Swan St street party

[one-eyed]

Swan Street lights up as Tiger Army celebrates Richmond's grand final win

Zach Hope
The Age
29 September 2019

Flares were lit, as were effigies of the Giants slain just hours earlier.

People yelled and whooped from balconies, and stashed their grog in side streets as police patrolled the supposedly alcohol-free length of Swan Street where the Tiger Army gathered en masse on Saturday night to celebrate Richmond's AFL grand final win.


Police move in after a man sets off a flare during celebrations in Swan Street after Richmond's grand final win.

As the victorious Richmond players began their lap around the MCG after the siren, the 10,000-strong Tiger Army of fans who had watched the game at Punt Road Oval started their short march to their heartland.

By 8pm the revellers, joined by many of the near-on 100,000 supporters leaving the MCG, were just hitting their stride.

They coalesced at Stewart Street as the euphoric legions sang their "yellow and black" marching song up and down the queues. Good luck to the few bewildered travellers trying to move against the tide.

Footballs flung in and out of the mass and groups of drunken revellers howled from apartment balconies.

A passing Metro Train honked a surprising likeness to the opening beats of the Tiger Land lyrics.

It wasn't long before a man made his way onto an awning, leading the whooping crowd in yet another rendition of song.

Another man  climbed up, holding a burning poster of Greater Western Sydney player Toby Greene aloft, before climbing down to be met by police.

Officers grabbed another man who set off flares on the crowd-filled road, near the corner of Lennox Street.

This army was thirsty, and lines for the bars on Swan Street stretched around corners.

At BWS and Liquorland, it was more a waiting mass than a waiting line.

A sign greeting those at Swan Street warned this was an "alcohol free zone", an attempt by police to make sure there was no repeat of the drunken and out-of-control street party of 2017.

Two years before, when the Richmond heartland erupted in celebration at the Tigers' first premiership win in 37 years, the police were caught unawares by the size and fervour of the crowd.

This time they came prepared and in greater numbers, but were still relatively lenient towards the largely good-natured revellers around them.

Charlie, who asked his last name not be used, had stashed a secret slab of  VB down a side street and was drinking untroubled with his mates.

"You can't even describe it," he said of the Swan Street atmosphere. "It's exuberant. It's probably not as big as 2017 but this is great."

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/swan-street-lights-up-as-tiger-army-celebrates-richmond-s-grand-final-win-20190928-p52vuw.html

[one-eyed]

Flares explode on Swan St among Tigers crowd

Tamsin Rose and Monique Hore
Sunday Herald Sun
29 September 2019

The party has kicked off as Tigers fans spill from Punt Rd and the MCG to celebrate on Swan St after Richmond’s domination of GWS this afternoon.

Flares have been set off in the crowded precinct as thousands flooded the streets to party, revelling in the 89-point smackdown.

Fans have burnt signs, GWS merchandise and lined up for tattoos, while the BWS on Swan St was closed by 8pm due to a police order.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has teased a visit to Swan St, telling fans - and his players - at the MCG’s post-match Premiership Party: “We’re definitely doing Swan, aren’t we?”

Dustin Martin added: “We’re going down Swan tonight. 100 per cent. I said we should get the bus with no roof.

But Hardwick’s reply was classic: “We want to get out of the joint, Dusty.”


Flares set off in Richmond tonight. Picture: Alanah Frost


A man burns a sign in Swan Street. Picture: AAP Image/David Crosling

A Richmond fan wearing distinctive glasses appeared on top of an awning at the corner of Swan St and Lennox St about 7pm.

He was handed a burning Toby Greene sign.

A violent scuffle erupted when he made his way down an electricity pole to waiting police.

Elsewhere a GWS scarf was set alight as rowdy fans chanted about Greene.

Other fans are lining up to get tattoos after the game.

And in New Zealand, Hollywood star Rachel Griffiths joined Dusty’s dad, Shane Martin to watch the game.

They were spotted sharing a drink together in an Auckland sports bar.

Dustin today gave a heartfelt tribute to his overseas father after the game.

“I just wanna say g’day to dad in New Zealand.

“I love you, mate.”

The suburb has turned into Tiger town tonight, as jubilant Richmond fans belted “We’re From Tigerland” from balconies, out windows and on the streets after the final siren sounded.

Rivers of roaring Tigers moved from the stadium, across Punt Rd and towards Swan St, singing.

More than 100 police and mounted officers are patrolling the streets.

By 6pm, Swan St was a sea of yellow and black, with some wearing tiger suits while others had their faces painted.

Massive lines marked the entrance to every pub on the popular strip — and police guarded long lines outside bottle shops.

Melbourne dad Danny Campbell brought his kids Isach, 13, and Holly, 15, to the game.

They beamed ear to ear as they made their way to Swan St for the celebrations.

“I’m not entirely sure where we will end up but I just want to sing,” he said.

“This is just so good.”

Teen Holly said it was “overwhelming”.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/tigers-fans-get-party-started-on-swan-st/news-story/f87ac16bd9330cd50d2965a922802995

[one-eyed]

Richmond fans set off flares and lit fires during wild celebrations in Swan Street that lasted until the early hours of this morning.

Watch here: https://twitter.com/7NewsMelbourne/status/1178219492884664321