The Richmond Tigers will be looking to break a long-standing curse on Saturday when they make their first AFL Grand Final appearance in 35 years.
The last time the Tigers had a shot at a premiership flag, they famously choked after a 17-year-old stripper ran onto the MCG in front of 107,536 roaring fans.
The American-born Helen d’Amico had been working at the Crazy Horse strip club in Adelaide and made a memorable journey to Melbourne, running stark naked onto the field during the third quarter with only a Carlton Blues scarf wrapped around her neck.
Carlton, who were leading by just one point at the time and had entered the game as underdogs, went on to kick three quick goals after the interruption to take control of the game and went on to win the premiership decider.
Richmond have not appeared in an AFL Grand Final in 35 years. The last time they appeared, they gave up a half-time lead to Carlton after a stripped ran naked onto the field
American-born Helen d’Amico, had taken a break from work at nearby strip club Crazy Horse and ran stark naked onto the field during the third quarter with only a Carlton Blues scarf wrapped around her neck.
D’Amico, who earned the title of Australia’s most famous sporting streaker, went into hiding but emerged in 2008 in the Outback as a mother-of-four trying to secure a social worker degree away from the public eye.
And on Thursday night, the now 52-year-old appeared back in the spotlight once more, starring on The Footy Show in a bid to break the hoodoo for good.
Standing alongside controversial host Sam Newman dressed in a pink shirt and Carlton scarf, d’Amico took part in an awkward interview laced with innuendo.
‘Now Helen, I’ve done a bit of research on curses and stuff and in order to expunge the curse, I’ve been told you need to repeat the act,’ Newman said.
‘Is there any chance you’d get your kit off? If I get my kit off, will you join me?’
‘They wonder why I didn’t iron my clothes,’ d’Amico laughed back.
On Thursday night, the now 52-year-old appeared back in the spotlight once more, starring on The Footy Show in a bid to break the hoodoo for good
D’Amico was pushed off the field by angry players and sternly marched out of the stands by policemen, to the deafening roar of over 100,000 adoring football spectators
She admitted the outrageous stunt in 1982 was spurred on by a bet with a friend and the probable influence of drugs in her system
She then admitted the outrageous stunt in 1982 was spurred on by a bet with a friend and the probable influence of drugs in her system.
Newman crudely asked her if she still had the ‘ginger cat you ran onto the ground with.’
‘It’s in Brazil,’ d’Amico sportingly responded, drawing laughter from the crowd.
The bizarre segment ended with d’Amico ‘reversing the Richmond curse’ by throwing her Carlton scarf into a cauldron, which dramatically lit up in flames.
The bizarre segment ended with d’Amico ‘reversing the Richmond curse’ by throwing her Carlton scarf into a cauldron
Crazy Horses, the Adelaide strip club d’Amico worked at at the time, is pictured now