AFL Grand Final 2019 | Richmond Tigers players celebrate ‘Mellow Monday’

Richmond celebrated its premiership in some incredible costumes but no one came close to David Astbury’s impersonation of a former Prime Minister.

The Tigers are on fire.

Sorry Geelong, the bar has been raised.

The Cats might be known for donning the most elaborate costumes during end-of-season AFL celebrations, but like they did in the preliminary final, the Tigers have trumped them.

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David Astbury may have only had 11 disposals during Richmond’s monster grand final win against Greater Western Sydney, but he was best-on-ground as the triumphant Tigers gathered for a “Mellow Monday”.

David Astbury's perfect recreation of John Howard's infamous delivery.

Tom Lynch was the other standout. The former Gold Coast star went from the cellar to the penthouse with his move to the Tigers.

It wasn’t necessarily a signing that was welcomed at the time with teammate Alex Rance taking a shot at Lynch in an interview with Fox Footy back in 2018.

“I’m really proud of the way our list management has been over the last few years,” Rance said at the time.

“Dusty is the best player in the competition, in my opinion, and deserves the dollars he gets. But I don’t necessarily believe that we should be upsetting the apple cart, to go and chase a big fish … he (Lynch) is the big tuna.”

Lynch finally respond — in costume. Lynch dressed up as a farmer — towing along an apple cart.

Well played Tom.

Even better, Rance was dressed as a doctor, a good costume to deal with Lynch’s mad burn on him.

Alex Rance ready to treat that burn.

Lynch couldn’t hide his excitement after the premiership win, dropping an f-bomb on the live Channel 7 coverage.

“Oh mate, it’s amazing,” Lynch told former Tiger Matthew Richardson.

“I can’t believe we’re here, I can’t believe we’ve won it so I’m f***, yeah, sorry, it’s amazing.

“I just love this footy club. Day one since I walked in the door they’ve just been amazing — everyone in the club.

“It’s full of great people and I just love this footy club, it’s amazing.”

Plenty of the Tigers dressed up for “Mellow Monday”.

Trent Cotchin as Ash Barty.

Sydney Stack (left) and Brandon Ellis (right).

What a lovely couple.

Creepy clown.

Tip of the hat Tom.

Josh Caddy as Razor Ray? And Jake Aarts is padded up.

Tigers players arrive to get on the bus.

But despite two premierships in three seasons, Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale doesn’t want to talk about the D-word.

“I’m not saying dynasty … I’m not saying the ‘D’ word,” the former Tigers ruckman said.

Later, Gale was asked what he thought would constitute a Richmond dynasty and, again, he could not shut down the topic quickly enough.

“I’m not going there,” he said.

“Whenever the dynasty word (is said), the opposite tends to eventuate.

“We just live in the moment and take it year-by-year, quarter-by-quarter, blow-by-blow.”

If Richmond are not in the midst of a dynasty, it’s at the very least one of the club’s great eras.

— with AAP