We continue our special post-season series revealing the thoughts of Richmond’s latest premiership heroes on that wonderful one day in September 2017. Today, talented Tigers’ playmaker Shane Edwards has his say . . .

The Grand Final lead-up

“It was a bit surreal. Every day was just massive. The fact that we all embraced it, I think, made it a lot more fun. Looking back, I’m slowly piecing it all together because it was such a blur . . . something I’m never, ever going to forget.”

The Grand Final parade

“It was something I thought I’d never ever get to experience. It felt like you were some sort of rock star with everyone just screaming at you. You just wave and everyone starts cheering. It wasn’t like that last year, that’s for sure.”

The big game itself

“It was just so chaotic. All I just remember is yellow Richmond jumpers running around everywhere and this amazing amount of energy on the ground. It was the best game ever.”

That glorious winning feeling

“I felt we had it in the bag with a few minutes left. I think Dion (Prestia) kicked a goal and ‘Cadds’ (Josh Caddy) came up behind me and said, ‘You’re a premiership player’! I was like, far out! I ran back to the wing and was just looking around the ground at everyone and saw Kamdyn (McIntosh) on the other side of the wing just smiling at me with this big mo (moustache). And I had to switch on for the last three minutes.”

At the final siren

“I just started looking at the clock with maybe a minute left. Probably should have gone to the bench, I was that buggered, but there was no way I was doing that . . . When it went, the ground was just shaking and you’re just looking for the closest jumper to hug. It was incredible.”

His decade-long Tigerland journey

“I guess other years you just think, like far out, we haven’t had any success and it’s been 10 years. So many things have happened and we just can’t really put our finger on why we can’t jump to the next stage . . . The same clubs are always up there, like Geelong and Sydney and Adelaide . . . what are they doing that we’re not? It’s amazing that we finally got there. I never thought I’d be a part of it. And all it took was just heaps of hard work, and amazing connection with all the players. We just all love each other and what we’ve been like off-field has really just transferred on-field this year.”

Ultra tight-knit group

“We were super close . . . Every meeting was just so happy and positive. Even when we’d lost a few games in-a-row, everyone was still just excited to be at the Club and everyone just really embraced what each other are like. Everyone’s different, but it doesn’t stop us from really getting around each other.”

Replicating the San Antonio Spurs’ philosophy

“It came about because we were getting a lot of (forward-50) entries, we were getting the other team to turn the ball over, but we couldn’t capitalise on the scores like the other teams in the top four could. We were having lots of shots from the boundary and quick snaps. So the Spurs’ mentality came into it, of moving the basketball to get a good shot turning into a great shot. We would not take the hard shots . . . we’d pass it off to a teammate in a better position, which is something you’d normally do anyway. But actually being aware of it, I think, made it even easier to do. And that resulted in us really maximising opportunities every time we went inside 50.”

Mentoring the young players

“There were only little moments during the week, where I actually felt like I’m much older than them . . . Being a mentor has been pretty good, but they’re so good and switched on, it’s been so easy. And I’ve actually learned a lot from them as well. Like Daniel (Rioli), his natural, team-based instincts really raise the bar for every other player, and I think that’s rubbed off on our even younger guys like Tyson (Stengle) and Shai (Bolton).”

Looking forward to 2018

“It’d be nice to do the whole thing again. We’ve just finished and I can’t wait to get started again. Just keep doing what we did, but do it better.”

The Tiger Army

“They’re just massive. We don’t know any different. We’ve had the Tiger Army the whole time . . . It’s amazing to see how much it (the premiership) means to so many people . . . and I’m just really glad to be a part of having success for them.”