It’s been a long quest – 16 games over about 5 months. I’ve seen every team (i did cheat and see one on TV) and i’ve been with fans of every team but there has only been one game that i know i will never forget.
I am looking for a team for a lifetime not a good time. I never came into this with the plan to jump on a team and ride them to victory this September.
There is something about me and the Tigers that bonded on that fateful night. I have seen them and their worst and admired them (ok, well i’ve admired the fans, not the players – they really were shit). I met men who had flown down from North Queensland to see them thumped, women who had made their banners, and fans that stayed and supported and comforted each other in what must have been one of their darkest hours. I admired them all. I admired how they kept their chin up and how they were dutifully gracious to this unfortunate stranger who had gate crashed their collective funeral. It was surreal, it was awful, it was horribly uncomfortable and it was emotional.
Richmond have managed to scrape out two wins and a draw this season and i watched the final stages of all of them. I cheered them on, i screamed at the TV for them, and i texted and rang Terry and Faye from that fateful night to congratulate them and to try and share some small sense of what it was like for them to enjoy it. I could hear the joy and passion in their voices and their appreciation of the smallest wins. It made the disappointment in victory that i have observed in other fans seem trivial.
After that fateful game some fans appealed to me in their gloom and it really got to me. I read every single one of those testaments and felt the emotion and i returned to them through the season and read them again. I felt it and i haven’t been able to shake the feeling since.
My apologies to those teams i got to later in the year. I think i played out the second half of the season with a niggling injury. Still looking for a team with my head when my heart actually already knew where it was going.
Tomorrow afternoon I am off to see another football game. My 16th and last for the year (i am off on my own mad monday next week and my team won’t be far behind me!) but my first as a fan. I’ll be playing this for motivation, i’ll be dressed up in the gear, i’ll be doffing my cap to former Richmond great Kevin Sheedy, I’ll probably even be dropping by the grog squad for old times sake, but – more than anything – i’ll be hoping that we teach them a lesson and that Richmond’s great future starts here.
Oh we’re from Tigerland, a fighting fury we’re from Tigerland…
marcus.
August 26, 2007 at 10:33 am |
Marcus, Marcus, Marcus, I don’t think you fully understand the enormity of your decision, or the fact that you will have to live with all that is involved in becoming a Tiger supporter. Your choice is the equivalent of, say,
setting off as a twelfth-century crusader, or spending your life in quest of the North-West Passage, etc.
Take me, for example, born in 1934 (the year Richmond won the Centenary flag), in fact, I could have/should have been born on the day of that grand final except I was late (story of my life). My father was a Richmond barracker, loyal Mum backed up Dad’s choice of a footy team – I had no say in the matter. Been down in the depths more than once in that time, but also witnessed some amazing heights – all the more memorable for the depths experienced. It has been character-shaping to be a Tiger, made some great friends. Yep, Yellow and Black for me, guess they’ll paint that on my tombstone. Welcome, Marcus, to the ride of your lifetime!
August 26, 2007 at 1:35 pm |
You didn’t pick the pies but I think im finally over the urge to disassociate myself from you completely and change my name. My cat is also a richmond supporter (he goes by mascot) and I still hang out with him. I look forward to polishing you both a wooden spoon.
and on that note, a wooden spoon in both codes this year is a pretty impressive accomplishment. Can you now go back to supporting manly in the NRL? You are the kiss of death.
August 28, 2007 at 5:30 pm |
Marcus understands the passion we feel for the Yellow & Black. I’m so glad you were able to share our pain earlier in the year, Marcus. In a few years when our boys are at their competitive best, you will be able to share our joy in singing the song and listening to the Tiger Army chanting non-stop. We’ve really enjoyed listening to your journey, but at last you can relax and enjoy your football. Terry & I are looking forward to catching up with you at the footy in 2008 and beyond. Go Tiges!
August 28, 2007 at 5:51 pm |
Congratulations on an excellent choice. I will never forget the day in 1995 when at a miserable VFL park in late September, a gallant Richmond were thrashed by a rampant Geelong outfit on their way to a Grand Final. The game was over by the third quarter, but that didn’t stop the entire outer (populated largely by Richmond supporters) singing the oh so glorious Richmond Theme Song for the duration of the final term.
As a 9 year old, I struggled to understand why supporters would want to sing their song in defeat, and a season ending one at that. I asked my father
“Why are they singing when they’re losing?”
His simple answer has never left me.
“Because they love their team.”
The week after when I had seen my beloved Geelong lose a Grand Final for the fourth time and a clumsy scoreboard attendant played the Geelong Theme song instead of Carlton’s, I too sang brokenhearted for my losing side.
They will break your heart in a hundred different ways, but if you stay with them, I hope for both our sakes that there will be moments that famous song is all you can sing to describe how you feel.
August 29, 2007 at 10:55 pm |
So the Tiges huh?! Obviously I would have preferred for you to choose our lads!! but of the rest of the teams, there were far worse choices to make! They have an awesome Grog Squad who showed a terrific amount of respect for Hirdy and Sheeds the other night.
Hope to catch up for a few beers at the footy in the future!
Onto other topics…. have you picked a soccer team yet?! (hint hint… Melbourne Victory!!)
August 31, 2007 at 7:58 am |
Howdy Marcus! Obviously you came close to chosing a great team, just swap the yellow for red but close enough eh?! Well it’s been an interesting read and it was great to have you down at the Grog Squad early in the season and hope have a blast with the Tigers next season!
Have a good one mate!
Cheers,
Neela
December 22, 2007 at 3:35 am |
Hi Marcus.
Was fantastic drinking a few with you this year. I’m glad you’ve found a home with the Tigers. They’ve a fantastic grog squad and are a great team with some real fight in them. They had a similar year this year to Essendons last year.
While I would have loved to have you onboard at the Bombers if it’s not to be, it’s not to be.
Hopefully, will share a brew with you some time next year whichever way it goes.
Cheers, Andrew.
January 7, 2008 at 4:22 pm |
Tigers are by far the best team to barrack for, and you guys are right, in a few years time are young guys will be stronger and wiser and we’ll be up the top of the ladder , I cant wait, GO TIGERS!!!
N. Brown – LEGEND!
Richo – LEGEND!
J. Bowden – LEGEND!
January 3, 2009 at 4:16 pm |
Marcus, hopefully you are in for a successful 2009. Go tigers!
January 12, 2009 at 12:58 pm |
It was a great decision by Richmond to get Ben Cousins – he’ll add tremendous strength and ability in the midfield which should definitely contribute to a great year for the Tigers in ‘09!