This is brilliant, needs pages more.
Grand Final day has to start early be out getting all the papers by 7-7.30, read everything Sun,Age, Fin Review, drink Coffee, go out for breakfast in Hawthorn, see all the glum faces that their mob isn't playing. They are salty, smug and hateful, I drink it in. Train to Burnley, stroll through Richmond, meet the family. Spook is right, footy is family. Brother and Dad are as smug as me. Back slaps, hugs, 'We are doing this", "beyond doubt" type stuff. But confident, softly spoken words. We know it.
Second breakfast/Early lunch (Richmond supports don't have Brunch on Grand Final day, that's for Hawthorn and Melbourne) and beers in Richmond, nothing excessive, just something to make it feel different, like Xmas. Take the long way to get to the ground zig-zagging going past a packed London. It's blissfully alive, thumping, it has a pulse. We just stood out the front and talked to a few more family members. Never met them but on Grand Final day, with Richmond playing, everyone is family at the London.
The game itself was what we wanted. Premature celebration that was wanted. The Rioli goal felt like a huge counter punch to the liver that GWS knew they couldn't recover from. The rest was just smiles and smug pity for the franchise.
Afterwards, up Swan Street, Wasn't the same. Too many ring ins. Too many teenagers treating it like New Years Eve. People too drunk too early. Swallowed beers from a restaurant on the street. Didn't need to be there late, I know we will do it again.
Watched the replay when I got him, drank top shelf scotch. Back up early the next day, read everything, watch it again.
