AFL Finals: How Richmond got its roar backAustralian Financial Review
by John Stensholt & Patrick Durkin
Sep 22 2017 at 4:15 PMIt is the embarrassment that Richmond supporters have had to live with for more than three decades and president Peggy O'Neal is determined to end.
The AFL's first and only female club president has grown used to the huge weight of expectation of passionate and long-suffering Tiger supporters. Like them, she has lived through the gentle yet pointed ribbing from colleagues and friends as the AFL's sleeping giant slumbered through decades of under achievement, in-fighting, boardroom bust ups and coach sackings.
So with the club suddenly only one match away from a first grand final appearance since 1982, the even-keeled Richmond club president is pleased, and somewhat relieved, to no longer be teased about her football affiliation.
"It's been a long time since we have had bragging rights," O'Neal, a superannuation law expert and former Freehills partner, tells AFR Weekend.
"Maybe it's a bit of embarrassment fans have had, and I feel that too, of going to work on Monday and being teased. It's time that we won, and had some bragging rights for a while.
"I remember saying to friends I would probably collapse [if Richmond made a grand final]. But now I think after all the work we have done, we deserve to be in one and I can't wait for Saturday afternoon. Whatever happens from here on we deserve. We deserve success."
http://www.afr.com/business/sport/how-richmond-got-its-roar-back-20170921-gym1f9
