The scenes that transpired on Saturday evening within the Richmond community resembled the youth, excitement, and camaraderie of the current playing group, but also the ferociousness and arrogance like the Tigers of old.
As Swan street was swamped by an unprecedented sea of yellow and black, some shopkeepers might have feared for what was to come next.
But the tens of thousands of adoring and jubilant fans largely mirrored the playing style of their premiership heroes: relentless tension driven by passion and love.
They were scenes that bordered on riot, but never really threatened. The exuberant fans were never really provoked, once again, much like their premiership heroes. It was unforeseen.
Last week, Gillon McLachlan would have been excused for hoping for a Giant victory. On the last day in September, he did get a giant victory, but of a different kind.
No matter his desire to expand the competition to monopolise the sporting market in Australia, there was no denying the importance to the integrity of the game that a Richmond victory had.
There is no value that can be put on bringing unbridled joy to so many people who have remained loyal with a club that became notorious for turning promise into failure.
In the past twelve months, Richmond turned tragedy into victory.
The Tigers remain one of the few clubs in the league that remains truly authentic. It is a football club that is not a business institution (like Collingwood) as much as it is a home.
The suburb of Richmond continues to be the heartland of football and the broader community rides every socio-economic wave with every result.
(Photo by Matt King/AFL Media/Getty Images)
After Eddie Betts kicked the second goal of the game it looked like the City of Yarra might fold by 5pm. By half time there was promise for a sustainable life. Before three quarter time, they were eating caviar.
Of course, there are many similarities to the Bulldogs on 2016. The significance of the club within the a notoriously working-class community; the inexperience of the players; the pressure-based game style; and the breaking of a premiership drought.
But, above all, it is the affection between the players, and the admiration that the players have for their coach, that most strongly parallels the premiership sides of ’16 and ’17.
It is a new brand of football, and it’s based on heart. Its foundations lie in determination, willingness, care and selflessness.
This was personified by the two rock stars of the opposing teams on Saturday.
In the first quarter, Tex Walker hopelessly attempted to check-side a goal from the boundary, 50 metres out, leaning back, with teammates open and with Tigers players carolling him. The ball was smothered out of bounds.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
In the same quarter, Dustin Martin found himself in a similar precarious position. He composed himself, surrounding by a murder of Crows, found Bachar Houli, and the result was a goal.
Martin’s signing with Richmond proved the catalyst for a successful finals campaign. It was the first public act of selflessness. The second was tucking his Norm Smith medallion under his jumper immediately after receiving it.
It is also indisputable that the love within the Footscray and Richmond communities was integral to their successes.
Richmond’s premiership was not just a win to the players. It was not just a win to the long-humiliated fans. It was a win to the dignity of the game, and it will long be celebrated.
marron
Guest
The response of the media to Tigers fans celebrations is nothing short of hypocritical. The slightest hint of anything like what occured from other quarters is met with outcry, shock, and moral panic. But when it's the AFL - not only is it okay, it's brilliant. Destroying property. Breaking windows. Setting things on fire. Stopping traffic to the extent that riot police are needed throughout the night in a number of locations. Amazing. But totally unsurprising to anyone with their eyes and ears open, inside or outside the carefully cultivated AFL bubble.
Reservoir Animal
Guest
Geelong had a chance to make the MCG their home ground. But they stuck with their backwatered, miniscule "stadium" that Blind Freddy could've told you wasn't fit for finals football. Similarly, Adelaide could've pushed for the AO upgrade to include a seating plan for 100,000 people but, in their typical small-town attitude, decided to go cheap, ensuring that any Grand Final played there would have no room for anyone else once ground members, corporates and media types were let in. Clubs who want to whinge should firstly ensure they have their own house in order, otherwise they lose credibility with everyone except the rest of the whingers.
Dean
Guest
I'm not a Tigers supporter, but I neared signed on for 12 months membership after hearing the constant roar from Tiger supporters at the MCG this finals series. Okay, not so much the grand final because let's be honest, that's more your corporates pretending to like football but are really there to drink their bosses free booze. No. I'm talking your preliminary final. That was probably the loudest prolonged roar I think I have ever heard. It was magic. I'm from that tiny tribe known as the Melbourne Storm, but I congratulate the Tigers. It would have been an injustice if they had lost on Saturday. You guys have waited for so long for this just to make it happen. Like last year's feel good story with Footscray, Richmond's win this year was for the good guys. Congratulations. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
DeanM
Guest
Wow it sounds like the Adelaide fans took the loss hard and rampaged through the street's of Melbourne. 8 goal loss has nothing to do with the venue, why so angry?
