The Richmond 2017 AFL Grand Final thread | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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The Richmond 2017 AFL Grand Final thread

TigerPort

Tiger Champion
Jun 29, 2006
2,516
2,734
NSW
Memories

For the 2017 GF my wife and I flew from interstate to Melbourne on the Thursday. Didn't have tickets to the game but one of my Tiger supporting mates had also flown in and we were going to a pub in Richmond to watch the game to be in the rarified Richmond air.
On Friday started to not feel well and by late Friday evening I have high temps and a fever. Wife took me to the doctor's on Saturday morning and back to the motel room all drugged up where I slept from 11am to 9am Sunday.
The wife watched the game on the motel TV, shaking me awake to tell me that the Tigers have won and Dusty is a superstar
I have very little recollection of anything on GF day and none of the 8 hour trip home the next day

One of these days I will get to see a GF live
 
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Ricemagic

Tiger Superstar
Feb 8, 2021
2,038
2,244
58
As that year went on what became obvious was this was a different Richmond. When we brought that heat there was no team that could go with us.
In hindsight our MO was that eventually that pressure wore teams down. Some could go with us for a while, a half or even 3 quarters and when you look at our 2nd half stats you can see that. In the finals it is stark, we led by less than 10 points at halftime in all 3 finals but had a combined winning margin in the final series of 135 points.
Richmond 'After Half-time' Finals Stats - 2017-2020

Played 12 Finals games – Won 10 Second Halves, Drew 1, Lost 1.
Scored – 620, Conceded – 302, Percentage - 205.3%

Average score we kicked after H/T – Scored – 51.67
Avg score we conceded after H/T - Conceded – 25.17

Second Half +318 points. Average Margin after Half Time +26.5 points
(1st Half Comparison +17 points. Average Margin For 1st Half +1.4 points)

Overall, we won 10 of the finals by 51, 36, 48, 31, 47, 19, 89, 31, 6, 31 – 389 – average win - 38.9
Lost two games by 39 & 15 – 54 – average loss – 27


We just grinded teams down until they couldn't play their game style anymore and they'd succumb to our pressure defence.
If you weren’t up by 30 or more, Tigers were a good chance to run you down :cupgold
 
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Ricemagic

Tiger Superstar
Feb 8, 2021
2,038
2,244
58
Memories

For the 2017 GF my wife and I flew from interstate to Melbourne on the Thursday. Didn't have tickets to the game but one of my Tiger supporting mates had also flown in and we were going to a pub in Richmond to watch the game to be in the rarified Richmond air.
On Friday started to not feel well and by late Friday evening I have high temps and a fever. Wife took me to the doctor's on Saturday morning and back to the motel room all drugged up where I slept from 11am to 9am Sunday.
The wife watched the game on the motel TV, shaking me awake to tell me that the Tigers have won and Dusty is a superstar
I have very little recollection of anything on GF day and none of the 8 hour trip home the next day

One of these days I will get to see a GF live
Wow, sorry for that experience U had man :( I wanted the 2017 one for all the fans who'd never experienced a great/dominant Richmond side/era. I caught the tail end of the 1967-1982 era, '74 & '80 can definitely remember. So I was really happy in 2017 for everyone who hadn't experienced a Tiger premiership. Hopefully the next one ain't too far away and U get to come down again man :giggle:
 
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spook

Kick the f*ckin' goal
Jun 18, 2007
21,917
26,429
Melbourne
Yeah, I went to the 2017 grand final telling people if we were within three goals at half time we'd win. In the beer line at half time a couple of Crows supporters behind me were talking about what Adelaide needed to do to win and I had to resist the urge to tell them they'd already lost.

I just got more and more confident as the third quarter progressed. The Grigg and Lambert goals said we were going to win. A slight twinge when Walker goaled but Jack Graham answered immediately and I thought, "we've got this". George's goal confirmed it. I didn't have a doubt in the world at three-quarter time - I think I've mentioned before that a friend of mine a few rows in front was in tears of anxiety at the last break and I just laughed and said, "Relax, Em! We've won! No way they are beating us." (The Crows fans in front of me weren't happy to hear it but I think they knew.)

