Chris – Page 2

Round 9 v West Coast, Optus Stadium Perth – The Benny 2018

21/05/2018 By Chris 1 Comment

This was the most generally anticipated game in footy since Round 1. Our winning streak was 6, theirs was 7.

The trick for Eastern-states Tigers was how to fill all of Sunday until the 4.40pm first bounce. Here we went down to the rivulet with 200 other people and picked up plastic and polystyrene remnants from the flood a week ago, and that passed the time nicely.

I bought a one-week AFL Live Pass for this special occasion blockbuster. 5 bucks entitled me to an appropriately phone sized picture of the sun-drenched action from Optus Stadium, Perth. Throughout the game below the picture were stats from the completed Blues v Demons massacre. I never did work out how to get the right stats. I watched in front of the fireplace, squeezed up with the 16yo on my right, and the mini iPad balanced on a couple of cushions at eye level.

After Caddy opened the scoring (free kick to Cotch, messy pack mark that I considered 40/60 payable) – it was one way traffic for the rest of the quarter. I reassured myself that we came back from a similar terrible start against Carlton, but then again that was Carlton. Our outstanding players early were Riewoldt and Edwards. Jack was in everything but missed an easy set shot (as did Martin and Grigg). Sheds was a twisting, turning link man, distributing the ball at impossible angles to his direction of movement like the great farnarkler Dave Sorenson. Cotchin marked outside 50 and telegraphed that he wanted to dish off. Jayden Short has form for this but the Eagles were dozing – he arrived through the centre square and pounded it through for our much-needed second goal. Either side of Shorty’s goal Jack Darling kicked majors, to go with Cripps, Gaff, Kennedy and Willie Rioli. Ominous signs, down 37 -15 at QT. But Elliot Yeo was off injured and looking downcast, that could be helpful.

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After the break the ship began righting itself. Sheds opened with an amazing goal. Dusty’s pass into 50 was low and hard like an un-returnable forehand winner down the tramlines. His kicking action was entirely in the horizontal plane. Sheds patted it, tamed it, gathered it and nervelessly straightened up and kicked the goal. Note; he did not draw a man and handpass over the top. He did not head for the pocket so he could checkside it on the run. Suddenly we had the momentum. Nank was taking it up to NicNat. He is such a lovely kick, he delivered it perfectly for Jack to crash the pack and mark. He snuck the kick in, we were 9 points down. Today’s Ruck Chuckles were provided by Martin against Lycett and later Broad against Naitanui.

Jack Darling was paid a mark on the boundary 50 metres out that he controlled practically sitting in a Bunnings chair. His confidence up he approached to kick it checkside, hit the Fat Part Of The Ball™ and it fell into Redden’s hands right in front. It was that sort of day. At the other end our Jack went up for Mark Of The Year an hour early and missed the ball by metres, free kick. Oh we don’t wanna penalise THAT do we?? asked a Fox genius. We were killing them at this point, but still down 44-29. Jack buried Cole in a tackle but was unrewarded. Our entries were frequent, chaotic and unrewarded. Sheds’ hands outstanding, Lloyd spinning through the crowd but no scoreboard progress. 19 inside 50s to 3 for the quarter. The pressure is incredible. With misses and a dodgy rushed behind we creep up to 44-32. Somehow none of this is getting the ball through the big sticks, until the ball flips out of a standing pack at the top of square, and Jack soccers it sweetly through with his left. To be able to think his way through this situation is completely just off the charts in terms of football intelligence yeah OK mate I think he just saw it and kicked it, actually.

25 seconds later Jack made another one. Trying to hook it through as tackled, he changed his mind and managed to just toe it one metre to George who goaled from the square. George (sporting a Tom Libba-ish barnet) had collected Conca’s soccer out of the centre bounce, passed and ran on to get on the end. Best thing he did all day. Nank was working himself to exhaustion. With 12 seconds left he found the ball at his feet and just nudged it away gently like it was a possum in his driveway and he was trying to tell if it was alive. Siren. Scores level. First v second. Capacity crowd booing. How good is footy.

