IT can be a tough life being a Richmond supporter - just ask lifelong Tiger fan Grant Archer.
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The Longford dairy farmer and his family, wife Kim and children MacKenzie, 15, Bede, 14, and Lawson, 11, will be part of the likely sellout crowd at the Adelaide Oval tomorrow afternoon when the Tigers attempt to win just their third final since their 1980 premiership in their elimination final against Port Adelaide.
The self-confessed "vocal" supporter booked his flights at 5am on Sunday, and was online waiting for tickets as soon as they became available for members on Monday morning.
"It is hard at times (being a Richmond supporter), because we haven't had much success, but when we are successful it is great to be involved, because the supporters are very passionate," Mr Archer said.
Mr Archer admitted he'd had his doubts Richmond could qualify for September after it fell to 3-10, but felt its nine-game winning streak had put the club in a good position to have a real crack at the Power.
Essendon and North Melbourne supporters will also be looking for a drought-breaking finals win tonight when they clash in their elimination final, with the Bombers not having won a September clash since 2004 and the Kangaroos 2007.
One of the Tasmanian Bombers supporters at the MCG will be Launceston accountant and Hadspen Cricket Club coach Scott Semmens.
Mr Semmens, who has been an Essendon member for 19 years, said a Bombers victory would be an emotional one for the red and black faithful after being kicked out of the finals last year following the club's supplements scandal.
"There's been a couple of games over the past 24 months that have been pretty emotional, but this one would be it now that we've got our chance in the finals," he said.
Mr Semmens, who said he wasn't as vocal and "one eyed" as he had been in the past, believed Essendon would get the job done by about 20 points.