One VERY Happy Tiger
If you don’t know what the game of AFL is, do yourself a favour and look it up. Whether you can understand it or not, you’ll soon become fully aware of the passion, blood, sweat, and tears that make this one of the best sports on the planet. Today I sat with the man who brought me up loving this game, raised me to bleed yellow and black, and watched together as our Tigers destroyed their opponents by 89 points in the Grand Final!! 100,014 people filled the Melbourne Cricket Ground (10 off it’s capacity I think), I’d say at least another 20,000 filled the Richmond Football Club’s home ground just outside the main venue, and a sea of yellow and black spilled out onto the streets through pubs and cafes all over the city. We really are part of something much bigger.
Over the years I’ve been asked why I still support the Tiges, and fair enough with them living comfortably on the 9th spot of the ladder for years.. but it’s only been in the last four years that I’ve really come to appreciate the work they do. The club speaks highly of its mantra - to play for and with one another, do it for the Tiger Army. Players no longer aim to get the most disposals, the highest number of touches, or to be the one scoring all the goals.. instead they ensure everyone gets a go, they are the live demonstration of versatility, and what it means to be part of a team.
A stunning example of this comes in two parts - firstly to a senior player who sacrificed being part of a Premiership team to allow a deserving, talented man have his debut on the big stage. Marlion Pickett got the gift of a lifetime to be welcomed to the side, and showed the nation exactly why he was deserved of this opportunity within minutes of being on the field. Credit to Shaun Griggs, you sacrificed something incredible to give another man the chance to prove himself, and man did he do you proud! Secondly, with Pickett being absolutely sensational in assisting goals and keeping the ball alive, he was able to go one better and also get his first AFL goal during his debut game in the 2019 AFL Grand Final with the Premiership team. Star of the game, Dustin Martin (heart throb, genuinely gorgeous soul, and sexiest man on the ground) has a clear shot at goal and instead kicks across the field to Pickett, who is also open. Making sure that Pickett is given the best chance at creating the most incredible memory in his debut game, Martin gives him the opportunity and Pickett scores his first goal.
Give me the chance and I’ll brag for days on end about my club. I’m a tiger through and through with yellow and black coursing through my veins. My home is Tigerland, and I’ll forever be grateful for the lessons I have learnt about sport from this club. Bring on 2020 Tiger fans, Tiger Time isn’t over yet x