‘Disco’ likes Tiger chances in big dance

MICHAEL “Disco” Roach is a lonely premiership Tasmanian Tiger, but he is bursting with pride and excitement at the thought of being joined by Jack Riewoldt.

Roach was full forward in Richmond’s last premiership team way back in 1980, but believes Riewoldt and his mates are a chance to break this premiership drought if the Tigers can get over the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the preliminary final at the MCG on Saturday to reach the “big dance”.

He said he was in awe of the latest Tasmanian Tiger roaming the goal square.

Recruited from Longford, Roach kicked 112 goals in the 1980 premiership season and won the Coleman Medal as a 21-year-old.

“He’s very underrated in what he’s done this year,” Roach said of Riewoldt.

“To be the only key forward and be the leader of the forward line has been absolutely sensational.

“I don’t think he gets the praise he deserves for this year.

“I think other years he has got some pretty good praise, but this year he has been awesome.”

Just like every other Tigers’ fan, Roach is roaring with excitement about the 2017 Richmond model.

“It is exciting, it really is, to be playing in a preliminary final after where we finished last year (13th), you’ve got to be happy with that.

“We just hope we can go to the next level and play in a grand final, it would be awesome.

“I think they are playing a terrific brand of footy which seems to be a finals brand of footy — a lot of pressure.”

And just like every Tiger’s fan, it was a battle for a ticket to Saturday’s preliminary final despite being a 200-game, three-time club leading goalkicker, Coleman medallist and premiership player.

“I put in for my 200 club tickets yesterday — you get two tickets if you’ve played 200 games through the AFL — and they had sold out so I’m not sure what’s going on,” Roach said.

“I’ve got my tickets through my life membership so that’s lovely, but my kids wanted to go. There are going to be 95,000 Richmond supporters, it is really amazing.”