I spent the last quarter celebrating, making sure I soaked it all up, making eye contact with every Tiger fan I could and pumping my fists at them.

One of the best days of our lives - certainly the best day as a sports fan for me. An amazing month, from the jaw-dropping boos of the Cats players as they took the field, to the three-quarter-time roar after Dusty pantsed Stewart and we all said "NOT TODAY!', which seemed to roll into the roar as Lambo goaled 15 seconds into the prelim, to the incredible feeling as the realisation dawned we were going to the grand final, to the next day at the VFL grand final, meeting a few blokes here for the first time - Ezy, snake, Mr B, Tooheys, TOT, caesar, Taz - as we watched the emerging genius of the still 18-year-old Shai run rings around them - to the build-up of the week, Forgotten Years, and the celebrations afterwards. Just unbelievable.

2019 was great: redemption. Watching the QF at at pub in Brunswick with Jack and his boys, the sinking "not again" feeling in the second quarter of the prelim, replaced within two minutes of the third quarter by "we've got 'em". Knowing we were premiers two hours before the final siren was such a relaxing way to enjoy the grand final with my brother in standing room of the MCC. A joyous coronation. We were The Kings, and nobody could argue.

2020 was weird because of the lockdown. I watched the QF loss at my other brother's (he was my bubble buddy and within 5k) but the next two weeks I watched at home alone and superstition took hold for the grand final and so I watched that at home alone as well, in constant text contact with my bros, and Gyps, and Ezy updating a bunch of us from the Gabba. Gyps and Ezy both confident at half-time that the game had turned, me not so much. My brother and I were texting each other every couple of minutes in the second half and as soon as it was over I jumped in an Uber to his place and we watched it all again.

What an era. Is it over? I think we can win another one or two.
 
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Mac

Tiger Champion
Sep 16, 2003
2,656
916
I reckon the noise when Dustin kicked a goal in the first 30 seconds of the prelim was the loudest I've ever heard.

You could actually feel the physical force of it hitting you.

I’m going to borrow your (perceived ) contrarian’s hat and say it was the second loudest I’ve ever heard.
Loudest was the same game with about 7mins to go - Butler’s sealer.

Decibel readings back that up. 122 vs 126. Although if you were to contend that channel 7’s scientific controls of those readings were probably dubious at best, I’d be hard pressed to convince anyone otherwise.

In any case, my gut feel says Butler’s. If yours says the Dusty to Lambo opener, then that’s ok with me!
 
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TigerMasochist

Walks softly carries a big stick.
Jul 13, 2003
25,571
11,449
Memories

For the 2017 GF my wife and I flew from interstate to Melbourne on the Thursday. Didn't have tickets to the game but one of my Tiger supporting mates had also flown in and we were going to a pub in Richmond to watch the game to be in the rarified Richmond air.
On Friday started to not feel well and by late Friday evening I have high temps and a fever. Wife took me to the doctor's on Saturday morning and back to the motel room all drugged up where I slept from 11am to 9am Sunday.
The wife watched the game on the motel TV, shaking me awake to tell me that the Tigers have won and Dusty is a superstar
I have very little recollection of anything on GF day and none of the 8 hour trip home the next day

One of these days I will get to see a GF live
OMFG. Don't gotta be dead to be stiff TPort. What a brutally cruel way to miss a near forty year drought breaker.
 
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Tigertough1974

Tiger Champion
Oct 1, 2013
2,845
916
Yeah, I went to the 2017 grand final telling people if we were within three goals at half time we'd win. In the beer line at half time a couple of Crows supporters behind me were talking about what Adelaide needed to do to win and I had to resist the urge to tell them they'd already lost.

