Richmond wins the AFL premiership, and Tiger fans go wild
UPDATE: DANE Swan has emerged from the premiership celebrations, but is missing a key item. He also heaped praise on his mate Dustin Martin.
DANE Swan has emerged from Richmond’s premiership celebrations, but is missing one key item.
Swan, 33, can party with the best of them but admitted on Saturday night that even he had some trepidation at what the next few days might hold.
He emerged at 3.41pm today, tweeting that he had lost his wallet in the revelry, which isn’t ideal with a six-week jaunt to the United States set to kick off later this week.
“Losing ya wallet is not great I must admit,” he tweeted.
“Kind of need it before I head away. I blame Richmond.”
Swan – a Brownlow winner and premiership player with Collingwood – was in high spirits in the victorious Richmond rooms last night, even donning a Tigers scarf in support of his friend — Brownlow, premiership and Norm Smith medallist — Dustin Martin.
Martin joined his teammates at Punt Road Oval on Sunday and said that “I just left (Swan’s) joint so I’ll be back there soon.”
Swan said on Saturday night that he is often left in awe of what the superstar midfielder is able to produce.
“He reminds me of myself but just better,” Swan told the Sunday Herald Sun.
“He’s a star.
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“He’s been best on ground for the last eight weeks in a row, and he did it again today. I’m just super proud of him. Not that I have anything to do with him, but to be associated with someone who is such a star. It’s amazing.”
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Swan said the pair “don’t talk much about footy” – just “every now and then”.
And he said Martin has him well covered in every area.
Except one.
“He can kick the ball better than me, mark better,” he said.
“The only thing I have over him is leg speed. Apart from that, he’s better than me in every facet of the game.”
The pair will travel to the United States later this week, having previously hit Las Vegas in the off-season.
“I’m a little bit scared (about what tonight will hold),” Swan, who knows he has to scrub up for his mum’s 60th birthday on Sunday.
“We’re going away, so we have the next six weeks together. I’ll let him do his thing with the teammates tonight. I’ll catch him tomorrow I think.
“To watch him win a flag is super incredible.
“For what he’s done and where he’s come from … he’s a star.”
SEE THE REACTION BELOW:
JACK RIEWOLDT:
“I’m so proud of the guys. Not only the guys out here…you see how much it means to the group when the guys are here in the suits that didn’t get a game today.
“Who would have thought, mate?
We finished 13th on the ladder last season, lost the last game by 110 points — and now we’re f***ing premiers.”
DUSTIN MARTIN:
“I honestly cannot believe it. This is a dream come true. This is the best thing in the world mate. I’m proud of each and every player that played today.”
BRIAN TAYLOR:
“You just wouldn’t have thought this was possible in the position they were in last year. This really is a fairytale.”
TRENT COTCHIN
“Commiserations to Adelaide. Obviously had an amazing year and continued that form through finals.
To all our board, staff, volunteers, there are so many people that make up a football club. They put hard earned - spend a lot of time at the footy club and makes it a special place to be around. Huge thanks to our families, our friends, and the boys. It’s been an incredible year. I just love working alongside you all. And finally, a massive thank you to our fans and our members. You deserve this!”
ALEX RANCE
“It’s unbelievable. To play with blokes like this. I love these boys so much.
I’m extremely humbled. Oh, I don’t know. I can’t put it into words at the moment.”
Originally published as Richmond wins the AFL premiership, and Tiger fans go wild