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Voices in the crowd: stories of being Richmond

LYN BURTON, 52, DINGLEY


All-time favourite player:
Neil Balme: “He was tough, he was a good footballer. I’ve always liked the tall guys for some reason.”

Current favourite player:
Tyrone Vickery: “I love his aggression. I know he did go overboard a bit last year, but he’s a tenacious Tiger and they’re the sort of guys you want.”

Lyn Burton was born in Carlton, but says none need know about that. Her football team was a birthright, anyway, always to fall in the long afternoon shadows of the MCG. “Mum and dad grew up in Richmond, so there was no choice,” she says. “They lived around Cremorne and somewhere near Jack Dyer’s milk-bar, and when all mum’s sisters and brothers came around with all the cousins, they were all Richmond.”

So for Lyn, at least, it was settled (“although my brothers are Hawthorn”) and a lifelong love-affair began.

Nowadays, her second home is never far from Punt Road Oval. She attends open training sessions, dresses in her colours, has helped every Wednesday night at the cheer squad’s banner-making for the past 15 years, goes to most club functions and, oh, yes, she’s also a player sponsor of Tyrone Vickery. She’s a clubwoman, yes, with a big Tiger heart.

Last year, for instance, she attended every Richmond game except the last round in Sydney. “I wanted to save the money for the final in Adelaide, because I anticipated us winning that game.” This year she’s booked flights for all interstate games except Round 13. “I’m only going to Sydney if Ty plays his 100^th game there.”



Lyn behind the goals at the Whitten Oval this pre-season; with her 2015 Tiger headgear

So we meet by the boundary at Punt Road Oval and I want to put her on a pedestal: she might well be our No. 1 fan! But all we find is a milk crate. She laughs, says she doesn’t mind.

That’s the thing about Lyn; she’s always got a smile, likes to bring newcomers at Tigerland into the fold, and has no qualms about getting on her knees with a roll of sticky-tape and pair of scissors to help make the game-day crepe paper run-through.

She’s also not afraid to show her Tiger love. Two seasons ago, with the advent of the ‘Conca cuddle’, she asked her cheer squad friend Melanie Castleman to make her a banner. Melanie duly obliged. Lyn then took the banner to training for Reece to sign. He obliged.

“After that I think he got embarrassed and stopped doing it for a couple of weeks,” she says. “All the other blokes were ribbing him. But then he started up again later, so that was good.”

By happenstance, Lyn and Reece share the same birthdate – 12 August – 37 years apart. “I told him I wanted a Conca cuddle for my birthday,” she says. She received a card instead, signed by Tyrone. A pair of Leos, two extroverts in a crowd, it never was going to happen.

In her 45 years of going to the footy to watch the Tigers, Lyn has witnessed much of the glory and heartache of being Richmond. “I’ve always just loved the club,” she says. “I’ve gone along through some of the darkest days because that’s what you do. You follow them no matter what.”


Lyn with Trout (from Woodend) at banner-making before the season's first game against Carlton two years ago

She was at the 1980 Grand Final against Collingwood, when Kevin Bartlett in his stringed Guernsey kicked all those goals and waved his fists in the air before a delirious Tiger crowd, and nominates it her fondest football memory. “I was also at the 1972 Grand Final against Carlton, but have not-so-good memories of that one.”

She says she’s appreciated the rise in fortunes of the team – and her club – under the helm of ‘Dimma’. “We’ve been going in the right direction, there’s been a gradual progression,” she says. “I think our aim this year is to get in the eight and play a final and win one. It’s pretty hard to get a premiership, but if you don’t have any injuries you never know what might happen.”

Lyn was at last Thursday's heartening win and she’ll be at the G again for the home game this Saturday afternoon. Look out for her by the fence, in the pocket, beneath the great bowl of the Olympic Stand. She’s yet to choose which banners she might take along and hold up in celebration. “One says ‘Tenacious Tyrone’ and I’ve got one for Snipper Miles. I really like him.”

Either way, come 1.45pm when the game starts she’ll be warmed by the fervour and camaraderie of the crowd. “I’ve made a few good friends through the footy over the years,” she says. “I love the colours, I love it when they win.”

Go Tiges!


If you would like to nominate a Richmond fan who has a story to tell about their barracking please email Dugald Jellie with details: dugaldjellie@gmail.com 

www.tigertigerburningbright.com.au