I just got more and more confident as the third quarter progressed. The Grigg and Lambert goals said we were going to win. A slight twinge when Walker goaled but Jack Graham answered immediately and I thought, "we've got this". George's goal confirmed it. I didn't have a doubt in the world at three-quarter time - I think I've mentioned before that a friend of mine a few rows in front was in tears of anxiety at the last break and I just laughed and said, "Relax, Em! We've won! No way they are beating us." (The Crows fans in front of me weren't happy to hear it but I think they knew.)

I spent the last quarter celebrating, making sure I soaked it all up, making eye contact with every Tiger fan I could and pumping my fists at them.

One of the best days of our lives - certainly the best day as a sports fan for me. An amazing month, from the jaw-dropping boos of the Cats players as they took the field, to the three-quarter-time roar after Dusty pantsed Stewart and we all said "NOT TODAY!', which seemed to roll into the roar as Lambo goaled 15 seconds into the prelim, to the incredible feeling as the realisation dawned we were going to the grand final, to the next day at the VFL grand final, meeting a few blokes here for the first time - Ezy, snake, Mr B, Tooheys, TOT, caesar, Taz - as we watched the emerging genius of the still 18-year-old Shai run rings around them - to the build-up of the week, Forgotten Years, and the celebrations afterwards. Just unbelievable.

2019 was great: redemption. Watching the QF at at pub in Brunswick with Jack and his boys, the sinking "not again" feeling in the second quarter of the prelim, replaced within two minutes of the third quarter by "we've got 'em". Knowing we were premiers two hours before the final siren was such a relaxing way to enjoy the grand final with my brother in standing room of the MCC. A joyous coronation. We were The Kings, and nobody could argue.

2020 was weird because of the lockdown. I watched the QF loss at my other brother's (he was my bubble buddy and within 5k) but the next two weeks I watched at home alone and superstition took hold for the grand final and so I watched that at home alone as well, in constant text contact with my bros, and Gyps, and Ezy updating a bunch of us from the Gabba. Gyps and Ezy both confident at half-time that the game had turned, me not so much. My brother and I were texting each other every couple of minutes in the second half and as soon as it was over I jumped in an Uber to his place and we watched it all again.

What an era. Is it over? I think we can win another one or two.


Nice one mate, i was similiar, but somehow also glad we were 'underdogs', but thought if were within 3 goals at HT we will win.

Long story which ive told before, but flew over from HK and arrived Friday morning, straight to the London ( i Stayed very close), by Friday night it was packed and although i only had a standing room ticket (from membership loterry) ppl were offering 3K for it... No chance as i had flown from HK..

Woke up seedy after a big one with Melbourne childhood mates who i hadnt seen in a few years (even they enjoyed the constant singing and excitement at the London)..

Went to the G a few hours early and thought, geez i feel crap, need a beer! I would have had about 10 that glorious day, sharing the rounds/efforts with 2 Tiger lads standing next to me.

By mid way through the 3rd i was in tears, when Grigg to Lambo i knew it was done, i was doing the math, thinking 20/30/points in front, it would be impossible from here, the way were playing... Were going to win this... Then it was basically a celebration for me the whole 4th Qtr, tears, hugging strangers in my area and of course the song on replay after the final siren!.

Didnt go to swan street after that, a good mate was at PRO and we then went to a bar in the city, after a huge line and only one beer i was emotionally exhausted, said to him i need to go back to hotel and watch the replay!. Which i did with a fine whisky i got from HK airport!!

The only one of the three i went to but for me the best as it released the 'curse' and the shackles, the GWS one i was in HCMC with mates which was great albeit different and the Gabba one i was in Shanghai watching at home with mates and family. 2017 i will never forget that feeling until i die, a Dees mate in his mid 50s recently said he felt complete, thats probably a good way to express how i felt that beautiful September 2017 afternoon!.
 
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richards42

making the crowd roar
Sep 15, 2005
1,015
808
Gold Coast
Nice one mate, i was similiar, but somehow also glad we were 'underdogs', but thought if were within 3 goals at HT we will win.

Long story which ive told before, but flew over from HK and arrived Friday morning, straight to the London ( i Stayed very close), by Friday night it was packed and although i only had a standing room ticket (from membership loterry) ppl were offering 3K for it... No chance as i had flown from HK..