At the time I thought – ‘What a great quarter. Anyone’s game. Yeah bad kicking might bite us later but the momentum’s the thing’. How wrong I was. That quarter was our best chance to put a dent in this mob. Their oversize backline were marking only when we kicked it straight to them, and we did that plenty. For some reason our backline was misfiring and and we avoided that problem by ‘playing off a short pitch’, winning it back across the centre. It was really enjoyable to watch if it was divorced from what came before and after.

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I’ll just go with my notes for the 3rd quarter. The AFL Livepass was starting to struggle along with the Tiges.

Conca goals gets KMac cuddle.

Yeo back from the dead, greatest comeback since Gary Lazarus (Fitzroy 1963-70, 132 games).

James Cripps looks like Once In A Lifetime era David Byrne.

Conca flick to Riewoldt.

Cotch stupid 50, then Edwards. Too far back now.

Short again off a very lucky 50 metre penalty.

Astbury on Kennedy = David & Goliath.

Kelli Underwood – boundary duties only – weird.

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What I didn’t write was we gave up 7 goals to 3 in the premiership term. And just like that we were 28 points in arrears and our old mate momentum was Back In Town. Our Jack was having an incredible game, but their Jack was having his best of his career. Sheds had faded. George wasted opportunities. Butters was invisible and might miss next week for Rioli. I feel for Stengle that Rioli’s return might cost him a chance.

Martin looked to me to have gone back to the 2016 model. Less trust in his mates – which leads to him doing too much. Cotchin was very solid in adversity. Dylan didn’t have a good game but there was a little moment that showed what great spirit he plays the game in. Gave away a free which sparked a melee but gave the Eagle a little tap later – sorry mate.

There’s lots I don’t understand about footy. Example – we concede the ruck to Naitanui. It is 100% guaranteed he is going to tap it to an Eagle midfielder. We don’t even contest therefore we have an extra man. How in heaven’s name did he repeatedly find a man he could tap to, streaming free in the clear?

Seconds before the final siren Butters demonstrated a fault we have shown all year. 35 out right in front, instead of taking the shot he tried to chip it to Jack. Siren. Jack punched it away.

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Votes:
5 Riewoldt for a genuine 4-quarter effort. Showed real leadership all day. His first votes for the year, incredible.
4 Nankervis gave NicNat a great contest. His workload is incredible.
3 Edwards was at his very best in the first half.
2 Cotchin was down early, missed shots, was in our best when the game was running against us. 7 tackles.
1 Conca is not everyone’s cup of tea but I can think of heaps of clubs who’d love to have him.

Unlucky: Short, Caddy, Martin

Leaderboard

28: Cotchin
16: Martin
11: Astbury
10: Grimes, Nankervis
8: Caddy, Lambert
6: Rance, Edwards
5: Lambert, Short, Riewoldt, Conca
4: Higgins

3: Graham, Lloyd, Houli
1: Townsend, McIntosh, Castagna, Vlastuin

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another club
(Eligible 2018: Caddy, Grigg, Hampson, Houli, Nankervis, Miles, Prestia and Townsend.)
10: Nankervis
8: Caddy
3: Houli
1: Townsend

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1
(Eligible 2018: Liam Baker, Noah Balta, Callum Coleman-Jones, Ryan Garthwaite, Jack Higgins, Ben Miller, Patrick Naish)

4: Higgins

Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot:for left footers
(Eligible 2018: Chol, Corey Ellis, Grigg, Nankervis and Houli).
10: Nankervis
3: Houli

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:
upgraded from the rookie list during the current season
Potentially eligible 2018: Baker, Chol, Eggmolesse-Smith, Moore, Stengle
No votes yet.

Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler
47: Conca
45: Graham
41: Cotchin
33: Nankervis, Riewoldt

Round 6 v Collingwood, MCG – The Benny 2018

05/05/2018 By Chris Leave a Comment

I was a few minutes late to the TV and the very first action I saw was George climbing between two Pies to take a ripper of a mark 25 metres out. Then he did something between a Kennedy stutter step and a Running Man and kicked a point. Spectacular, ineffective. This should have been like the Lambert goal in the GWS prelim – an announcement to the effect ‘thanks for coming ladies and gentlemen, this is our game. Please stay and enjoy the minor details’.

Embed from Getty Images
I was a few minutes late to the TV and the very first action I saw was George climbing between two Pies to take a ripper of a mark 25 metres out. Then he did something between a Kennedy stutter step and a Running Man and kicked a point. Spectacular, ineffective. This should have been like the Lambert goal in the GWS prelim – an announcement to the effect ‘thanks for coming ladies and gentlemen, this is our game. Please stay and enjoy the minor details’.

Thanks to another magnificent last quarter we did get there in the end. We are outscoring our opposition by 147% in last quarters this year. As @sjross observed it is probably no coincidence we are often up against 21, 20 or 19 fit men at the end. A game against Richmond is no place for the semi-fit, people carrying niggles and under-prepared sides on tight turnarounds. We torched Collingwood in the last term, a team who beat Adelaide a few weeks ago.

A feature of the past week has been everyone with paid positions in the football industry taking turns to agree how terrible footy is now, what can we do to fix it, maybe zones, faster ball-ups, cut teams down to 16. (This is after the previous week when we were handed a night grand final on the basis as far as I could tell that fireworks look pissy in the daytime.) But most Richmond people are basking in the sunshine right now, and the Venn diagram of Tiger Fans / People Who Want To Change Stuff looks like this:

OO

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Cotch was fantastic. For such a pin-up who never even raises a sweat, he has a delightful nasty streak. Dusty was quiet early and worked his way into it. Caddy looked underdone but still ended with 4 goals. Snags Higgins was lively and got two in a minute thanks to cartoon knucklehead Lynden Dunn. Imagine getting Dunn and Mayne across to your team in one summer. Rance looked off his best when Cox was a real marking target in the first half, but he got better. Astbury and Grimes were great all day, Houli and Short terrific and Broad looked settled and confident. Nank was arguably best afield playing against a much-vaunted ruckman. People oughta vaunt Nank a bit more.

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VOTES
5 Nankervis – he had 29 disposals if you don’t mind.
4 Cotchin – he had 29 too, and planted Treloar’s face in the the grass on his way to the bench. Get up son.
3 Grimes – I love him.
2 Houli – I love him too.
1 Short – He will play AFL finals this year in my opinion.
Embed from Getty Images
Leaderboard

21: Cotchin
14: Martin

7: Astbury
6: Nankervis
5: Lambert, Short
4: Caddy, Conca, Short, Higgins

3: Graham, Edwards, Rance, Lloyd, Grimes

2: Houli
1: Townsend, McIntosh, Castagna

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another club
(Eligible 2018: Caddy, Grigg, Hampson, Houli, Nankervis, Miles, Prestia and Townsend.)
6: Nankervis

4: Caddy
1: Townsend,

4: Higgins

Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot:for left footers
(Eligible 2018: Chol, Corey Ellis, Grigg, Nankervis and Houli).
6: Nankervis

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:
upgraded from the rookie list during the current season
Potentially eligible 2018: Baker, Chol, Eggmolesse-Smith, Moore, Stengle
No votes yet.

Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler
32: Conca
31: Cotchin
30: Graham
21: Nankervis
20: Castagna, Lambert, Butler

Benny Roster 2018

07/04/2018 By Chris 2 Comments

	Versus	At	Writer
1	Carlton	MCG	Dugald
2	Adelaide	AO	Chris
3	Hawthorn	MCG	Andrew Hamilton @Tiggerstales14
4	Brisbane	MCG	Lauren‏ @Lozzemarine
5	Melbourne	MCG	Welton D. Marsland
6	Collingwood	MCG	?
7	Fremantle	MCG	Malcolm McKinnon
8	North Melbourne	Docklands	Joe Crawford
9	West Coast	Perth Stadium	?
10	St Kilda	MCG	Ryan @ExiledVictorian
11	Essendon	MCG	Sean Ross
12	Port Adelaide	AO	?
13	Geelong	MCG	?
15	Sydney	Etihad	?
16	Adelaide	MCG	Andrew Hamilton @Tiggerstales14
17	GWS	Sydney Showgrounds	?
18	St Kilda	Etihad	?
19	Collingwood	MCG	?
20	Geelong	MCG	?
21	Gold Coast	Carrara	?
22	Essendon	MCG	?
23	Western Bulldogs	MCG	?

Round 2 v Adelaide, AO – The Benny 2018

30/03/2018 By Chris 2 Comments

I was at a Japanese restaurant in North Hobart with the largest sake range in Australia – a four page menu. But I could not get a footy score. I texted my wife, Dugald, Joe. Nothing. So I just ate my eel and hoped for the best.

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By the time I got home we were down 77 – 66. And playing pretty badly. I had to wait ages to see us get an uncontested possession. No-one had any run.

Our kicks were never to advantage. To Jack, Towna and Nank along the ground or into space to lumber after. Bolton, Butler and Castagna had it coming down on top of their heads.

Incredibly we snuck back to within 9 points, then Dave Astbury shanked a kick backwards and it was goodnight nurse, thank you linesmen, thank you ball boys.

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I have since gone back and watched the first half. Rance was genuinely beaten by Jenkins early, but never stopped trying, and did get on top in the last quarter.

Conversely Riewoldt was a spark in the first half but looked cooked at the end. The lazy checkside that went OOF suggested either his mind or body was not 100%.

Martin was terrific, really showing off all parts of his game. His five goals kept us ludicrously close considering the rest of the contest was quite one-sided.

In his 200th game Cotch was his usual diligent self, again defensively busy but didn’t get a lot of touches.

Grigg and Houli were invisible and we will rarely win a game where you say that.

Bolton is drifting in and out showing glimpses just as Rioli did. This might not be the year it happens for him but its going to happen.

Conca, McIntosh, Grimes and Lambert all made pretty bad mistakes that are going to be excruciating in video review.

I didn’t enjoy seeing Grimes rag-dolled by the 2nd gamer Fogarty, conceding a goal; and Tex bodied Astbury out too easily.

Towna was quiet but he nailed his set shot as ever, and I loved his five-eighth effort here to set Dusty up for a goal.

I thought Josh Caddy was really impressive. He again kicked three great goals. Just before halftime he shepherded through Dusty’s long bombed goal, then shortly after dished a quick handball to Butler for his (unsuccesful) shot.

Lastly Jayden Short played a very good game, it looked like he belonged, and Shane Edwards put in a shift.

We have to look forward, not back. I can take no consolation in March from beating this team in a more important game 6 months ago. We got comprehensively schooled last night, and they were without Matt Crouch for much of it.

Given their loss last week, the Crows at home always had more to play for than we did. Fear of going 0-2 trumps fear of losing away and going 1-1.

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The votes

5 – Martin Four quarters, five goals.

4 – Caddy 3 goals, but unselfish. Poor man’s Josh Kennedy.

3 – Cotchin 9 tackles, repeat efforts.

2 – Short Influential particularly early, hit targets. Composed.

1 – Nankervis Beaten by Jacobs on the stats but offers more IMO. 8 tackles.
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Leaderboard

10: Martin
7: Cotchin
4: Caddy

3: Graham
2: Rance, Short

1: Townsend, Nankervis

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1
(Eligible 2018:Liam Baker, Noah Balta, Callum Coleman-Jones, Ryan Garthwaite, Jack Higgins, Ben Miller, Patrick Naish)

No votes yet.

Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot: for left footers
(Eligible 2018: Chol, Corey Ellis, Grigg, Nankervis and Houli).
1: Nankervis

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:
upgraded from the rookie list during the current season
Potentially eligible 2018: Baker, Chol, Eggmolesse-Smith, Moore, Stengle
No votes yet.

Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler

19: Graham
13: Cotchin, Nankervis
12: Butler
10: Edwards
9: Conca

First Round Fever

21/03/2018 By Chris 5 Comments

The tickets are printed, bag is packed, and the dog knows something is up.

I’m feeling shaky. No – not about the Tiges, I have tipped us objectively to win the 2018 flag. No reason to think we can’t get over Carlton on Thursday night.

But I think I’ve got First Round Fever – is that a known diagnosed condition? I have been starving for a feed of Richmond. I have had simultaneously too much and not enough footy.

The AFL’s attempt to fill the depth and width of the sporting landscape like expanding foam has just been exhausting over the summer. Surprisingly little of that foam was expended promoting AFLW, but there were endless thought bubbles, puff pieces, and even an entire puff competition in AFLX. Surely something is wrong when you have symptoms of a football OD in January.

On the Richmond front I have been reading and re-reading Konrad Marshall’s Yellow and Black, watching and re-watching the finals, listening to the radio calls over and over while mowing the lawn and walking to work. And last week we all saw Peter Dickson’s Break The Fall which really sharpened that feeling of having lived through a really amazing moment for Richmond.

But I haven’t been hoovering up every bit of pre-season Tiges news or madly buying premiership memorabilia or sketching out projected tattoos. I have really been trying to have an off-season.

On top of First Round Fever I am a bundle of nerves just because I am coming over for the premiership flag unfurling, bringing my sons, and making these sorts of plans turns me to jelly. Plain anxiety.

Just getting the boys from schools, to the airport, remembering all the pieces of paper I need to get us from home into the MCG, and locating Dugald and Clare, our hosts at the game. Then there’s the social side – so many people I know online and in real life will be at the game. I would love to get around and see everyone at half time. But I don’t want to misplace the boys (one of whom doesn’t even like footy) or miss a quarter stuck in a queue. After the game we need to catch up with our overnight hosts Nuning and Andy and hopefully have time for a chat with them before bedtime. Then up 6, taxi to airport, fly home and drop kids back at schools.

I know for most people this kind of thing is a snap – not me. Now I have booked the Skybus in and a taxi back out again, printed all the tickets and packed a bag I am starting to feel more normal and actually anticipate the game.

I hope everyone has a great night at the G or at home, and we have settled it by three quarter time. Go TIGES.

Benny Award final tally

11/12/2017 By Chris Leave a Comment

Over here Dugald has woven the Grand Final votes into a monster premiership narrative. For the easy reference of future historians they are;

10 votes – Alex Rance
8 votes – Bachar Houli
6 votes – Dusty Martin
4 votes – Jack Graham
2 votes – Nathan Broad

It’s worth mentioning here that last year’s Benny wrapped up in dark and introverted circumstances after capitulation to the Swans. The last votes were given grudgingly and the future appeared bleak. This year we finish off with the biggest bang imaginable. We have every right to expect wonderful things next year. The club is in great shape.

Final Tally - Benny Award

74: Dusty Martin wins his 3rd Benny in a row, easily.
52: Trent Cotchin
45: Alex Rance
31: Shaun Grigg
26: Bachar Houli
21: Dylan Grimes
18: Kane Lambert
17: Jack Riewoldt

16: David Astbury, Brandon Ellis, Nick Vlastuin
15: Daniel Rioli
13: Dion Prestia
11: Toby Nankervis
10: Josh Caddy
7: Jacob Townsend
6: Jason Castagna
5: Daniel Butler, Jack Graham
3: Kamdyn McIntosh
2: Connor Menadue, Nathan Broad

1: Shai Bolton, Tyson Stengle

(2014: Brandon Ellis, 2013: Trent Cotchin).

