By Brendan Rees
Hampton Park’s Julie Ann Torpy hopes her Tigers can roar to victory with all their fighting fury in this Saturday’s Grand Final clash against the Adelaide Crows.
Julie Ann, a supporter of Richmond since the age of five, is hungry to see the Tigers break their 37-year premiership drought.
Although she couldn’t score tickets to the big game, Julie Ann will cheer from home when she hosts a party with friends on Saturday 30 September.
She says her partner, Neville, is a passionate Richmond member, adding “he’s like a big child.”
“He’s gets really excited for it. He’s got his balloons ready to put up around the house and has a flag on the mail-box.”
Julie Ann says she likes “anything tigers” and was particularly fond of the animal as a youngster, adding “I started collecting their scarves and everything.”
She says their home is filled with everything tigers from blow-up figurines to little teddy bears, stubbie holders, pillow pets, clocks, glasses, and mugs.
Julie Ann says they have a display unit in their lounge room dedicated to Richmond memorabilia. “We’ve got flags, some toys, little footballs, and we’ve got a 1995 Richmond Football Club photo of the team,” she says.
“We’ve also got a signed guernsey from 2015 that we won in a raffle ticket at a Wantirna Club function for Richmond supporters.”
Julie Ann said the first half of their preliminary final against GWS Giants was a “bit of a nail-biter” but says they are both excited for the Grand Final: “We’ve got posters already up already covering the lounge room.”
