One-eyed Richmond supporter Simon Wallace delivers his report of the Tigers’ win over Hawthorn

OUR best is the best. An imperious Dustin Martin performance and Dylan Grimes’ statue-worthy night. Our One-eyed Richmond supporter delivers his report of the qualifying final win over Hawthorn.

OUR best is the best.

Richmond has stormed into another preliminary final by flogging an older, more experienced and taller Hawthorn team piloted by a four-time premiership coach with a fortnight to prepare.

Resplendent in their yellow and black armour and championed by a feverish Tiger army, the reigning premier revelled in the wet conditions.

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The final margin of 31 points flattered the league’s former benchmark.

Hitting and hustling from the first bounce, Richmond dominated territory, overwhelming the Hawks with a stunning 66-37 inside 50m ascendancy and boasting winners in every position.

It’s still a simple game that’s hard to play simply, but we won the ball in more dangerous positions, created more chances and used it better. Basics done best.

Daniel Rioli celebrates a goal with Trent Cotchin.

At the coalface was our superstar Brownlow-winning premiership captain with great hair.

Adding another rollicking chapter to what is already a brilliant career, Cotchin was ferocious, hunting and gathering 26 disposals (16 of them contested), while also nullifying O’Meara and the prolific but profligate Tom Mitchell.

Richmond has pace, strength, guile and trust. It also has Dustin Martin.

His ‘don’t argue’ is now part of the game’s lexicon. It is a verb.

When shooting hoops at Punt Road, it’s said Dusty routinely sinks three-pointers with a 6kg medicine ball. He be strong.

Playing game 200, the first Richmond No.4 to do so, this incredible specimen was imperious when the game was still undecided, torching late inclusion Daniel Howe.

Dustin Martin celebrates on the final siren.

His second quarter goal, kicked under intense pressure from the 10th row of the city-end flank, had jaws dropping on and off the field. No star burns brighter in the code.

Luke Breust and Jack Gunston presented the biggest scoring dangers going into the game, but were rendered impotent by the Tigers’ peerless backline. Paul Puopolo needs no flu shot, as on Thursday’s evidence he couldn’t catch a cold.

Melbourne needs a Dylan Grimes Statue. Now.

I’m thinking the size of that titan straddling Braavos harbour, but with Dylan’s legs astride Swan Street, near the station.

Are you listening, Daniel Andrews?

Alex Rance’s moronic detractors (excuse the tautology) say that judging him is hard because he didn’t play on the great full-forwards of yore.

Dylan Grimes beats Paul Puopolo to the ball.

True enough, and maybe we should discount their records accordingly. He was brilliant. Again.

Tales of Richmond’s Hafey years are sublime, but they’re not memories of anyone born after 1970.

In the crowd, at home or at the pub, generations of Richmond disciples are now creating their own, new and unique stories, set in a time when their team is the greatest in the land. Long may they be told.

Hats off to those Hawthorn fans there at the finish.

They stuck fat during the painful rebuild of March - June 2017 and they’ll dig into their inheritances to fund construction of the Mayblooms’ latest spiritual home. Hashtag persevere.

Our club is in a prelim, 22 players are already recovering and the weekend hasn’t even started.

For Tiger fans, we’ve seen too many droughts not to dance in this rain.

Yellow and Black!

@rfcswallace