Richmond and Greater Western Sydney Giants fans show their colours ahead of 2019 AFL grand final

The Wimmera's diehard fans will no doubt be supporting Richmond or Greater Western Sydney to premiership glory on Saturday.

As an eight-year-old, Chris McClure can remember sitting in front of the radio, in awe, as a Richmond side led by club greats Kevin Bartlett and Bill Barrot, willed itself to the 1967 VFL premiership.

It was that September afternoon Mr McClure committed to the yellow and black.

Some 50 years later in 2017, all the Horsham local could do was envelop himself in the roar of the MCG, as he tried to process that his Tigers had just won the AFL grand final.

Now his beloved Richmond will try to do it all again this weekend.

"It was incredible. We just couldn't believe what we were seeing. It was like 'what the, what's going on here. We're winning, what the heck?'," Mr McClure said.

"It was September in 1967 when Richmond won that grand final that I said I'm going to go be a Richmond supporter.

"I decided that it was going to be my team, and you know in 2017 it was 50 years to the day that I started barracking for Richmond.

"It was meant to be."

Horsham resident, and rusted on Richmond supporter Cameron Pickering was stuck on the other side of the world when the Tigers won the 2017 premiership.

"I was in Japan on a school trip. I couldn't believe it," he said. "I'm a long-suffering supporter, and I didn't even think about it when they asked for a helper to go on a school trip.

FINALS FLASHBACK: Wimmera's Richmond fans ready for 2017 grand final

"I don't think we lost another game since I signed up.

"We just kept winning and winning, and next thing I know I find myself in a bar in Tokyo (watching the grand final), thinking 'oh, what am I doing here'."

Mr Pickering has managed to secure an elusive ticket to the game this time around.

"Hopefully I can be there to see it with my own eyes, in my own country, and celebrate with everyone," he said.

Despite their ubiquity, it's not just Richmond fans who are gearing up for a big weekend.

Greater Western Sydney's team song proclaims "there's a big, big sound from the west of the town" - and it seems to have extended all the way to western Victoria.

Youngster Charlie Amor was converted by a footy card to become one of the Giants biggest fans.

Recognising the similarities between his orange hair and the Giants' colours, Charlie decided to follow the team from Greater Western Sydney.

Charlie, 4, has also worked hard to make sure his four-month-old brother Thomas follows in his footsteps.

Charlie's favourite player was formerly Giants' captain Phil Davis. But after learning of Shane Mumford's memorable nickname - "Mummy" - the Giants' ruckman has instead become Charlie's favourite.

Horsham's Samuel Leith also holds special admiration for Mumford. Mr Leith withstood howls of disapproval from his Hawthorn loving father and brother when he chose to support the newly formed Giants in 2013.

"They said, 'of all teams, why them?' What's wrong with Hawthorn? Have you gone mad?'," Mr Leith said.

"It wasn't for the team, it was more for one player.

"I really liked the way Shane Mumford played ... so I just jumped ship."

Mr Leith admits it wasn't perfect timing, as he watched Hawthorn win three consecutive premierships in 2013, 2014 and 2015 after he stopped supporting the club.

"I couldn't have timed that any better I wouldn't have thought," Mr Leith said. "I have copped a lot of stick for it."

Supporters of the region's football-netball clubs sharing the same colours might also be compelled to support Greater Western Sydney. Southern Mallee Giants stalwart Geoff Burdett said sharing the Giants' colours had impacted the next generation.

"The kids say it's great when the Giants are on TV - they think it's the Southern Mallee Giants," Mr Burdett said.

"There wouldn't be too many proper Giants fans around, but from our point of view, we always follow the Giants, and a lot of people have jumped on the bandwagon."

Grampians Giants All Abilities Football Club coach Russell Holmes said a few players were heading to the grand final parade on Friday.

"GWS Giants have supported us a bit and sent a bit of merchandise to us," Mr Holmes said. "So I think it is good to support them trying to get their first flag."

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