It will never cease to amaze me the unbridled passion Richmond supporters have for their side. Here is a club that has easily had the least amount of success in the last 30 years, yet enjoy a membership of more than 60,000.
The supporters not only turn out in great numbers, but are also vociferous. When their team is losing they can be brutal, and when they are winning the praise is overwhelming.
At the moment, of course, they are winning. Their current streak of eight wins is their longest since the premiership-winning year of 1974. It also equals the second longest streak of any team this season (Fremantle – Rounds 9-17, Port Adelaide – Rounds 4-12).
In the 20 years that the AFL final eight has been in use, no team has had as many consecutive wins and missed the finals. It would seem The Tigers are destined for consecutive finals appearances for the first time in almost 40 years.
Unfortunately for the Tigers faithful the team standing in their way, the Sydney Swans, enjoyed the longest winning streak of the season. Sydney’s 12 wins between Round 5 and Round 17 equalled a club record and had not been achieved for close to 80 years. The streak may have been broken by a 10-point loss to Hawthorn but they haven’t lost since. That makes it 16 wins from 17 games.
That is scarily good form, yet Richmond supporters will likely turn up to ANZ Stadium in their thousands on Saturday hoping to cheer their team into the finals. Misguided or not, that is passion.
One man who will be at the game on Saturday is Michael Stringer McIntyre, director of the film Aussie Rules The World, which is currently playing in cinemas. Michael has been a diehard Richmond supporter since he was a boy growing up in Tasmania at a time when he says, “Richmond were full of Tasmanians”.
He sums up the experience of supporting the Tigers and, by extension, any sporting team perfectly.
“Richmond’s hilarious. It has just taught me about faith and taught me about loyalty,” he says.
“It’s fabulous. It’s what makes following sport so fantastic. I’m a true tragic and I’ll always follow them.”
While he will be behind his team 100 per cent this weekend, he says it is “kind of ironic” that their finals hopes depend on beating Sydney. This is due to the experience of making Aussie Rules The World. The film documents the trip undertaken by Swans premiership hero Brett Kirk immediately following his retirement from the game.
Upon hanging up his boots, Kirk was given a role as ambassador for The International Cup in 2011. Part of his role involved a six-month trip around the world to experience the game in other countries. As McIntyre followed him on his journey he learnt not only about Kirk as a man, but also the renowned culture of ‘The Bloods’.
“After making the film I find myself appreciating how good the Swans are, but come this Saturday it’ll all be Yellow and Black”, he says.
That is part of the beauty of supporting an AFL team. It is possible to appreciate how good other teams are, but you can never change your stripes, no matter the predicament of your chosen club.
McIntyre suggests that the plight of Richmond supporters is worthy of a film, if he were to make another about football.
“There’s a whole element to following a team like Richmond. It totally is (like a Shakespearean tragedy)”, he says.
Whether or not the Tigers can pull off the unthinkable on Saturday and make it through to the finals, they have taken their supporters on a wild ride in 2014 and given them something to talk about for years to come.
That is another part supporting an AFL team. Seeing your team win a premiership is incredibly rare for some, but the experience your club gives you along the way is undeniable.
As McIntyre says, “I was there at the final last year when we were 35 points up and we somehow managed to lose it, and I thought ‘Well, it’s Richmond’.”
Well, it’s Richmond, indeed.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Great seeing the tiges falling in over the line.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
So if you win the bet you actually have to give the other person stuff? Is that how you do things there?
Josh Pinn
Roar Pro
Don't start making excuses, Don. Get amongst it. You can pretend its a South Freo beanie. Except that it'll say Swans on it.
Don Freo
Guest
It will be fun but I don't know how we'd send scarves and beanies. If we exchange contact details, some of the unhinged lot on this site might start stalking us. I mean, some people on this site actually follow Hawthorn! Go figure
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
We,re going to have such fun next week Don. I didn't see your game but I hope that your Dockers are free of injury so we play you at your best, that Sydney's coaches actually select a team designed so we have a chance to win; that ANZ stadium burns down so no one ever has to play there again, and that the best team wins when we play. Here's a little thought to spice things up; If you beat us, send me a Dockers scarf and I'll wear it for a week. If we win, and you agree, I'll send you a Swans beanie for you to do the same. Fair deal? I'm game if you are. :-)
asd
Guest
Good to see richmond in the 8 .Good that there playing gritty hard matches and winning. Dimma puts everything into coaching 120%. Hes a good bloke. Richmond might be on verge of something special .
Don Freo
Guest
Good on you Olivia. I love your way of seeing things.
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
I'm a mad keen Swans supporter who is disappointed by our loss tonight (and furious at Horse and the coaching panel for blatently resting so many players who would have fronted up had this been Hawthorn .... but that's another story) but am totally rapt for you Tigers fans out there tonight celebrating your gutsy win and finals berth. You guys played with real passion and skill and we got exactly what we deserved in taking you lightly. Enjoy your win - you deserved it!
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
It's a rare distinction I reckon. Despite being the least successful club of the past three decades, 'we' are still disliked. Even by newcomers to the game. There's going to be some real hatred out there if the club ever becomes successful again!
Mark
Guest
I strongly dislike Richmond and their fans are pretty cocky for how woefully average they are but I have to give them some respect for being loyal despite their lack of success. It makes me think about how I would be when (if?) Sydney slide down the ladder and stay there for a while. I have no doubt I would go to every game I could (living in Melbourne that's only about 5 a year) but it's a lot easier to say that as since I've started following them, they've only missed finals three times in that 18 years. It sounds pretty obvious but I think being down the bottom gives you a great appreciation of being at the top, no matter how brief the stay is.
Don Freo
Guest
When I visit the MCG from the west and look across at Punt Rd, I get amazed at its location. WA's ferals live in the outer suburbs.
Josh Pinn
Roar Pro
That's one of the great things about following a footy team. There's often no rhyme or reason to who you support but you do it with all your heart and soul.
Anthony
Guest
Had to laugh yesterday, listening to Red Simonds talking about the Richmond vs Sydney game on 3LO. He said imagine what Dustin Martin would be doing if he wasn't playing AFL football! Priceless :-)
Slane
Guest
I think you need to understand that very few people actually choose the team they end up barracking for. Most of us are born into a team. They aren't wildly popular because of their statistics, colours, haircuts or anything like that. They are popular because they were hugely successful in the 60's and 70's and all those supporters had children. There is now a generation of Richmond supporters who have never tasted success. How can you oppose all those unfortunate souls finally getting a bite of premiership glory? They don't choose to support a crap team, they are born to endure it.
Bosk
Roar Rookie
Richmond supporters certainly have a talent for breeding in numbers. I can't imagine the club ever selling Tigers branded condoms in great numbers. Better they leave that to GWS.
Brendon
Guest
Jason K
Guest
As a bit of a newcomer to footy, I've definitely chosen Richmond as a team to oppose. They are the Dale Earnhardt Juniors of footy - wildly popular but statistically very average. Like li'l Earnhardt, they do possess legit street cred, true roots and a fine pedigree. This is probably why it's so fun to watch them fall flat. This team also has the craziest haircuts in the AFL.