By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Richmond Tiger fans in Casey are floating as they contemplate the unthinkable – a premiership in 2017.
Darryl Johanning, of Narre Warren South, is painting three Richmond sash-jumpers on his triple-garage door ahead of the AFL Grand Final on 30 September.
It’s just another proud demonstration of his loyal adherence to the ‘Yellow and Black’, to go with the Tigers flag flapping at full mast in his front yard.
Mr Johanning can’t believe the year of successive success – Dusty’s win at the Brownlow and a cluster of honours, Rioli with Goal of the Year, Rance as All-Australian captain.
Gone is the pain of so many years of let-downs as a Tigers man. Now there’s just one more game to end a 37-year frustrating premiership drought.
“I just hope we can win after all of this time.”
Kim Chante is contemplating a Tigers tattoo with a “feminine” design to celebrate if Richmond defeats Adelaide for the ultimate prize.
She feels excited, teary and stressed. Her Richmond scarf is hanging out of her car window, all her Tigers “stuff” is out around her house.
“The only thing I can relate this to is the birth of my first child,” says the mother of three.
“It’s like it’s too good to happen to me.”
This year, the club’s fortunes have taken an “unbelievable shift” and she finally has her club to cheer at the Grand Final.
“I am and always have had black and yellow blood running through my veins,” she posted on a Tigers fanatical supporters group on Facebook.
“Regardless of what happens on Saturday, I love my Tiges and all of our boys are winners in my eyes.”
Meanwhile it’s a busy week for cheer squad member Dave Coppin – fitting in various interviews, including on Channel 7’s Sunrise.
He’s freshened the Richmond-themed Jesus tattoo on top of his head.
He now faces the task of choosing which of his 20-odd club jumpers he will wear behind the Punt Road end goals on Grand Final day.
“This is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life.
“We’ll have every football person in Victoria behind us. It’ll be like Victoria versus South Australia.”
His house is a shrine of Tigers memorabilia collected since Mr Coppin was a boy – boxes of footy cards from the 1970s, Footy Records of Richmond’s past grand finals, photos of him and numerous Richmond legends and player autographs snaffled at training in the 1980s.
With an acute sense of history, Mr Coppin says this is a chance for Tigers players to become immortals.
Much like the then-young Michael Roach and Dale Weightman became famous overnight when they played in the Tigers’ last premiership in 1980.
He still feels supremely confident that the Tiges will win by three or four goals, with full-forward Jack Reiwoldt to have a “special day”. Other keys are Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes and ‘Dusty’ Martin.
“If Dusty wins the Norm Smith medal, we’ll win the flag.”
