Reborn Tigers now embrace the chase
RICHMOND have been known to underplay the stakes in finals, experienced forward Shane Edwards says. But not this year. Edwards, in his 11th season at Punt Rd, said the stakes of tomorrow’s preliminary final clash with Greater Western Sydney had not gone unrecognised as the team navigated their way through the past fortnight.
“We’ve been a bit guilty of underplaying the game most years – sort of shying away from what it’s going to be like and trying to think that it is just another game,” he said.
“But it isn’t. There’s a lot more on the line.
“We took that into the last game that we played (against Geelong) and it seemed to go all right.
“We’re just embracing the moment and it’s a great time to be playing footy.”
Edwards, 28, said Richmond had adopted a “why not?” mentality as they tried to secure their first grand final berth in 35 years.
He admitted he thought this day might never come and described the feeling as “surreal” but said that there was no reason why this couldn’t be Richmond’s year.
“We saw what happened last year with the (Western) Bulldogs, that you can come from anywhere,” Edwards said.
“It’s not necessarily (us saying), ‘This is our time’ but there’s no reason why it couldn’t be.”
And Edwards dares to dream, literally. When he shuts his eyes at night there’s one thing that comes to mind – playing in the grand final.
“You can’t really control what you dream about,” he said. “It happens every now and then, and I wake up and be like, ‘Nah, stick to the process’.
“(I’m dreaming about) running around on the oval and celebrating after.
“I can’t control it so I’m sure everyone dreams about it all the time.
“I can’t believe we could be one win from a grand final.”
Edwards said former teammate Brett Deledio, who will play his 250th game tomorrow, was “just another player” now he was a Giant and could get a hostile reception from the Tiger army.
“He’s been a great servant of the club but I think everyone wants us to win the game than celebrate his 250th,” Edwards said.
“After the game it might be a bit different. You can love anyone you want but if they’re in the other team’s colours, it doesn’t matter.”