Following Richmond’s stunning 13-point comeback victory over Carlton in the opening round of the AFL season, thousands of delirious Tigers fans have already begun camping outside the MCG, convinced their team is destined for the 2025 Grand Final.
Even though the Grand Final is still over six months away, and Richmond was widely expected not to win a single game, the club’s devoted supporters have taken Thursday night’s result as an undeniable sign of impending premiership glory.
The club’s official membership department was reportedly swamped with calls from panicked fans demanding to know when Grand Final ticket pre-sales would open. “We’re still trying to process membership renewals, and now we’re getting people asking if they can book their seats for the last Saturday in September,” said a frustrated staffer.
Dazza, who has taken leave as a forklift driver until October, was joined by dozens of other fans wearing faded Dusty Martin jerseys and sipping warm Carlton Draughts at 9 a.m. “I was here in 2017, I was here in 2019, and I was here in 2020. The signs are there again,” he said, ignoring that Richmond still has 22 games left.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has urged Richmond fans to “maybe wait until at least Round 2” before making any long-term plans, but his warnings have fallen mainly on deaf ears. “They said the same thing in 2017,” said another fan while applying for a second mortgage to afford an interstate trip for a Grand Final that may never happen.
With Round 2 just days away, Richmond fans remain unwavering in their belief, even though their next opponent is Port Adelaide. “Doesn’t matter,” Dazza said confidently. “If we beat Port, I’m putting a deposit down on a Grand Final corporate box.”
Dazza has booked a tattoo appointment for next week.
