Fans flock to Tiger Field of Dreams
5:51:13 PM Thu 16 December, 2004
By Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
More than 1000 members of the Yellow and Black faith basked in glorious sunshine at Richmond’s Christmas Fans’ Training Day at Punt Road yesterday (Wednesday, December 15).
And, it wasn’t just the ideal weather conditions that put a smile on the face of the Tiger supporters.
From the opening of the Jack Dyer Foundation Walkway of Honour, to Terry Wallace’s fan-friendly focus, to Richard Tambling’s blistering pace, to the wide variety of training drills, to the players’ autograph session, to the arrival of Santa, this was a Punt Road package to please the most discerning of Tiger barrackers.
The Walkway of Honour was fittingly opened by Richmond’s oldest former player, Syd Dockendorff (96), and 72-consecutive year member Alice Hayden. This special paved area in front of the Social Club at Punt Road recognises the contribution of each player who has represented the Tigers in at least one senior game throughout the Club’s 96-year league football history. It also acknowledges Richmond’s 50-year-plus members and Jack Dyer Foundation donors.
Syd Dockendorff, who made 13 senior appearances for the Tigers from 1932-33, told interviewer, Richmond CEO Steven Wright, that the two finest players he’d ever seen pull on the famous Yellow and Black colors were the ‘Immortal’ Jack Dyer and classy wingman of the 1920s-30s, Alan Geddes. Syd fondly remembered the ‘daisycutting’ stab passes that were such a feature of Geddes’ game.
Alice Hayden, for her part, was keen to jump to the defence of popular Richmond Hall of Famer, Neville Crowe, stating that the infamous swipe the former Tiger ruck star took at Carlton’s John Nicholls, in the 1967 second semi-final, had missed by a long way. She then went on to laud ‘little’ Laurie Fowler for his ‘act of vengeance’ on ‘Big Nick’ six years later, in the 1973 Grand Final.
Following the cutting of the ribbon to mark the official opening of the Walkway of Honour, Richmond coach Terry Wallace had the large crowd spellbound as he briefly outlined his vision for the team in 2005, and then explained what was about to unfold in the training session out on the hallowed Punt Road Oval turf. Not surprisingly, he received rapturous applause at the end of his speech . . .
For the next couple of hours, Tiger supporters sipped on beer, wine, soft drinks, scoffed down sausages, and watched with enormous interest as their old and new heroes were put through their paces by Terry Wallace and his coaching panel (Brian Royal, David Wheadon and David King).
The fans lapped it all up . . . they particularly enjoyed it when young Richard Tambling or Brett Deledio produced something that underlined their bountiful potential.
There was genuine excitement in the air at Tigerland on this mid-December late afternoon/early evening – and the supporters departed, bubbling with renewed optimism.
The gloom of the 2004 season, thankfully, was but a distant memory .
http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=181092
