By Nick Creely
The spirit of the Tiger has always lived within Pakenham resident Cathy Louch.
Cathy was born in 1967 – the year Tom Hafey’s Richmond broke a 24-year drought to claim a famous premiership against Geelong in front of 109,000 spectators at the MCG – and she and her family have always bled yellow and black.
Her early recollections of a golden era for the club throughout her childhood – which also included premierships in 1969, 1973 and 1974 – are some of her most treasured memories.
“Basically, as soon as I was born, a Richmond hat was stuck on my head and I was sat beside a radio every Saturday with mum, while my dad and my older sisters would go the footy,” she said.
“My dad was born and bred in Richmond so his whole family was Richmond supporters, so we had no choice, basically.
“I have the old duffle coat with Michael Roach’s badges. He was my idol growing up now it’s moved on to Dusty.”
Thirty-seven years ago Richmond won its last premiership in 1980 after Kevin Bartlett broke the hearts of Collingwood fans with seven goals – Cathy recounts her memories of the day.
“I was 13 – I was in the lounge room. I didn’t actually get to go but I still have the paperwork from the game,” she said.
“I actually took stats with players’ names on a bit of paper which I’ve kept – the points, the goals, everything, and also I still have every newspaper from that time.
“That’s the best individual performance I’ve ever seen in my life from a player (Kevin Bartlett) – I’ve watched that game over and over again.”
Nowadays, Cathy never misses a game that her beloved Tigers play and, together with her family, have stuck by the club through thick and thin.
“As soon as my own kids were old enough, I brought them along and now I’ve got granddaughters, who I signed up as members as soon as they were born, and now we take them,” she said.
“I’ve been a full AFL member for 20 years and have just been hoping and waiting to use my guaranteed Grand Final tickets – I fly interstate for most games and, basically, never miss a game.
“We haven’t got there yet, though, so I’m not getting too ahead of myself.”
With Richmond as close as it’s ever been to premiership glory for almost four decades, Cathy can’t even begin to describe what long-suffering fans will do if they manage to win the flag.
“I’ve never seen anything like it – I went to the Grand Final last year and that was bigger than the Bulldogs’ supporters roar at the end of the game,” Cathy said when describing the noise generated from the Richmond fans after the drought breaking finals win over Geelong two weeks ago.
“They are the most passionate bunch of people I’ve ever come across.
“When we travel, we sit with the cheersquad – you get to know them all when you travel and they are awesome, loud and passionate.
“I can’t even imagine the roar if we win the Grand Final, I think the wall would start collapsing.”