Woke up seedy after a big one with Melbourne childhood mates who i hadnt seen in a few years (even they enjoyed the constant singing and excitement at the London)..

Went to the G a few hours early and thought, geez i feel crap, need a beer! I would have had about 10 that glorious day, sharing the rounds/efforts with 2 Tiger lads standing next to me.

By mid way through the 3rd i was in tears, when Grigg to Lambo i knew it was done, i was doing the math, thinking 20/30/points in front, it would be impossible from here, the way were playing... Were going to win this... Then it was basically a celebration for me the whole 4th Qtr, tears, hugging strangers in my area and of course the song on replay after the final siren!.

Didnt go to swan street after that, a good mate was at PRO and we then went to a bar in the city, after a huge line and only one beer i was emotionally exhausted, said to him i need to go back to hotel and watch the replay!. Which i did with a fine whisky i got from HK airport!!

The only one of the three i went to but for me the best as it released the 'curse' and the shackles, the GWS one i was in HCMC with mates which was great albeit different and the Gabba one i was in Shanghai watching at home with mates and family. 2017 i will never forget that feeling until i die, a Dees mate in his mid 50s recently said he felt complete, thats probably a good way to express how i felt that beautiful September 2017 afternoon!.
Great story! I was working fifo in Darwin and took the day off to watch the granny. It was the longest morning of my life.
I got up at 6 and walked a couple laps around the camp, had breakfast walked around the camp again. Had a coffee and read the herald sun. Finally it was around 12 I went back to my room and started watching the pre granny stuff on the telly.
I started my nervous drinking and was pumping a few in. I watched the first quarter in my room and wasn’t real confident by quarter time. I thought we were just hanging in there.
A lot of the boys had just knocked off and I met them in the wet mess. Needless to say I’d had a bit of a head start on them.
Everything changed with those last two goals before half time. To say I was “up and about “ might have been an understatement.
I’ve never enjoyed a quarter of footy as much as that 3rd quarter. A couple hundred blokes watching it and me charging up and down like a madman. Every time the ball went forward of centre we were a big chance of scoring and was already up off my stool in anticipation. The last quarter I was singing the song after every goal and celebrated long into the night.
The next morning I woke up at 3.am and gathering my thoughts. I then realised, had the tigers won the granny? I then checked the afl website to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Even the concept of us winning a grand final had been beaten out of me for 37 years.
I enjoyed my bus ride to work every morning giving me a chance to watch the highlights again and again.
A week later a bloke walked up to me with a beer in hand for me saying “I just want to have beer with that bloke on grand final day. As a diehard tiger supporter these are special times and we are not finished yet!
 
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DeathNinthandTaxes

Richmond 'till we die
Nov 4, 2007
945
177
2017. Still the greatest moment of my life.
Any mention of that Grand final still brings me to tears. The songs that played at the MCG that day are like implanted happiness triggers and they detonate regularly, so far with no loss of power.

My day started early, i owned a pub and although we were predominately a music pub, grand final day was one of my big days.
I had a rule, if your team was in the grand final you did not have to work, otherwise it was all hands on deck. I had a manager who was a Hawthorn supporter, he sure got some value out of that dumb rule.
Anyways, it was my turn to take advantage of a rule I invented mostly for me but enjoyed by everyone except me in the decade i had owned the pub. I still had to set the joint up though, putting up projectors, setting up portable bars, moving furniture and organising the crew had me working until midday when the pub opened.

A quick pint failed to calm my nerves and so it was off to the train with my old man to start a journey we'd both been waiting for since 1982. In 1980 i was 8 and lived in Tasmania. My memory of that Grand Final, apart from Kevin Bartlett's hair, is of my inebriated dad kissing and hugging the evening paperboy when he delivered the good news in print.
We'd secured our tickets via the ballot and would be standing at M7, PRE. The journey towards this goal was subdued, the train crowd was typical of home and away but there was more nerves, excitement and tension, like a cartoon powder keg ready to explode.

