Have any of you have ever been in the awkward position of attending a funeral where you didn’t really know the departed? A partner’s Aunt, a friend of the family that you haven’t seen in a years or a very distant relative? Someone you had largely lost track of whether they had actually passed on already? I’ve been there once or twice. It doesn’t mean any disrespect for the dead that you weren’t close or didn’t really know them, it just feels like there is nothing really appropriate that you can say. It isn’t really your grief. You respect and acknoweledge the pain of those around you but there is a nagging sense of illegitimacy about the fact that you are there.
Alas, i feel i may have picked the wrong week to see Richmond. I may have inadvertently wished a terrible fate upon them – I should be careful what i wish for. After a few weeks of games that had turned out a bit similar – my team of the week falling behind and gradually succumbing to a modest but predictable loss – I was hoping for a game that would stand out. Before the game, i assumed this meant a chance to witness Richmond’s first win of a disapointing season.
Well it did stand out but for all the wrong reasons.
If nothing else my week long flirtation with Richmond will be a game that i will remember for many years to come. The 35.12 (222) to 9.11 (65) was the Tiger’s worst loss in its 120 years history. It was the first time a team had scored more than two hundred (or had more than 200 scored against them unfortunately!) in a dozen years. It was woeful.
Unfortunately my bluetooth dongle (i’ve always loved that word) seems to be playing up so i can’t extract the photos from my phone at this minute. A full report on the game and the fantastic, generous and sadly suffering people that took me (and my earlier jaunt to Williamstown) will have to wait until those technical difficulties are resolved. Suffice to ackowledgea few things. First, should Richmond get up against any of the teams that i am following this year or whoever i pick next year I will not begrudge them their victory. Second, the Tigerland cheer squad stayed, chanted and supported their team to the very end. And finally, that Geelong team looked good – i got to check them out!
May 8, 2007 at 9:02 am |
Liked the funeral analogy. If you subscribe to the view of “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”, then us Tiger Supporters are fairdinkum super(wo)men
May 8, 2007 at 11:32 am |
Love following your pursuits Marcus but I think your quest to find a team has ended prematurely and you’ll just be going through the motions from now on. If you can get through that experience and still maintain your sense of humour you’re born to be a Tiger. Welcome aboard.
June 4, 2007 at 1:27 pm |
[...] Unfortunately for Melbourne they were playing against my team of the week Adelaide on Saturday so i have been forced to obliterate it from my memory. But i came home and caught the last quarter of Richmond’s thrilling game with Brisbane on TV on Saturday night. I have to confess that i was cheering Richmond on, screaming at the TV and hooting and hollering like it was no one’s business and trying desperately to get Richmond across the line. The game ended with a very empty feeling – a 73 all draw, but i suspect that Richmond would have taken that over, say, the 172 point loss like i witnessed a month or so ago. [...]