BRANDON Ellis can't wait for Dreamtime at the 'G, but the Richmond midfielder/defender knows Essendon looms as a potential banana peel for his resurgent Tigers.
The annual blockbuster recognises the indigenous contribution to Australian football and always draws a massive crowd.
And Saturday night's clash against the Bombers comes at a critical point in the Tigers' season, with back-to-back victories having breathed new life into Richmond's season.
Speaking after his side's 38-point win over Fremantle at Domain Stadium on Saturday night, Ellis said the Tigers would need to keep a lid on their form reversal.
"Essendon have played some pretty good footy this year, they took it up to North last week in the second half, so they're going pretty well and we can't take them lightly," he said.
"We'll have our best foot forward next week."
Ellis had 18 disposals in the victory over the Dockers as Richmond won the contested possessions (155-146) and clearances (42-36) on a stormy Perth night.
The on-baller was pleased with the way his side negotiated the awful conditions.
"It was a tough slog. It was that windy and that slippery, and it kept raining and then it would dry up and then it would rain again," Ellis said.
"We just had to play wet-weather footy, and credit to the boys they put in a pretty good four-quarter effort.
"I thought our mids stepped up and really dominated and I think we won the contested ball and the tackle (counts), which is what we needed to do to get over the line."
Ellis saved special praise for Tigers' skipper Trent Cotchin, who shone on his first game back from a two-week injury lay-off.
Cotchin gathered a career-high 39 disposals in a best-on-ground performance that also featured 18 contested possessions and 10 clearances.
The 26-year-old donned a black helmet to protect the fractured cheekbone he had surgery to repair after round six.
"He's amazing. That's why he's the captain, for the way he leads our on the field and the way he puts his head over the ball," Ellis said.
"We love him as our skipper. It's just good that the other boys in the midfield could follow him tonight."
