Cotchin's rousing message for Tiger ArmyAl Paton
Herald Sun
7 February 2020RICHMOND is urging its fans to paint Ikon Park "yellow and black" as AFL braces for a near-capacity crowd for the opening game of AFL Women’s tomorrow.
Richmond will play its first-ever AFLW game on Friday night against the Blues, and league women’s football boss Nicole Livingstone said plans were in place for crowd numbers that could mirror those seen at the competition opener in 2017.
Tigers AFLW captain Katie Brennan said she couldn't wait.
"There’s anticipation of what it will be like and how many people will be in the crowd,” Brennan said.
“We really hope that the Tiger Army get down and pack out the stadium. But also just the significance of such a massive day for the club. I’m so excited for all the girls that haven’t played AFL Women’s, but then you go into people like our president Peggy O’Neal … and all the others at the club who put in all the work and got us here today.”
Among the crowd will be a swag of Richmond premiership stars, with men’s skipper Trent Cotchin lauding the presence of the team at Tigerland.
“It’s incredible for the footy club,” he said.
“It’s another part of our history, which to be around for so long and now have another significant part etched in what I think is a pretty special football club is very cool and I appreciate all the work that has gone into it as well.”
Livingstone said the league was ready for a big turnout.
“We are preparing for capacity and everything’s in place for that. We’ll have a screen on the northern lawn, in case the overflow needs to go out there.
“What we hope is that the Tiger Army does march down Royal Parade and really gets behind them.
“They had a win against West Coast in their practice match, and they looked good. To see Katie (Brennan) flying and Sabs (Sabrina Frederick) was great … it looks good for the Tigers.
“Hopefully with Carlton’s huge support network, we get a lot of people coming to Ikon Park.”
Tigers skipper Brennan said she had watched on as the first-ever game of AFLW in 2017 - contested between Carlton and Collingwood and was "locked out" with a capacity crowd - with "envy" as she anticipates tomorrow night's huge clash.
"It's been something that I've looked on in a bit of envy in a sense," she said.
"The first game I just remember being in tears of pride and just being so excited for all the girls running out there, that it was finally possible - we were playing for premiership points in AFLW gear.
"It's something that I've really aspired towards but I've loved watching along the way.
"I'm genuinely so excited and all you want to do is just play footy at this time of year."
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/richmond-urges-tiger-army-to-pack-ikon-park-for-first-afl-game-v-carlton/news-story/eb5667e864ab6c70ff4c930d0f1fd207
