Walkng my morning lap of the tan heard the all to familiar encouragement as a pod of joggers approached from the rear.
As is sometimes the case with this species, they like to run together in a line. So as they pass on my right, the one closest doesn't take to much of a berth and I feel the whisk as he glides past, I think to myself what a hero.
As they continue I see the Richmond singlet and then the neck tatts, well Eff me it is my hero!
There was only three and the others were casual, so presumed they must of been trainers/mates whatever.
Anyways this was close to the end toward the Anderson Hill climb and to my astonishment as they turn around the other 2 characters are Cotch and Lids. Now I don't get excited too easily but was rather taken aback at appoaching these guys just facing me. I have my work pass on my Richmond lanyard (No the pass was in my pocket, but the lanyard around my neck!). So they would have noticed and were just sort of looking at me as they were counting down for the next run thorugh.
I had to chuck in a 'Thought you guys would be having a rest' as I walked past, got the obligatory 'Yeah you'd think so! from lids' and the others just grinned (yes Martin too
). Said good to see and continued on the merry way.
Anyway was just really good to see the boys doing that bit extra so soon after their season has finished, makes me just that little bit more confident that this group has got that intestinal fortitude and hunger to acheive what the Tiger Army has been craving for so long.
End note: They were obvioulsy on their own time as lids and cotch were in plain clothes, just Fn awesome to see Martin not worried about displaying the Tiger colours in this situation.
And man first time seen him up close, he is fn tank dude.