The game was the game, we all have our own recollections of it but I've watched it so many times my memories of being at the ground are all now just emotions, high fiving strangers, that enduring musical soundtrack and the endless loop of "oh we're from tigerland...".
I cried when every players name was announced for their medal, I cried when Richo brought up the cup ( All those years i had wanted to hear "Number 12, Mathew Riiiiiichardsooooon" and had imagined the moment I was now living ). I soaked up the victory laps and couldn't leave until every player had left the ground and the song was sung in the rooms.

The journey home on the train had a post coital feel to it, we were all pretty pleased with our performance so we could look each other in the eyes knowing we'd shared something great and if we played our cards right we could do it again. There would be no walk of shame this night. The walk from the station to the pub with the old man was almost silent, I was really close to shutting down from the pride and Joy that I was experiencing and needed that time to reflect.
I'd had a couple of texts from people in the pub, so they knew I was on my way back. The moment I walked through the door of my pub is one I will never forget. The Joint was absolutely heaving and it seemed like everyone in there was aware that a long suffering tiger tragic was about to walk through the door, and i did, with my Knight poster held aloft like a premiership cup, i was greeted with a wave of cheers that rattled the windows, high fives, hugs and beaming faces. Strangers were looking at me wondering if they should know who I am, friends were congratulating me like i'd won the cup all on my own.
Everyone wanted to get me a nosebeer, they wanted share in the joy and find a way to feel like I felt, they couldn't of course but who was I to reject their kind offers. I was emitting some kind of vintage Tigers pheromone and it was creating hysteria not seen since the Beatles first toured Australia.
My Hawks friends welcomed me to a joy they are almost sick of, Collingwood friends looked on with jealousy at how easy it was for us, my bombers friends smugly congratulated me because we'd finally done it (like those guys have any right to still be smug), Melbourne friends looked on with hope that it may someday be them ( i feel sorry for them that their drought was broken interstate) and my Carlton friends just hung around like a puppy waiting for a pat...

At some stage the emotional exhaustion kicked in and I ghosted out and headed home. I was still wired like an 80's stockbroker so the only thing to do was watch the replay for the first of many, many times.
At the ground i was still nervous well into the last quarter but the replay showed me the unreliability of my emotions, the tigers were an unstoppable force from the second quarter. It was never in doubt.

What a day. It will never be repeated in my lifetime ( never again for current tiger fans with regular premierships hopefully the norm).
I think perhaps it was the perfect storm, My age, the Tiger era i've lived through, that long drought...whatever it was, it was worth it.
What a team.
 
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Spirit of Jack

Only a Tiger premiership can make 2020 a good year
Apr 19, 2004
3,547
2,236
Myself and a couple of mates have always had a package with a guaranteed grand final ticket - I used to call it the donation to the RFC, never to be redeemed. In 2017 it was fantastic, I took responsibility for securing the GF tickets...I couldn't trust anyone else with such a critical task....and we ended up with prime seats - level two at the Punt Rd end. The day, the seats, the result, the aftermath. It was all perfect.

Come 2019, my teenage son was flying to Italy, his first OS trip without the family so kind of a stressful deal. An hour before we were due to leave he rushed out panicking telling me his phone had shat itself. "No problems" I said (trying to be calm) , "I will just go to Officeworks pick up a new phone, we'll come home set it up together and then get to the airport". Suffice to say it was an almighty rush from that moment on and we arrived at the airport just in time for his flight.

Knowing he had made the flight I finally relaxed and immediately had a realisation. In the middle of the airport, I physically crumpled to my knees with my head in my hands. The realisation? I'd just missed the window to register my - and my mates - guaranteed GF tickets. Waves of nausea. I called the club - not good... Then I called my mates (gulp) they were actually very good about but I was not. I promised I would get them into the game no matter what it cost me.

The next 10 days or so were the longest of my life... we eventually did get tickets - second back row of Olympic stand with scoreboard obstructed views. Fortunately there were no shows, so we could shuffle over and see 99% of the ground. In the end, I loved every minute of the 19 GF - but I probably aged 10 years in the lead up.
 
