In a recent column for the Herald Sun, veteran Richmond star Shane Edwards opened up about the momentous change he’s experienced throughout his time with the Tigers. Here’s what ‘Shedda’ had to say . . .
“I played almost seven seasons of AFL before playing my first final.
“Before that, I would sit on the couch at my parents’ house in Adelaide watching the teams run around in September.
“My off-season had already started and here were these players all finding another gear with everything on the line.
“I remember thinking, ‘I’m buggered, the season was that hard. I have no idea about how those blokes are playing finals’.
“Then, once you’re in it, you realise it’s largely the adrenaline that carries you through.
“The difference of having a positive season, rather than a negative one, is actually refreshing.
“The transformation at Richmond in my time has been incredible.
“The journey has been gradual in terms of moving facilities, then slowly making finals every now and then or not making it, to making finals regularly.
“Now I feel surprised if we lose two games in a row.
“Back in the day, I was just happy to be playing and to be out there.
“It’s different these days.
“The system is working really well and it’s a happy environment and very progressive.
“The first flag in 2017 was just surreal. I couldn’t believe it.
“Even after the game at functions and the after-party, my partner Sam or my dad or brother would say to me, ‘You just won the Grand Final’.
“It would almost shock me again and make me think, ‘How did we do that’?
“The whole month of finals went so quick it was just perfect.
“The flag last September felt different.
“I can’t think of it without thinking of Marlion Pickett.
“Having him play almost took the attention away from the gravity of the event.
“It changed the mindset a lot because you wanted to help Marlion just be comfortable. It diverted a bit of your attention to look outside yourself, and it probably really helped us calm the nerves.
“It was extraordinary.
“You wouldn’t think winning the Grand Final would almost be second-place news on the day.”