Philby
Guest
Hope we don't trade out Conca - he's a gun, IMHO, and would have been in the team but for a mid-season injury. We had a great year with injury, but there is no guarantee that will repeat, and if it doesn't Conca will definitely be a required player.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Oh just go away, you tedious, silly fellow.
Liam
Guest
I'd respond to that with, if Richmond had gotten Treloar, they wouldn't have won the flag this year. They'd have had him play selfish footy, over the selflessness outlined in the article; if you lot got Treloar, you might not have pinched Prestia, and he is key to allowing Martin to play forward and Cotchin to play in/out, rather than just inside. Cotchin is not a genuine inside mid, and he never was; he has the ability to go into the stoppage, but he's just so much more dangerous outside, or receiving the ball as he leaves the stoppage, than he is feeding out a handpass. If Richmond got Treloar, he plays that role, not Cotchin, and he sprays just so many kicks into the forward line; contrast that with Cotchin's pinpoint passes, by hand and foot. Prestia is critical because he's a complementary piece for Richmond's midfield, and not a competing player going for the same ball.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
They should look west for recruits,they already had three ex-Swan District players in the premiership team
anon
Roar Pro
Integrity of the game??? Richmond got THREE home finals despite only earning ONE of them. Adelaide were the best team all year but not only couldn't play the GF on their home ground, not only had to travel interstate, but had to play on Richmond's home ground a ground in which they won 14/16 games all years. All because after 28 seasons of having an AFL, the VFL establishment still think it's the divine right of the Melbourne teams to be afforded inbuilt advantages of the "interstate" guests. The VFL establishment are like new money, seemingly forgetting their origins as tin rattlers begging for change to keep their suburban semi-professional league afloat.
tibor nagy (big four sticks)
Guest
We never get ahead of ourselves at Tigerland.
David C
Guest
You don't think you might be getting a little ahead of yourself? Richmond have high draft picks this year, plus will trade out fringe players like Conca, Batchelor and Miles for more draft picks, so they certainly are in a great position to contend for the next 5 years. Premierships don't grow on trees though.
phil.osopher
Guest
Surely. Three goals for the underdog in a grand final and a premiership medal in his fifth game for the South Australian lad. And the Crows passed him up twice with low draft picks.
Birdman
Guest
he wouldn't be the first player to be seduced by Collingwood with empty promises of success
Brayden Rise
Roar Pro
Yes I was thinking of the Adam Treloar quote Birdman. Can you also picture Treloar getting those beautifully weighted Dusty handball feeds so he can run and carry? He would have settled beautifully into that side and would now be a premiership player.
Brayden Rise
Roar Pro
True Tiger Fan, what some don't mention with Cotchin and Dusty is how selfless they play. There were numerous times in the finals that Dusty could have gone for one of his trademark runs and looked an even bigger star but you know what...his first choice is to hand off to a teammate in a better position. They play as a team these Tigers and Cotchin has just become a remarkable leader. It's a remarkable story. Soak it up and enjoy...what a boom time for the Tigers now as no doubt they will also rise to the top of the membership table next year, sponsors will clamour to get on board, the AFL will give them a swag of Friday night games too. It's Tiger time alright and the momentum will be huge.
marron
Guest
Never really threatened huh? Repeated police action through the night, use of capsicum spray, things set on fire, windows smashed, fights, criminal damage, jumping on cars, stopping traffic in the CBD. I imagine though that as usual Vicpol were happy with the behaviour, just like the media outlets have been, a knowing smile, a wink, isn't it terrific. No double standards. Move along. Nothing to see here.
truetigerfan
Guest
Awesome! Brilliant display of team first footy by each and every player. Can't wait till next year!
The Ghost
Guest
Jack Graham to be 2018 rising star
Gyfox
Guest
And Richmond has the best club song!
Birdman
Guest
yep that quip by Treloar is going to haunt him for a long while although one of my Pie supporting mates reckons that they will be emulating the Dogs and Tiges next season. I guess he has to hold to hope somehow