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eZyT

Tiger Legend
Jun 28, 2019
21,434
25,779
Knowing he had made the flight I finally relaxed and immediately had a realisation. In the middle of the airport, I physically crumpled to my knees with my head in my hands. The realisation? I'd just missed the window to register my - and my mates - guaranteed GF tickets. Waves of nausea. I called the club - not good... Then I called my mates (gulp) they were actually very good about but I was not. I promised I would get them into the game no matter what it cost me.

that is one of the most unfathomable stuff-ups I have ever heard of SOJ.

If you were my mate,

I wouldn't have ever spoken to you again,

and I would have flown to Italy, located your boy,

pulverised his new phone with a rock, kicked the fragments down a drain, and then shat in the drain :cool:

What a day. It will never be repeated in my lifetime

It could be repeated for anyone born after 1960
 
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TygerTyger

oh yeah!
Oct 17, 2006
626
332
Richmond
I live close and I walked across to the 'G just before the start. My first grand final. I didn't know what to expect.

The streets were eerily empty and quiet. Walk into couldron of the MCG and it couldnt have been a bigger contrast - pure wall of noise, packed and buzzing.

I was so stressed for the build up, and I'm not great in crowds. But I tell you, every goal, every crunching tackle, every spoil, everytime Adelaide were forced to kick wide and retreat to the boundary - everytime the roar that followed - there was no holding back. No dignified, restraint. I was roaring and hugging strangers.

After 37 years of thinking "Hey, we're only 8 goals down and there's still 8 minutes to go ...." - the mighty Tigers not only got to big dance, but to play an amazing irresistible game and win - it was unlike anything.

Days later, I'd still get woken up by the sounds drifting up from a group that had become a fixture out the front of the RCH on Swan St... a lone voice starts with "OOoohhh ... we arrrrrrreeeeee frommmmmmm" before several more join in "tigerrrrrr land..." (with occasionally a chorus from the London or elsewhere joining in)

I'm not sure who they were -- but their stamina and vocals were exceptional.
 
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TigerMasochist

Walks softly carries a big stick.
Jul 13, 2003
25,571
11,449
Myself and a couple of mates have always had a package with a guaranteed grand final ticket - I used to call it the donation to the RFC, never to be redeemed. In 2017 it was fantastic, I took responsibility for securing the GF tickets...I couldn't trust anyone else with such a critical task....and we ended up with prime seats - level two at the Punt Rd end. The day, the seats, the result, the aftermath. It was all perfect.

Come 2019, my teenage son was flying to Italy, his first OS trip without the family so kind of a stressful deal. An hour before we were due to leave he rushed out panicking telling me his phone had shat itself. "No problems" I said (trying to be calm) , "I will just go to Officeworks pick up a new phone, we'll come home set it up together and then get to the airport". Suffice to say it was an almighty rush from that moment on and we arrived at the airport just in time for his flight.

Knowing he had made the flight I finally relaxed and immediately had a realisation. In the middle of the airport, I physically crumpled to my knees with my head in my hands. The realisation? I'd just missed the window to register my - and my mates - guaranteed GF tickets. Waves of nausea. I called the club - not good... Then I called my mates (gulp) they were actually very good about but I was not. I promised I would get them into the game no matter what it cost me.

The next 10 days or so were the longest of my life... we eventually did get tickets - second back row of Olympic stand with scoreboard obstructed views. Fortunately there were no shows, so we could shuffle over and see 99% of the ground. In the end, I loved every minute of the 19 GF - but I probably aged 10 years in the lead up.
Luckily you waited till 2019 to mess things up. Could you imagine if you'd messed up in 2017 and weren't able to fudge your way through to some tickets?

Son's old enough to be flying O.S. for a spell, he's old enough to look after his own *smile*. Gotta get ur priorities right SoJ.
 
