A fanatical footy supporter has left his wife and two young children behind on a family holiday in Europe to watch his beloved Richmond Tigers play in the AFL grand final.
Tony Gwinnett, 43, loves the Tigers so much he ditched his wife Cheryl and children Josh, 13, and Ellie, 10, in Italy while he flies halfway across the world from Venice to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for Saturday’s decider.
Mrs Gwinnett told Daily Mail Australia she is totally behind her husband’s mad dash to watch the Tigers vie for their first flag in 37 years against the Adelaide Crows.
Tony Gwinnett, 43, loves the Tigers so much he is leaving his family holiday in Europe to watch them play in Saturday’s grand final
Tony and Cheryl Gwinnett and their children Josh, 13, and Ellie, 10, pictured on holiday in Venice, Italy
Tony Gwinnett will be among the fans cheering on the Tigers as they hunt for their first premiership since 1980
‘Obviously I prefer him here with us but I just know how devastated he’d be if after all these years the Tigers won a premiership and he wasn’t there,’ she said.
‘He’s so passionate about the Tigers, goes every week he can, goes interstate once a season.
‘The grand final is the ultimate, he needs to be there.’
Mrs Gwinnett told Daily Mail Australia she is totally behind her husband’s mad dash to watch the Tigers vie for their first flag in 37 years
‘Obviously I prefer him here with us but I just know how devastated he’d be if after all these years the Tigers won a premiership and he wasn’t there,’ she said
Mr Gwinnett has spent $2300 on return flights from Italy to Melbourne, and will reunite with his family in Geneva on Monday.
He told Daily Mail Australia he has been going to Richmond games for almost 30 years.
‘I had a chat with my wife when the Tigers finished in the top four about how I would cope being overseas and they made the grand final or even won.
‘I would not cope, I have to be at the MCG.’
He told Daily Mail Australia he has been going to Richmond games for almost 30 years
He said his wife told him to book the flights back to Melbourne and then cancel them if the Tigers failed to make the decider
He said his wife told him to book the flights back to Melbourne and then cancel them if the Tigers failed to make the decider.
As it turned out, they timed their finals run to perfection.
Mr Gwinnett said his wife had some advice for him before returning to Europe.
‘Can’t be too pissed getting back on the plane… if I don’t make get the flight back I will be in big trouble.
Mr Gwinnett said his wife had a bit of advice for him before returning to Europe
‘I had a chat with my wife when the Tigers finished in the top four about how I would cope being overseas and they made the grand final or even won,’ Mr Gwinnett said
‘Could be a massive night and well into Sunday if they win.’
On his trip back from Europe Mr Gwinnett said he bumped into another Tigers supporter in Abu Dhabi who is heading to the MCG from Oktoberfest in Germany, before flying to Europe on Sunday.
‘Tigers supporters are crazy.’