Is that an omen for Richmond’s chances in the AFL grand final against Adelaide this weekend? 

Jamie Beavis, 47, of Horsham certainly thinks so. 

“We haven’t been in a grand final for a long time and I think 2017 is a bit of a good omen. Captain Blood, Jack Dyer, wore the number 17 – and it’s 2017. Captain Blood is looking down on us for this grand final,” he said. 

Mr Beavis said he supported the Tigers growing up in the 1970s and 1980s.

“When I was four I just got into them. Whether it was because of the tiger on the logo … I’ll never really remember,” he said.

“I went well out of the path my family liked. It’s a family mystery, no one can answer it.” 

Mr Beavis said hearing the iconic Richmond theme song raised the hairs on the back of his neck. 

“If we win this premiership, it will be something else. It is on the same level as when your kids are born and your marriage,” he said. 

Mr Beavis said he had been impressed with the Tigers in 2017. 

“The way the boys have been playing, not crumbling under pressure and just playing the game (has been great),” he said. 

“When they beat Greater Western Sydney, it gave me a bit of an excitement. I never pictured we would play a grand final. 

“When you see a grown man crying is when you know it is a real deal. I was emotional for quite a while.” 

Horsham man Simon Stevenson, 53, has been a Tigers supporter for as long as he can remember. 

He was at Saturday’s preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney and said the number of Tigers fans at the game – compared to Giants fans – was amazing. 

“I was in one of the dinner rooms and in that one room there were 38 tables of 10 people… There was only one table of GWS supporters,” he said. 

He said this week was the most excited he’d ever been.

“I don’t think I was as excited in 1980 when we won the grand final. I was 17 or 18 and there wasn’t as much feeling then,” he said. 

Mr Stevenson became a Tigers member 15 years ago. 

“I have stuck with them through thick and thin,” he said. “I go to a lot of interstate games, including when we defeated Fremantle by 104 points in Perth.

“For the past five years, I have gone to Perth (to watch Richmond play) – they always seem to do really well at interstate games.” 

As a youngster, like Mr Beavis, the tiger on the Richmond logo attracted Mr Stevenson to the club. 

“Then I started to learn all about the club and its history and I haven’t looked back since,” he said. 

Horsham’s Chris McClure will be among the crowd cheering on the Tigers from the stands of the MCG on Saturday. 

“This year is 50 years since I have been a Richmond supporter,” he said. 

Wimmera Mail-Times