By Nick Creely
Like many Richmond fans, Travis Frost is in genuine shock at the prospect of the club playing its first Grand Final in 35 years.
The 45-year-old Pakenham man has not even had time to process the unbelievable qualifying final victory against Geelong simply because it is foreign territory for the club he loves so dearly.
“It’s almost hard to compute, because it’s just not what Richmond do – this year was all about improving for us,” he said.
“I remember the last game against St Kilda this year and I was probably more nervous than the final, to be honest, because we were going to make top four.
“Even after the first final, I almost hadn’t processed that we were one win away from a Grand Final.
“It’s almost crept up on us – no one’s ever considered it (making a Grand Final) because, as I said, we just don’t do stuff like that.
“It’s actually possible, and that’s hard to comprehend – it’s ingrained in Richmond supporters that things go wrong, and you condition yourself for it – hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
“You’ve had this fantasy for decades – you dream about it, think about, but this might actually happen and that’s just not Richmond.”
Like so many of the Tiger Army, Travis’ Richmond roots are traced back to the glory days, although being so young at the time he can barely remember the days when they ruled the VFL.
“My grandfather played with the Richmond Reserves back in the day and that was passed on to my father and so forth.
“I was born in 1972 and my first game I went to was in 1977.
“It was a significant game for a lot of reasons, that being it was a draw and it was also Tim Watson’s first ever match.
“I was eight when Richmond won the Grand Final in 1980 and by then I was going regularly.
“I can remember the day but, honestly, how much do you even remember from when you were eight?“
