Here’s a snapshot of how Richmond’s playing leadership group of captain Trent Cotchin and co vice-captains Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt responded in post-match interviews on Channel Seven to the Tigers’ securing a place in the 2017 AFL Grand Final, as a result of last Saturday’s preliminary final victory over Greater Western Sydney at the MCG.
Trent Cotchin
“It was always going to be an arm wrestle (against GWS). They’re a talented side, and they’d been playing some pretty good footy, so we knew we had to bring our best.
“I don’t think we were quite there in the first half, but the boys just got to work in the second half and did a really good job in the end.
“Twelve months in footy’s a long time . . . I’m just super proud of the boys, to be honest.
“The coaching staff, the football club, and our supporters – how bloody good are they!
“I can’t wait . . . I’m looking forward to it (the Grand Final).
“Business as usual during the week and then another opportunity against a quality opposition.”
Alex Rance
“Our pressure was probably lower than what we wanted it to be (v GWS), but we weren’t probably playing to our strengths a lot of the time. So we just kept it a little bit simpler (after half-time) and didn’t put as much ‘razzle dazzle’ in the offense . . . We just let our small forwards do some damage.
“We talk a lot about focus – focus in game and focus out of game – so it’s really important that we enjoy ourselves and we have fun because that’s why we play the game. But, at the same time, putting things into each compartment, saying ‘Okay you’ve enjoyed that part of the week, now let’s move on try and get some more out of the rest of the week’.
“I never really thought I’d be playing in front of 95,000 people, let alone in the ‘big dance’, so this is a pretty amazing experience...”
Jack Riewoldt
“I can’t believe it . . . it’s a dream come true to get through to an AFL Grand Final.
“I’m a bit lost for words . . . I really don’t know what to say.
“We’ve been through some tough times as a club, but our supporters are just amazing.
“You just feed off the energy. You can’t put a goal number on it, or anything like that, but it was amazing (the Tiger Army’s support in the preliminary final).
“We’re so proud to have great fans.
“We’ve played well all year. We probably had two games that went the way we didn’t want it to go, but we always believed within.
“We hope everyone out there’s really proud of us.”
