By Melissa Grant
Ryan Sewell is one of the littlest faces of the Richmond Tigers Cheer Squad.
At just a few months of age, Ryan can regularly be found behind the goals among the Tiger army’s most faithful supporters.
Decked out in a Richmond guernsey, beanie and wrapped in a blanket, he is cradled by mother Alarna, a diehard Tigers supporter.
Alarna has followed the yellow and black for as long as she can remember.
She signed up as a member as a teenager, became part of the cheer squad around 15 years ago and has been on the committee of the cheer squad for more than six years.
And she was never going to let becoming a mother stop her from cheering on her beloved Tigers.
In fact, the Officer resident always planned on giving birth outside the football season.
In July last year, Alarna and husband Leigh found out they were expecting.
She said the pregnancy was easy with only a bit of nausea early on.
But some match day duties became somewhat of a challenge as she really began to show.
“Usually I sit in the front row with the floggers – in the finals I had fun with that!” Alarna said.
Also, as it turned out, Ryan’s due date was agonising close to the Tigers’ round one clash.
“He was due on the 19th of March. I had been hoping for an earlier due date,” Alarna said.
“Our first game of the season was on the 21st (of March). I was debating on whether to do round one heavily pregnant.
“I was asking my friend who is a doctor ‘should I go?’ but luckily it didn’t come to that. I got induced (due to blood pressure concerns) and he came early.”
Ryan Jack Sewell was born on 12 March 2019 at St John of God Hospital, Berwick, weighing 3.6kg
Both mum and bub were discharged from hospital six days before the Tigers’ first game of the season. Alarna watched her beloved team on TV, although the game ended up being a bit of a snoozefest for little Ryan as the club cruised home to a 33-point win over the Blues.
“He slept through it,” Alarna said.
“The next week I actually set him up in his outfit and he slept the whole game (again).”
Ryan was only a week old when he went to his first ‘making of the banners’. However, a couple of interstate matches delayed his first game-day appearance.
He was five weeks old when he went to his first AFL match on Easter Saturday when the Tigers played the Sydney Swans.
Alarna went into the game fully prepared having purchased special ear muffs for Ryan and booking the car park at Marvel Stadium well in advance.
Ryan missed the Tigers’ win – he slept through the entire game. The highlight, for the bub, was getting a ball at the end of the game from Tigers forward Daniel Rioli.
Ryan was awake for much more of his following game day experience – the Tigers’ clash against the Bulldogs.
Alarna expects her son will come along to quite a few matches this year.
“I’ll still go every week – whether Ryan will come will be weather and time dependent,” Alarna said.
“He’s got plenty of arms to sit in.”
Alarna said she Richmond Cheer Squad was “one big family”.
“We promote the cheer squad as a family-friendly environment. We love to have the kids involved,” she said.
“A friend has two kids – they’re 10 and 7 – and they’ve been in the cheer squad since they were born.”
Despite being a Geelong fan, Leigh will also find himself sitting among the Richmond Cheer Squad this season.
“I signed him up for a Richmond three-game membership this year. I was like if he (Ryan) is coming to the footy you can come to a few games too!” Alarna said.
Alarna is also keen to keep up her long-standing tradition of attending one interstate match each season.
“I’ll see if I can pull off the Gold Coast this year, but it’s in the school holidays so it will be hard to get accommodation,” she said.
However, the biggest decision is the number that will go on the back of Ryan’s game day outfit.
“I was initially thinking Rancey but then he did his ACL. Now, it will probably be Rioli because Ryan was lucky enough to get his first footy from him.”
