Made the 200+ kilometer trip to the MCG last night , and I don't doubt others travelled further. What was different about this albeit rare trip to Melbourne for the footy was I was taking my 7 year old son to the game for his first ever AFL game so I of course made sure Richmond were playing in his initiation.
He was stoked when given some cheering sticks for me to blow up later in the evening. So far he was rapt then I went to the members tent outside gate 3 and purchased him a membership he suddenly pushed out his chest and I swear I saw a tear in his eye. Again so far so good.
Then he saw the banner go up and he cheered as loudly as any veteran Tigers supporter and gave the cheering sticks a decent work out. Then came the team song and the side ran out through the banner once more he was up on his seat banging those cheering sticks together with gusto smile as big as he has ever done then he swapped to the Go Tigers sign that he also got on the way in yet the personal noise level didn't subside at all.
Early in the first quarter he was going with gusto I am sure I even heard a umpires are maggots comment can't be sure though could have been an echo from me though >
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Slowly as the game went on the noise abated the sticks and signs put away the Tigers cap was off as much as it was on.
Then late in the third quarter he turned to me and again I swear there were tears in his eyes of a different kind this time though but it was what he said that gutted me as much as how the Tigers played. "Dad when I grow up I want to play AFL for another club except Richmond because they know how to win" what can you say to that?
Personally I don't expect to win everything or every time but what I do expect some sort of pride in the jumper not what was dished up last night.
He was stoked when given some cheering sticks for me to blow up later in the evening. So far he was rapt then I went to the members tent outside gate 3 and purchased him a membership he suddenly pushed out his chest and I swear I saw a tear in his eye. Again so far so good.
Then he saw the banner go up and he cheered as loudly as any veteran Tigers supporter and gave the cheering sticks a decent work out. Then came the team song and the side ran out through the banner once more he was up on his seat banging those cheering sticks together with gusto smile as big as he has ever done then he swapped to the Go Tigers sign that he also got on the way in yet the personal noise level didn't subside at all.
Early in the first quarter he was going with gusto I am sure I even heard a umpires are maggots comment can't be sure though could have been an echo from me though >
. Slowly as the game went on the noise abated the sticks and signs put away the Tigers cap was off as much as it was on.
Then late in the third quarter he turned to me and again I swear there were tears in his eyes of a different kind this time though but it was what he said that gutted me as much as how the Tigers played. "Dad when I grow up I want to play AFL for another club except Richmond because they know how to win" what can you say to that?
Personally I don't expect to win everything or every time but what I do expect some sort of pride in the jumper not what was dished up last night.
