Richmond will play Port Melbourne in a final for the first time since 1905, when the two teams clash in next Sunday’s 2017 VFL grand final at Etihad Stadium.
On that previous occasion, the Tigers defeated Port by 26 points, en route to what was their second VFA premiership, in 1905 (1902 being the inaugural one).
One of Richmond’s earliest football rivalries, following its admittance to the VFA competition in 1885, was formed with Port Melbourne.
The Tigers and the Borough fought many fierce on-field battles during those early years.
VIDEO: Moore kicks four
More than a century on, Richmond and Port will renew acquaintances, in what shapes as an absorbing 2017 premiership-decider.
Richmond booked its grand final berth with an extremely impressive 65-point thrashing of the highly-fancied Box Hill Hawks, at Port Melbourne’s Fortburn Stadium last Saturday.
Talented, young AFL rookie-listed, tall forward prospect Callum Moore, who again produced an eye-catching performance for the Tigers, finishing the match with a team-high four goals, described the feeling of being in the grand final as “quite overwhelming”.
“Credit to the boys, today, they put their heart and soul into it,” Moore told ‘Roar Vision’ in a post-match interview.
“The pressure that we rely on each week is outstanding . . . Just so pumped to be in a grand final.”
Moore modestly attributed his own good form to the strong support he received from teammates.
“I’m happy, but, it’s off the back of the other boys – the backs, the ‘mids’, and all our small forwards putting the pressure on,” he said.
“If they didn’t do that, I probably wouldn’t have got rewarded today . . .
“We pride ourselves on connection – that’s our one wood,” he said.
“Obviously, ‘Lloydy’ (Sam Lloyd) and all those boys have good experience at AFL level . . . They bring those traits back to VFL, and it just helps us out so much.
“I can’t thank them enough.”
Moore revealed that a long-term ankle injury, which he suffered earlier this season, had proven to be a blessing in disguise for him.
“Rehab’s basically like pre-season over again . . . Eight weeks in that made me feel pretty fit. It helped a lot,” he said.
Moore expects the VFL Tigers will keep everything as normal as possible in the build-up to Sunday’s grand final.
“I don’t think we’ll change up too much. It’s just recovery, really, which is a big thing,” he said.
