17 ways you can tell you’re a one-eyed Tigerland tragic

THE Tigers’ top eight dream is still alive, at least mathematically. Here are 17 (yes, 17) characteristics that define a true yellow and black tragic from Tigerland.

Have a flick through.

THE Tigers’ top eight dream is still alive, at least mathematically.

But despite being starved of success, Richmond remains one of the AFL’s power clubs with more than 60,000 members.

Why do we still do it, year after year?

Here’s the top 17 reasons you know you’re a one-eyed Richmond supporter — like me.

Tigers fans during a game in Cairns.

1. Resilience. Being a Richmond supporter teaches youngsters how to deal with heart break and disappointment, easing the blow of some of life’s other major disasters. We haven’t won a flag since 1980.

Richo kicking and missing.

2. You never had confidence Richo would kick a goal from 15m out. Matthew Richardon kicked 800 goals in his 17 year career and 551 points for a 68 per cent accuracy. When Richo was good, he was brilliant, but when he had a howler, it was often the easiest kick of the day.

3. Matthew Knights’ five-bounce goal in the 1995 semi-final against Essendon. That’s been the highlight of the past 20 years.

Kevin Bartlett. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

4. You want to sack the coach (except for Dimma). The Tigers have a long history of impatience with coaches, just ask Kevin Bartlett.

A Richmond fan makes his point following teams loss to Adelaide in 2004.

5. Tantrums. There’s nothing quite like talk back after a Richmond loss. A fan dumped a $600 load of chicken manure outside the club in 2001 after a 42 point loss to Geelong. He said the players had played like chooks. (16 June 2001)

Ben Cousins.

6. Overexcited. Ben Cousins anyone? You actually believed Kevin Sheedy when he said we could win the premiership in 2009 when the West Coast star came over to the Tigers. We finished second last.

STORM. Picture: Colleen Petch

7. Each year you say, if we don’t make the finals, I’m following Melbourne storm next season.

8. You own the VHS cassettes of Richmond’s premierships. And you watch them. My favourite is 1973.

Have a flick through.

9. Jon Anderson’s ladder. You read the comments each week in Monday’s Herald Sun, and pore over how many teams have to lose for Richmond to make the eight.

Tigerland.

10. Punt Rd. You wish that Richmond still played interstate teams like GWS and Gold Coast there. And you’ve been down there to watch a reserves game this year.

11. You know we have the best theme song and have felt the tingle down your spine when the “Yellow and Black” is roared at the Punt Rd end of the MCG after a victory.

Jake and Toby.

12. You forgive Jake King his friendship with Toby Mitchell. As long as he was hard at the ball, it didn’t matter that the Push Up had shady mates. And hats off to his Bob Hawke beer skull in cheer squad at the weekend.

Get on board. Picture Mike Batterham

13. Bandwagon. Your mates say you only come out of the woodwork when the team is up and about. It’s partially true — but after so much heartache, can you blame us?

14. The Fitzroy smashing. You were there when Richmond flogged Fitzroy by 151 points in the club’s last Victorian game before becoming the Brisbane Lions in 1996. And you were just stoked we had such a good win even though it was end of Fitzroy’s era.

Old timey.

15. The good old days. Your dad and uncles walked into the MCG to watch Richmond’s flags in the 1960s and 1970s. And they keep telling you about them to make sure you keep the faith.

A young believer. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

16. Early starts — you sign up the youngsters. The Tiger Cub membership, bought when my son was two days’ old, was $50 well spent.

Darren Lillie and Suzana Talevski with the Jack Dyer statue.

17. Jack Dyer. This list stops at 17 because it's the club’s favourite number, for our favourite son, or elder, the late Captain Blood. And you just can’t top that.

Tell me what you think Twitter: @steveheraldsun