EVERY dog may have its day, but this weekend it’s time for the big cats in yellow and black.
It will be Richmond’s first shot at winning the Australian Football League premiership in 37 years, but no matter the outcome, Cohuna resident and Tigers “fan of the century”, Des Shelley will stay loyal to his team.
Cautious optimism sums up how he feels about the game.
“It’s good [that we’ve got a shot, but we haven’t won it yet,” he said.
“Everyone reckons that we will get beaten but I have seen undefeated teams get beaten.”
If the Tigers do win, Mr Shelley said that nobody will see him for three days because he will be off celebrating.
It is pretty clear to see just how much the win would mean to Mr Shelley when visiting his home.
With streamers on the front gate, a toilet painted in unmistakable yellow and black, club number plates, garden ornaments in Richmond stripes, and a giant tiger named Dusty after Brownlow Medallist, Dustin Martin, the territory was claimed as Tiger land long ago.
Past accoutrements included a Tigers-themed ute and a work locker that played their song every time it was opened.
His passion led his three kids to dob Mr Shelley in to the club’s Fan of the Century competition nine years ago, which he won.
But what if the mighty Tigers lose?
“I celebrate whether we win or lose. I take the good with the bad,” Mr Shelley said.
“I might be drowning my sorrows though.”
Mr Shelley said he has been a fan for some 40 years, but said he had little choice in the matter.
“It was like child abuse in my family. You supported the Tigers or you got a hiding!”
However, in the past few years being a fan has been more likely to get Mr Shelley into trouble than keep him out of it.
On the drive home one night, with Dusty the tiger riding in the back seat, Mr Shelley was pulled over by police to be breath-tested.
The officer then noticed Dusty staring at him from the back seat.
“Is that real?” the officer apparently asked Mr Shelley.
At a bowls weekend in Echuca, Mr Shelley’s car was threatened with a towing.
The reason was announced over the loud speaker.
“It’s those Richmond number plates!”
None of that will matter this weekend though when Mr Shelley passes through the gates into the Melbourne Cricket Ground to watch the Tigers do battle against the Adelaide Crows.
His bet?
“I reckon the Tigers will win by five goals.”
