THE AFL premiership trophy often finds itself in weird and wonderful places after each year’s grand final as the victor parades the competiton’s holy grail to fans around the country.

The Richmond Tigers had extra reason to show off their silverware after snagging a monumental grand final victory over favourites the Adelaide Crows last September.

The cup travelled to everywhere between Darwin, Adelaide and Melbourne to give stoic fans a taste of success after a 37-year premiership drought. But somehow throughout the two-month tour, the trophy found itself in the hands of an Aussie tennis star.

World No. 26 Daria Gavrilova was reportedly in a bit of hot water with the Tigers following the Melbourne club’s premiership triumph.

The Aussie firebrand’s cheeky personality and on-court aggression have made her a crowd favourite, but she may have lost a few supporters in Richmond after “disrespecting” their chalice on social media.

Football journalist Damian Barrett revealed how the bizarre situation played out on last night’s edition of The AFL Footy Show.

“The cup they so famously won has been to many and varied places in the many months after that famous win, including finding itself in the possession of Daria Gavrilova,” Barrett said.

“She managed to have the cup for some period of time late last year and while she had it, she chose to use it in a way which, it’s probably fair to say, angered the Richmond football players.

“She used it, for what we’ll describe as ‘household chores’ on this particular occasion.”

Richmond players were reportedly furious at the 24-year-old.

“They were not happy,” Barrett said. “They saw that photo in a very different lens to the one which Gavrilova had taken the photo, but she very innocently and playfully did what she did with the cup.”

The revelation stunned Footy Show host Eddie McGuire and panellist Sam Newman as they pestered Barrett for more details.

“She used (the cup) around the house for some laundry, maybe some washing,” Barrett said. “I’m just relaying what the players said. They demanded the photo be taken off the airwaves and destroyed.”

A friend of Gavrilova working at the Melbourne club had to step in to “smooth things over” after the Tigers reportedly scolded her for her apology.

“They sought an apology, and it was given, but in their eyes it was a tad flippant,” Barrett said. “That then impacted on Kate Sheahan, a friend of Gavrilova’s who’s also an employee of the Tigers. Senior players had to speak to Sheahan to thrash this matter out.

“It’s been smoothed over but there was some serious tension over what the Richmond players described as ‘disrespecting the premiership cup’.

In typical blunt fashion, Newman piped up and got down to the dirty details.

“She didn’t ablute (clean herself) in it, did she?” he said to howling laughter. “(Did she put) soiled underwear in it?”

Barrett shook off the curveball and simply said the act was “harmless in Gavrilova’s eyes” but angered the club.

The apology was reportedly directed to one Richmond player, but was not directed to the club.

“She didn’t mean to offend anyone,” Gavrilova’s agent Paul Kilderry told the Herald Sun.

“As soon as she realised she had caused any offence she apologised and took it down straight away.

“Certainly no offence was meant. I think she was trying to have a bit of fun.”

FANS QUICK TO CONDEMN RICHMOND

Gavrilova became public enemy number one after the story broke on Thursday night, however many fans have come to the Aussie star’s defence.

Richmond became embroiled in controversy following their premiership win after one of their players, Nathan Broad, distributed a photo of a topless woman wearing a premiership medallion.

The incident soured what should have been a celebratory time for the club and after hearing of the club demanding an apology from Gavrilova, many were quick to point back to the scandal.

I really don't think Richmond footy players should be making *any* complaints about people taking photos they didn't like https://t.co/HWrqRDbCJB — Ben Eltham (@beneltham) March 16, 2018

Richmond’s anger about the Gavrilova photo appears wildly over the top when compared to the reaction to the premiership medal photo #AFL — Jacob Slucki (@jacobslucki) March 16, 2018

Of course the backlash wasn’t solely directed at the Victorian club. Many weren’t happy about Gavrilova having the cup in her possession and using it inappropriately.

@Daria_gav

What the heck were you doing with the 2017 premiership cup?

Come on Dasha, you are better than that — JB (@jordo83) March 15, 2018

Daria Gavrilova WTF ?

😡😡😡😡 https://t.co/e7S0wSoT7v — Tiger tragic Rick H (@psycho5166) March 16, 2018

FEVOLA’S CONTROVERSIAL THEORY: ‘SCRAP IT’

Former AFL star Brendan Fevola said players are risking injury as he claimed the JLT pre-season competition was hurting players ahead of Round 1.

“If I was the president of a footy club, I’d hate to be playing on country grounds. I’ve played a lot of country footy on a lot of grounds, but they’re not up to scratch,” he said.

“You can’t have million-dollar Brownlow Medallists running around on a local footy ground. Just scrap it. They’ve got birds who put holes in them.

“They do a good job, I play and love country footy, but (the grounds) are not up to standard.”

The former forward claimed “100 per cent” that rural grounds are causing needless injuries ahead of the premiership season.