John Scott may live almost 16,000 kilometres away from Punt Road Oval, but that doesn’t stop the South Carolina surgeon from bleeding Yellow and Black.
It all started back in the 1980s when he remembers watching AFL games in the early days of cable television, having absolutely no idea of the rules but being excited by the "hard hits and fast-paced action".
When baseball and American football took over the television slots, AFL games were relegated to late night hours, if at all, and for about 30 years, he cannot recall watching a single game.
Then, the pandemic hit. As sporting events were cancelled in America, Scott needed to get his fix elsewhere. And he found that fix through footy.
"As a starved sports fan, my love affair with the sport was rekindled," Scott, who has watched every Tigers' game since the pandemic hit, said.
"I just needed someone to root for. I took about three weeks to settle on Richmond.
"They had personality and characters, and they had heroes aplenty."
Scott has never been to Melbourne. In fact, he admits that when he first started following the sport again, he couldn't even point out the suburb of Richmond on a map. But, the Tigers had him absolutely "hooked".
"I absorbed every fact I could get my hands on about the Tigers, because I had some catching up to do," he said.
"I have the opportunity to interact with surgeons from around the world, and every time I am at an international conference, I seek out the Aussies so I can talk about footy.
"Luckily, I have also found a bunch of online Tigers supporters with whom I can share that passion."
For Scott, it's the pace of the game and high-scoring nature that appeals to him the most.
"There’s nothing like it, you can feel the momentum turn," he said.
"When a team gets on a roll and gets three or four goals in a row, you can feel that momentum start to build up.
"Whether they are coming from behind or getting out in front, a bunch of quick goals in succession is so satisfying."
Considering it his duty to spread the word far and wide, Scott has worked hard at getting his colleagues on board too.
"There's lots of explaining the rules. I start by putting the matches on in our OR lounge in the hospital between cases," he said.
"People will start to ask, 'is that rugby?' and I say 'no, it’s the AFL, an exciting sport that you are about to fall in love with!'
"I try to show the most exciting goals and best marks of the match. Then, I explain who the best players are and why they are such superior athletes.
"I wore a Richmond knitted winter cap in 37 degree summer heat in Las Vegas earlier this year... I will do anything to get people to realise what they are missing."
The time difference means Scott can be consuming matches at odd hours, but he’s enjoyed making it a part of his routine.
"I have the AFL app so I can watch all the games on delay," he said.
"One of my favourite things to do is to get up early on Saturday and Sunday, before the wife and kids are up, let the dogs out in the yard, brew a big pot of coffee, and put the Tigers match on patio TV as the sun comes up.
"Then I can wake everyone up in the house when Shai Bolton kicks the big goal!"
Bolton is among Scott’s favourite Tigers.
"Good Lord, he is good. Fast, agile, wily, shifty, and deadly accurate. Dangerous, every time he touches the ball," he said.
"(And) Dustin Martin, this guy is a grinder. He gets the ball and just makes things happen.
"The Riolis, Maurice and Daniel. Speed, determination, and good sense where the ball is at all times.
And when he finally gets to the 'G one day?
"If I ever get lucky enough to travel to Melbourne, I hope that the Tigers are at the MCG, and Shai Bolton nails one from 50 meters to beat Collingwood!"
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