HANSO'S WEEK IN SPORT #2

June 21: IAN HANSON was at the Gabba on Saturday night to experience the spirit of the Richmond Tigers and also pays tribute to one of Australian sports quiet achievers.....

ONLY TIGERS CAGE LIONS: As the depleted Brisbane Lions slumped to their eighth loss from nine games at the Gabba on Saturday night....one frustrated Lions fan shouted out from the top of the Grandstand: "C'mon Lions...it's only Richmond!" The Tigers may have been "only Richmond" up until a month ago but the team that is very much inspired by Ben Cousins and invigorated by goal-kicking find Jack Riewoldt (the 10-goal hero against West Coast) are probably the most feared bottom-of-the-ladder team of any competition. And the Tigers faithful came out in full colour and cry in Brisbane as 25,000 fans turned out to see a young team determined to show the AFL that the black and gold army is very much alive and not just at Punt Road. Riewoldt was again on target with three goals and a spectacular third quarter mark, Brett Deledio was everywhere with his 33 possessions followed by Shane Tuck (29) Cousins (27) and three-game teen Dustin Martin (26).  Martin also earned a wrap from Lions legend Alastair Lynch and it typifies the spirit shown by the youngest team in the competition - an inspiration for the die-hard fans who will now steel themselves to do battle with Sydney on Sunday week. It was great to see so many families flying the Tigers flag - for a club that has not had too much to smile about in recent years - they won't remain "only Richmond" for too much longer.

 

GOLDEN BOY SNEAKS IN:  As over 150 die-hard supporters crammed into the popular Currumbin Beach Surf Club last Friday for the club's annual Vikings Sportsman's Lunch, one unassuming golden boy snuck in to join his table. The lineup of VIP guests included two-time Olympic shooting gold medallist Michael Diamond and NRL legends Chris "Choppy" Close, John Cartwright, Daryl "The Big Marn" Brohman and Queensland State of Origin star Ashley Harrison. Also sitting in the audience was Broncos premiership-winning prop and Queensland team manager Mark Hohn (who made sure all his players were on the bus for last week's game) and former Manly Sea Eagles John Harvey and Mark Willoughby. But as proceedings started to hot up another Olympic gold medallist, kayak king, Ken Wallace turned up with coach Kenny Owens who joined brother, Australian champion boat sweep Mark Owens and legendary Northcliffe Surf Club coach Pat OKeefe. Wallace has just returned from his most successful-ever World Cup Series in Europe, where he was less than half-a-second off the world record in the K1 500m, in Duisberg. He will now set himself for the up-coming ICF World Championships in Poland and a chance to win his first world title. FOOTNOTE: And while the sporting throng enjoyed the best view on the Gold Coast well into the afternoon....Ken Wallace snuck back out again...he had to go training.