It's not often I feel any level of investment in another AFL team.

I guess the success of my beloved Demons provides me with all the happiness I could possibly handle.

This weekend, however, I'm hoping for a Richmond victory.

There are several reasons why I feel this way.

To begin, it's nothing against the Swans.

Not only have they provided me with plenty of content this year, they're also an annoyingly well run club.

No, the reasons I am hoping for a Richmond win are many and varied.

Hope

Sport is all about hope. It's really nonsensical that we should care about it so much but we do.

When it comes to the triumph of hope over reality, Richmond supporters are a symbol that no matter what happens, there is bizarrely always hope.

A Richmond win proves that hope is a worthwhile thing, and not just the girl who said no to going to the Year 12 formal with me.

Fear

I fear for the wellbeing of Tigers fans and the infrastructure of Melbourne if Richmond loses.

Sure, I’ve built a bunker to hide out in, but canned food can only be lived on for so long.

If you've got friends who are Tigers supporters, you'll also be worried about another loss.

There is a point where the human spirit can be broken. This weekend presents one such point.

Peak ninth jokes

Scientists have long predicted that we are rapidly approaching peak 'Richmond finished ninth jokes.'

While there's been a steady supply for years, social media has sped up consumption beyond anything previously thought possible.

Already all possible memes have been done and I spent the last week trying to come up with one for this column and found nothing.

Refusal by governments of all persuasions to tax ninth jokes means we will soon run out and this weekend could be the beginning of the end.

Understanding

As a Melbourne supporter, I have a weird affinity with Tigers supporters and their suffering.

Having your team continually disappoint you at every possible moment, has given me some insight into how my father feels about me.

A Richmond victory makes me feel there is some light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not just Chris Connolly with a torch.

Merit

The turnaround at Richmond has been truly amazing. The fact Brett Deledio and Ivan Maric returned from injury sure helped, but here was a team that was out on the mat and have got back up and had a crack.

They could have given up, they could have looked to next year. Instead, they did this odd winning thing.

The Tiger turnaround has been great theatre. May it continue.