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another club
(Eligible 2017: Caddy, Grigg, Hampson, Houli, Hunt, Nankervis, Maric, Miles, Prestia and Townsend.)
31: Shaun Grigg wins his first Hartley award
26: Bachar Houli
13: Dion Prestia
11: Toby Nankervis
10: Josh Caddy
7: Jacob Townsend

(2016: Anthony Miles, 2015: Miles/Houli, 2014: Miles, 2013: Ivan Maric)

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1
(Eligible 2017: Shai Bolton, Dan Butler, Ryan Garthwaite, Jack Graham, Ivan Soldo, Tyson Stengle)

5: Dan Butler, Jack Graham shared the Banik award
1: Bolton, Stengle

(2106: Jason Castagna/Daniel Rioli, 2015 Kane Lambert, 2014 Sam Lloyd, 2013 Nick Vlaustin).

Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot: for left footers
(Eligible 2017: Batchelor, Chol, Corey Ellis, Grigg, Nankervis and Houli).
31: Shaun Grigg wins his first Bowden
26: Bachar Houli
11: Toby Nankervis

(2016, 2015 and 2014 all won by Bachar Houli)

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:
upgraded from the rookie list during the current season
Potentially eligible 2017: Castagna, Chol, Moore, Stengle and Soldo.
6: Jason Castagna wins his 2nd successive Tivendale.
1: Tyson Stengle

(2015: Kane Lambert, 2014: Anthony Miles)

Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler

139: Trent Cotchin wins the inaugural Rioli Grip of Death.
110: Kane Lambert
97: Toby Nankervis
94: Shaun Grigg
93: Dion Prestia
88: Dustin Martin
85: Daniel Rioli

Tigers Together goes nuts

22/10/2017 By Chris 2 Comments

My Tigers Together design has been the joy of my life since the GF. Far from any kind of post-premiership let-down, I feel like I have been surfing the wave with a jet booster. The design has been selling in all sorts of formats, and now for the last week as a bumper sticker, which was its original intention.

When I had a rough design I showed friends on Twitter who were unanimous that I should make it available immediately for t-shirts and mugs. So I did, and people have bought them in droves. After about a week they began sending me pictures of their new treasures. Every sale gives me joy, every picture is a miracle.

I built an e-commerce page for my reesdesign.com.au website so I could sell the bumper stickers directly. I panicked a bit when the printers called to say they were ready about 4 days earlier than expected, and the site wasn’t built yet. I am not a web designer so it was all a bit fraught but seems to be now working smoothly.

My previous best-seller on Redbubble was Bones McGhie, which had amassed 160 sales after about 4 years. Tigers Together went past that in THREE DAYS. Since Redbubble sales passed 300 I have been looking at it as an amazing Test innings; it is now closing in on the record, with only Lara, Hayden and Jayawardene ahead of it.

On top of that are 70+ bumper stickers which are out there in the world.

At lights, bloke in car next to me winds down window, 'where do I get that sticker?' Expecting to get mobbed when Tshirt goes on. @johnno1629

So that’s covered the cost of my first actual merch investment (Redbubble is all print-on-demand with no up-front cost). Another difference is with Redbubble I very rarely see the customers names or locations, so I can’t follow up with new designs they might like, or even just visualise where my stuff goes. With the bumper stickers I get a name and address to post them to and it feels really different.

Redbubble has a thing called Bubblemail whereby buyers can communicate with sellers. Its rarely used; maybe one buyer in 30 or 40 leaves me a note. But I have had so many sales in the last weeks that the notes are piling up and I want to share a few. This is a bit of an ego trip but I want to keep them somewhere in case Redbubble wipes them.

