Bulldogs will host Collingwood at the MCG for the first wildcard final on Friday, followed by Melbourne versus Carlton at the MCG on Saturday.
