A stunning two-point victory over last season’s premiers Collingwood has propelled Richmond to a second consecutive Victorian Wheelchair Football League Grand Final.
The Tigers who started slowly to be 17 points down at quarter time, scored five second-quarter goals to edge ahead at the main break.
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Both sides then traded blows in the second half in front of a spirited crowd at the Boroondara Sports Complex, as the Tigers held on to a 10.6.66 to 9.10.64 win.
Richmond will meet Essendon or the Magpies again in the decider in a fortnight’s time, with the fellow big Victorian clubs to clash this weekend in a final-round clash to decide who makes the Grand Final.
The Bombers (by 27 points in Round 2) and Magpies (eight points in Round 4) are the only teams to defeat Richmond this season with the Tigers clicking into a five-game winning streak since.
Chris Henderson and Vincent Naidu have been the main source of goal for the minor premiers with 24 majors each.
A notable absentee for the Tigers for most of this season has been exciting recruit, Teish Shadwell.
Shadwell, a wonderfully skilled wheelchair player with great speed and agility has been unavailable due to Wheelchair Basketball commitments, where she has been selected in the Australia team for the Tokyo Paralympics.
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Richmond Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, Rana Hussain, said the Tigers’ ability to overcome injuries and unavailabilities this season had been fantastic.
“It’s been a huge year for them, and they have all once again come such a long way,” she added.
One player who will benefit from this year’s training is last season’s mid-season edition Adam Georgelin.
Georgelin will draw off the fitness base when he participates in a fundraising wheelchair push, which is the length of the Goulburn Valley Rail Trail (125km) in December.
It is hoped the journey will help in raising awareness for disabled members in the community, to get them active in sport and considering activities such as the VWFL.
Richmond’s Grand Final will be played on Sunday September 1 at Boorondara Sports Complex.
