At the time of writing this, Richmond has gone 4115 days since last saluting over Geelong, and for cheer squad member Gino Evans, that’s “bloody long enough”.
“l’ll never forget that day (the last win). It took three hours to get over the West Gate, so we were having a good run… The P-Train (Kayne Pettifer) turned it on and we got the choccies.”
Back then (round nine 2006), Richmond were on the up. Bouyed by early draft choices, and under the guidance of the List Damager Manager, Terry Wallace, the Tiger faithful felt their time was coming.
SportChamps tournaments lets you play with virtual currency to win real cash. Sign up now!
But as Evans explained, thanks to him, all that came was a decade of feline inflicted misery for the Tiger Army, and the onset of one of the AFL’s last remaining curses.
Gino, a Jim’s Mowing franchisee from Clifton Hill, truly believes it is his fault Richmond can no longer beat Geelong, claiming he “removed a lock from a sacred place”.
“I cut a curl from Darren Gaspar’s glorious mane… There’s no doubt I started a hoodoo and we’re being punished by the football Gods.”
Although the club has officially declined to comment, a senior Richmond official confirmed to me that they’re taking the “hex” seriously, adding that a local Shaman has been rushed to Punt Rd to “perform a healing ceremony” on the playing group.
“We’ll try anything. We’ve put a call through to Brad Ottens for some of his blood… It’s worth a shot” said the man who has asked his identity be protected.
Australia’s most prominent Sporting Curse Expert, Professor Vu Doo has indicated there are no signs of this supernatural event being long-lasting, like that of the Curse of the Bambino or the St Kilda Superstition. He added the Gaspar Curl Curse was more consistent with the infamous Kennett Curse.
“I expect, like the trouble the Hawks had with the Cats, finals football will free Richmond from this witchcraft for good.”
Evans too has sought to undo the spell, reaching out to Gaspar over Facebook explaining like rocks removed from Ularu, the curl must be returned to Darren’s cranium. Although Gaspar has read the message, he is yet to respond.
More as this story develops.