We continue our special post-season series presenting the thoughts of Richmond’s latest premiership heroes on that glorious one day in September 2017. Today, close teammates and housemates Dan Butler and Jason Castagna combine to talk about the Tigers’ tremendous triumph.

The Grand Final lead-up

Castagna: “We tried to keep things as normal as possible around here. I just noticed more fans around, more signs out on the way to training. It probably wasn’t until we got to the parade on the Friday that it sunk in we were going to be playing in a Grand Final.”

The big game itself

Butler: “It was pretty heavy early, pretty fierce. It was just like all contested footy, especially early on in the game. The heat was on, the pressure was on, and everyone was just cracking in . . . Credit to our boys, we just did it longer and harder than the Crows, which was pleasing. That’s something we’ve based our game around all year – pressure and attack on the footy. So it was good to get the result.”

Favourite moment in the Grand Final

Castagna: “My favourite moment was probably when ‘Buts’ (Dan Butler) kicked the goal (late in the last quarter) and we knew that we’d won . . . Me and ‘Lambo’ (Kane Lambert) were running back to our positions together and we just looked at each other and knew we had it in the bag. It was a pretty cool feeling.”

At the final siren

Butler: “I was on the half-forward flank and I remember the last five minutes we knew we’d won it, but it was the longest five minutes ever. We just wanted the siren to go, so we could celebrate. It was just unbelievable. Started getting pretty emotional . . . It was just mayhem.”

Castagna: “I think I was somewhere along the half-forward flank. I reckon we were reasonably close. It was the same as Buts . . . we were just waiting for that siren to go. And then, when it did, I just gave everyone a hug . . . It was good.”

The significance of the premiership success

Butler: “It’s pretty amazing. I’m just so happy, especially for the older guys that have waited so long for it. And ‘Dimma’ (coach Damien Hardwick) as well. He’s had ups and downs over his time . . . I couldn’t be happier to see him get that reward. I’m so proud to be a part of it and just couldn’t think of a better bunch of blokes to have done it with.”

Sensing something special was in store

Castagna: “We didn’t really talk about it a heap, but after we played some good footy, we just kept building towards the end of the year, and we gained that belief that if we kept playing this way, we could go pretty far, and even to the ‘Granny’ (Grand Final).”

Breakout seasons for both

Butler: “It was good. Originally, when we moved in together, we expected only one of us to be in the team, and couldn’t have dreamt that we were going to play together this year, let alone in a Grand Final together. So that was pretty special . . . We’ve just tried to bounce off each other and we think we have a pretty good chemistry on the field and complement each other nicely.”

Competitiveness between them

Castagna: “Probably the main thing we’d compare would be pressure acts and pressure points. We don’t really talk about the goals too much, but I think we’re quietly competitive about that. So, a bit flat he got me this year (Butler 30 goals, Castagna 26).”

Selfless team ethos

Butler: “Probably the first 14-15 rounds, we might have been having some blind shots on goal, where our teammates could have been in a better position. So we brought in this philosophy that we would find the best person to take the shot, in a better position. We watched some footage of the (San Antonio) Spurs. I don’t know too much about basketball, but obviously they were just really good teammates, looking for blocks, and giving it to the person in the best spot. So we just tried to bring that into our game, and I think we scored a lot more goals because of it.”

Close-knit forward line

Castagna: “We’re really close. Jack’s (Riewoldt) been awesome for us as young guys. He’s the most senior bloke there and he’s got so much knowledge . . . he’s such a student of the game. He’s hung around with us after training and we kick goals all the time after training. That was probably my favourite bit of training all year . . . I learned a heap off him.”

Bring on 2018

Butler: “We get to have a little bit of time off and then get back to work in our off-season programs. But I can’t wait to attack the pre-season again, and have a crack at it again next year, because it was such an amazing feeling and I’d love to experience it again.”

The loud, proud Tiger Army

Castagna: “It’s just made it the best finals series possible, really. Everyone always talks about how big our supporter base is, and to have them cheering for us is just amazing. The noise they make, when we’re out on the field, is just indescribable.”