Love Tigers Together. Great stuff! Anon, Hadspen TAS

This is really a great design Chris! captured why the Tigers did so well this year Thanks! John (location unknown)

Thanks for this design. It is beautiful, simple, and powerful imagery. Go tiges. Anon, Fairy Meadow NSW

Thanks for finding the real essence of the Tiges on GF day. Anon, Jannali NSW

The design is incredible. Anon, Ocean Grove VIC

Gday mate, even as a demon I love the design and it’s perfect for my father in law for Christmas! I even gave him my gf ticket so I’m in the good books right now! Keep up the great work Anon, St Kilda East VIC

As much as I love the use of the tiger on Richmond memorabilia, the players linking arms is powerfully symbolic in commemorating this long awaited victory. I was a little emotional when I saw this, and personally this captures the many feelings that my partner, friends and that I’ve experienced and continue to experience since that glorious day- strong & bold too! Thank you so very much… Anon, Colac VIC

How’s that last one – made the hair on my neck stand up. I can’t think of anything I have done in my long career as a graphic designer that has got a response like this. Its immensely satisfying. As I said in the last post I understand that it piggybacks on the astounding achievement of the 23 men in the picture; it taps into the strong emotions people feel at the moment.

Connected – celebrating the 2017 premiership

09/10/2017 By Chris 5 Comments

I looked through 46 pages of Getty news photographs after the Grand Final to find the right pics to celebrate each of the premiership players for this post. And I just couldn’t stop looking at the pics of the boys lined up for the anthem. Is it the Crows dopey pose? Is it the yellow? Teams often line up with linked arms, but there is just something about this occasion that seems special. They look relaxed, united, and ready to make history.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

I had been kicking around lame ideas for a premiership design that was a celebration but not a cash-in exactly, and didn’t rip off the club’s intellectual property, or use player’s pictures without their permission. I looked at this photo by Darrian Traynor and just thought; perfect bumper sticker format. Could work with no logos, no faces, not even any sash. But everyone is so recognisable, especially for a Tiges fan. [I am a bush lawyer on these matters and just follow the law of trying to do the right thing].

Should it say “Tigers Together 2017” or “Connected” or “Premiers”? It felt great when the perfect idea arrived; that no text was required at all. Here it is.

I really like thinking about what was going through their heads, who was next to who, the dynamics of it. Redheads together, old mates Prestia and Caddy together etc. Somehow Sheds is the figure I come back to again and again.

Design notes

Simplicity is an important part of good design, so everyone’s got black boots. And if you want tatts you will have to draw them in yourselves.
On the other hand everyone’s socks are exactly as photographed; 1 out of 44 is pulled up. Happy to discuss this at length with any sock psychologists out there.
Bachar and Dylan have their heads bowed in the photo. I have tried to depict this for Bachar but it didn’t feel right for the design for Dylan.
Some of the hairdos are a bit rough; I have tweaked them a bit for the bumper sticker.

You can buy it now on shirts, mugs, phone covers, scarves; on Redbubble via my site here.

There is a bumper sticker coming; I am printing locally and I’ll pump it up on all social media when they are available, maybe 2 weeks but hopefully less, around $8. More expensive but very good quality ones are available now on Redbubble.

UPDATE the stickers are here, they are $6 each including GST and postage within Australia.

The last thing to say about it is I made a donation to Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision and one to Alannah & Madeline Foundation on behalf of everyone who has bought something. It’s not a formal arrangement, they certainly do NOT endorse this and neither does the club or AFL. We the supporters have given a lot to this club for years. But now in return the whole club from the volunteers up to Peggy and Brendon, Cotch and Dimma, have given us a premiership. The most wonderful, unexpected gift we could ask for. And that’s why people are buying this thing, so while sales continue I will make sure the club’s charity partners benefit from this windfall.