Richo's touching reaction to Tigers' drought-breaking flag
Richmond great Matthew Richardson couldn't hold back the tears as his beloved Tigers beat Adelaide in the AFL Grand Final.
As the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter and the realisation hit home that Richmond were about to win their first premiership since 1980, Channel 7 cameras caught Richardson breaking down on the sidelines.
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The brilliant centre-half forward sobbed on the boundary as jubilant cries of "yellow and black" rang out across the MCG.
Richo, who played 282 games at the Tigers and booted 800 career goals, managed to compose himself for some post-game interviews before presenting his beloved side with the premiership trophy.
"I'm a Richmond supporter since the age of four, so I'm like all those other guys in the stand," Richardson said after the game.
"It feels incredible. The September they've put together; they're going to talk about this for a long time.
"They didn't just limp in. They came into September playing well and then they rose again.
"They're a remarkable team and I couldn't be more proud of them."
He wasn't alone in breaking down, with CEO Brendon Gale and President Peggy O'Neal also shedding some tears as they watched on in the stands.
Trent Cotchin, the captain who became the face of Richmond's recent meek elimination-final surrenders when he opted to kick into the wind against Port Adelaide in 2014, also celebrated with tears in his eyes.
As did Damien Hardwick, the coach whose supposed incompetence had plenty of pundits calling for a sacking after last year's 13th-placed finish, speak from the heart about his team's transformation from hopeless to heroes.
Their reward was a barnstorming triumph over the minor premiers, who took an early 13-point lead then were harassed into submission.
The Tiger Army were out in force but the league's grand-final ticketing policy stopped plenty from storming the MCG.
It meant the roar wasn't as loud as last week's preliminary final, with fans instead setting up camp a torpedo punt away at the club's spiritual home of Punt Rd Oval.
If you grant AFL the status of religion, as some supporters do, then you might look for miracles and omens on the most holy day of its calendar.
Especially when you're a cynical Richmond fan, having built a well-founded fear of abject failure and false dawns since the 1982 grand final.
That stretch had featured so little resilience but so much rudderless football and regular heartbreak; so many rage-worthy random blunders, regrettable draft choices, repetitive jokes about finishing ninth on the ladder.
No more - finally they are the Tigers of old, strong and bold.
with AAP