Family of Collingwood legend Lou Richards say he would be proud of the Pies

THE family of Collingwood legend Lou Richards say he would be looking down on his beloved Pies’ premiership quest with pride in the AFL Grand Final tomorrow.

THE family of Collingwood legend Lou Richards say he would be looking down on his beloved Pies’ premiership quest with pride in tomorrow’s AFL Grand Final.

The premiership captain died last year, as passionate as ever about the Pies and honoured with a state funeral and statue outside Collingwood’s headquarters.

His daughter Nicole Morrison said “Lou the Lip’’ would be thrilled with Collingwood’s march to the grand final.

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“He would be so happy,’’ she said.

“He would be so proud of them and think ‘that’s the way they should be playing’.

“And he would be thinking that Nathan Buckley and Eddie McGuire have both done an amazing job.’’

Lou Richards family says the former Collingwood great would be looking down on the Pies with pride. Picture: Allsport AUS

Ms Morrison said her dad “would have been beside himself’’ with the way Collingwood thrashed Richmond last Friday to book its spot in the grand final.

And Lou’s family, including five grandchildren and five great grandchildren, were praying for a Pies premiership party.

“We’ve all got our fingers crossed, you never know what’s going to happen in the finals but the way they’re playing has given us hope,’’ he said.

“We’re all remembering dad at the moment because it’s that time of year and we all feel very grateful that people still feel Lou is part of the Collingwood legend and AFL in general.’’

As Collingwood prepares for battle, Pies defender Tyson Goldsack said players were counting on supporters to bring the noise to intimidate the Eagles and inspire the home team.

“We love hearing the ‘Coll-ing-wood’, there is no better feeling,’’ he said.

“If I was the opposition team, it could have an influence I think … I don’t need to tell the fans.

“They will turn up in droves and they will make the necessary noise and we’re thankful for it.’’

Former Collingwood legend Lou Richards. Picture: Getty Images

He said the feeling of being in a grand final was “magical’’ for players and fans.

“You got a glimpse of it after we won the prelim, just how excited and happy everyone was and rightly so too,’’ he said.

“But just to make the Grand Final is not enough — it’s good — but it’s not enough — you want to win it.’’

Even prisoners are on their best behaviour this week, in anticipation of Saturday’s showdown.

Grand Final week is one of the quietest on Victoria’s prison system calendar.

One source said inmates tended to mind their manners because they did not want to lose television privileges on the big day.

“No one f … s up this week because they don’t want the TV taken off them on Saturday,” the source said.

He said it was not clear whether there was a disproportionate number of Collingwood supporters in the state’s corrections system.

Collingwood will stage a live site at its Holden Centre headquarters from noon for fans unable to score a seat at the MCG for the match.

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