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Sintiger

Tiger Legend
Aug 11, 2010
18,204
17,603
Camberwell
Without going into enormous detail seeing the 2017 Grand Final cost me a lot of money.
I was in Europe but there was no way I was missing that game.
On Saturday 30th September 2017 I spent 15 hours in Australia, 8 of those hours were spent gloriously at the MCG.
The thing that has always surprised me was the number of Richmond supporters ( and a smattering of crows) who flew in to Melbourne on the same flight as me.
We were all crazy but I don’t regret one cent of what I spent to get there
 
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Sintiger

Tiger Legend
Aug 11, 2010
18,204
17,603
Camberwell
Favourite moments. ‘17 Towner’s tackle on Crouch. That was where we stood up and said ‘give us all you got! We’re not taking prisoners here!’
‘19 Rioli’s goal in the first quarter, weirdly that was when I knew we were going to win it.
‘20 Dusty’s goal at the end. He surrounded 5 Geelong players and kicked what I still think is the best goal I’ve ever seen.
They were all great.

Prestia’s goal in 2017 was the moment for me. I seriously lost it.
In 2019 any lingering doubts about winning were snuffed out by Dusty’s goal at the city end after that little undergrounder from Rioli.
In 2020 it was Dusty’s 3rd which put us 22 points up. It was glorious but I still remember that all the people I wanted to jump up and hug were on the end of a zoom call
 
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Sammy Cougar

Goodness Gracious me The Tigers have got Another
Staff member
Mar 6, 2004
2,470
1,827
58
and we ended up with prime seats - level two at the Punt Rd end. The day, the seats, the result, the aftermath. It was all perfect.
Same Here Level 2A Punt Road End Front Row best $335 spent My Mate got our tickets I didn't know where I was sitting to we met up at The G What a day Memories that will stay for ever
 
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MB78

I can have my cake and eat it too
Sep 8, 2009
8,005
2,154
Still the best sporting day of my life. I was lucky to secure, 5 tickets in the ballot for a brother of mine and his 3 adult children. Seeing a credit card notification for the tickets on Sunday night was a great feeling. Our seats were in a Richmond bay second last row top of the Southern Stand.

I traveled up early on the Friday morning. Went to the GF parade. Then 5 of us went to Young and Jackson for a few beers. This turned into many. At the pub there were more Crows supporters. And there were a heap of middle aged women who were so confident that they had already had the flag. After a few hours we headed in Richmond and went to the Swan. One of my nephews who flew in from Queensland and had a mate at the Swan that was on top of the social scene in Melbourne. He said Mick Molley and Jono Brown are coming in soon to have a beer with us. I thought whatever talking it up! Anyway 20 mins later they came in. Mick Molley was getting mobbed and had to pose in many photos including one with me. He was as you would expect a very funny man. He kept telling everyone that Jono Brown didn’t rate Richmond so no one wanted a photo with him. I’m not sure if that was true but Jono Brown probably appreciated having a beer in peace. By the time the night finished up I was wreaked from over excitement and too many beers. It was a great day and night.

Saturday of the game huge hangover and big breakfast that sort of did the trick. A couple of beers had in the G to calm some nerves. Pre match entertainment brilliant. No beers during the game as I wanted to just soak it all in. Loved being at the Punt Road End in the third quarter as we kicked away. Was crying in the last quarter with my brother as we lost a few years earlier another brother who was even more passionate Richmond than us. We both knew how much he would have loved it.

Then after the game I lined up to buy the Richmond premiers T-shirt. Spend a truck load on buying 6 of them. I had more family and friends join us from Punt Road Oval as they couldn’t get tickets. We watched Jack sing and talked about how great the game was. Most of us then went to Swan Street. It was so unreal and better than the 2019 celebration. After an hour of trying to find a pub to get into and high fives to everyone I saw, we found a wine bar that wasn’t packed. None of us drank wine, but they had craft beer. There were 8 of us and we nearly drank them out. The police told the bar owners to keep service going as they cleared out the streets. By the time I left most people had moved on. This was the greatest 36 hours of my life.

PRO the next day was awesome. But no beers on the Sunday. I was happy and contented man.
 
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