TWO WEEKS after the AFL Grand Final was run and won, football continued to flourish in Tasmania this weekend with a host of stars including Matthew Richardson taking part in a charity match on Saturday.
Richardson, 40, showed he hasn't forgotten where the goals are with a bag of six majors in Tasmania's 32-point win over a Victorian representative side.
And, there was another show of impressive personal firepower on the other side with 1990 Brownlow medallist Tony Liberatore booting five for the Vics.
The match, staged for the fourth year running to raise money and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy Tasmania (MDT), is the brainchild of long-time football administrator Jaimes Wiggins.
Wiggins said Saturday's game, won 17.9 (111) to 12.7 (79), was played in front of nearly 4000 people at North Hobart Oval.
"It's got a really good feel," Wiggins told AFL.com.au on Sunday.
"The guys all donate their time and they just want to be a part of it.
"They're all lovely people who loved being involved."
It first came about when Wiggins' mate Michael Peters received the devastating news nine years ago his infant son Lucas suffered from the terminal condition of muscular dystrophy.
The first of the 'Relive the Rivalry' games in 2012 was a struggle, with overheads and a starting budget of zero making it hard to actually bring in funds.
But the concept of a Tasmanian team made up of former VFL/AFL and state-wide players against a Victorian/All Stars line up has gathered momentum over four years, and this year initial figures suggest the event has raised between $15,000 and $20,000.
"It's heavily underfunded and we're just trying to raise awareness and money for a wonderful cause," Wiggins said.
"It's a horrible, horrible illness. Lucas has battled it for the last nine years – it's very cruel and just wrong.
"We started the game without a budget and called upon people I worked with over the journey in the first year, and it's gradually got better and better each year.
"In the first few years it was a battle to break even but last year we made a donation of $15,000, which was just special."
Lucas tossed the coin on Saturday for the teams coached by Paul Hudson and David Rhys-Jones.
Brodie Holland, Adrian Fletcher, Michael O'Loughlin and Tim Hazell were among other ex-AFL players to take part, while in previous years the event has attracted the likes of Dermott Brereton, Terry Daniher, Tony Modra and Brendan Fevola.
Former Melbourne player Garry Baker, who won the Demons' best and fairest in 1978, has been involved in all four games and kicked two goals on Saturday at the age of 62.
Richardson's appearance was notable, given it was not only the first time he'd played since his 2009 retirement but also the first time he'd pulled on a Tassie state jumper since 1993.
Born in Devonport, Richardson was a crowd favourite afterwards, particularly given his on-field heroics.
The main objective of the game, aside from the primary goal of raising funds and awareness, is to keep the yearly occasion fun for all involved.
But Wiggins says he's keen to continue to grow the event, which was given a shot in the arm this year with caravan manufacturer Jayco coming on board as naming rights sponsor.
"We'll look at ways and means to improve things; we'll probably incorporate a couple of events in the build up [next year] – one in Melbourne and one in Hobart," he said.
"We were very fortunate with Jayco this year and it looks like at this stage that will be long-term, which we're just so grateful for.
"When the guys come down and play and understand how emotional it is and what it means … to see this young fella, it means so much to them.
"The more people hear about it, the more people will want to get involved."
