Gazza March on the Sunday Footy Show

[Phil Mrakov]

Starts at 11am

 

[Eat_em_Alive]

Gary March will be a guest on the sunday footy show today.

I much prefer hutchy as opposed to gaddy HM lyon, humor not agression HM, got that? 

[one-eyed]

Hutchy interviewed Gary March one-on-one:

* This year isn't finals or bust. There are 14 clubs in Gary's opinion that will be vying for finals this year. It's often about winning those close games which we didn't do last year. We were competitive last year but we seek to be more competitive this year. If we do that then we'll be thereabouts.

* Hutchy quizzed March about us topping up in the past and it failing and did Gary have any issues with our list management bringing in a number of mature players over the offseason (albeit for nothing)? Gary said no, not at all. We felt we have brought in a number of young players over the past 3 years and in fact due to that we were lacking in the mature players and leadership they provide. Anyone in football would say Troy Chaplin is precisely the player Richmond needed in defence; we believe Chris Knights has a lot of upside. The rest are rookie listed. Stephenson, Petterd and Lomergan all showed something in preseason.

* About Dusty - Gary pretty much went for attack as the best form of defence. He said the focus on one player by the media would have Richmond fans turning on the media. There are 40 other players on our list whose welfare we also look out for. A lot of the media claims about Dusty has been exaggerated (eg: the amount of time Dusty lived with Cotch. Gary said it was only for a short time). Cotch and Mark Williams have been though a good influence. Documented issues before Christmas but Dusty's behaviour  and his  commitment to training and the Club since has been exemplary. He loves footy. Dusty's the fittest and lightest he's ever been. Gary said we're expecting big things from Dusty this year and it should be a career best. McGuane is moving in with Dusty shortly and Dusty has a job on the side for after footy. Hutchy asked about how Dusty spent time at March's place and Gary replied that Dusty still comes over to his house for dinner and Dusty has mentioned he gets frustrated with all the negative spotlight.

* Hutch asked if the Tigers don't make it then is Hardwick the right man? Gary said yes we believe he is the right man for the job and that's why there is no issue; Dimma will be coach until at least 2014. It was important though to put the right people around him and the playing group. That's why we brought Mark Williams to the Club and Tim Clarke back who we respect very highly at Richmond to take care of the development side of things. The structures off field have been set up (ME Bank facilities, resurfaced and reshaped Punt Road oval, etc) and now its up to the on field brigade to do the rest.

* No issue with Cotch keeping the #9 guernsey as captain instead of the #17. When one tradition ends and a new starts then the old one is shelved and won't be used again.

* On March's tenure, Hutchy commended Gary on the job he's done. How we started with the Richmond $5m in debt and Gary will leave at the end of this year with the debt pretty much paid off.

[yellowandback]

No stupid comments, no rash predictions, It looks like he's finally got his act together in the media in his last year as prez 

[WilliamPowell]

* No issue with Cotch keeping the #9 guernsey as captain instead of the #17. When one tradition ends and a new starts then the old one is shelved and won't be used again.

Yeah but what about the rest of it?

He said he had a chat to Cotch who said he wanted to keep number 9

March then said the board decided to allow the cahnge and one of the reasons was that they didn't want to put any "extra" pressure Cotch being such a young Captain by making him wear a number he didn't want too

Give me a break 

Everyone knows my views and I know many on here don't agree with me and that's fine but I nearly fell off my chair when I heard that. Let me make it clear I think Cotch should be captain that's not the issue for me

But....

"Extra" pressure? Young Captain? If the Board were so concerned about these things then why give him the job in the first place? Upholding a "tradition" and having to wear a particualr number creates more pressure?  Seriously?  Sorry Gary that's a cop out

I was always of the belief on this issue the Board had been very weak on this and today Gary March proved it




And BTW what happens if the next Captain says "I really liked that idea of the Captain wearing number 17, I'd like to bring it back?" Are the board going to say NO becasue we've shelved it or will they say "OK whatever you want let's bring it back 'cos Gary's gone"

Flip Flop 

[YellowandBlackBlood]

* No issue with Cotch keeping the #9 guernsey as captain instead of the #17. When one tradition ends and a new starts then the old one is shelved and won't be used again.

Yeah but what about the rest of it?

He said he had a chat to Cotch who said he wanted to keep number 9

March then said the board decided to allow the cahnge and one of the reasons was that they didn't want to put any "extra" pressure Cotch being such a young Captain by making him wear a number he didn't want too

Give me a break 

Everyone knows my views and I know many on here don't agree with me and that's fine but I nearly fell off my chair when I heard that. Let me make it clear I think Cotch should be captain that's not the issue for me

But....

"Extra" pressure? Young Captain? If the Board were so concerned about these things then why give him the job in the first place? Upholding a "tradition" and having to wear a particualr number creates more pressure?  Seriously?  Sorry Gary that's a cop out

I was always of the belief on this issue the Board had been very weak on this and today Gary March proved it




And BTW what happens if the next Captain says "I really liked that idea of the Captain wearing number 17, I'd like to bring it back?" Are the board going to say NO becasue we've shelved it or will they say "OK whatever you want let's bring it back 'cos Gary's gone"

Flip Flop 

Although I somewhat understand where you are coming from, I feel a good board allocates importance to issues that it feels need to be supported.  While standing firm for keeping the number 17 may look strong, I feel it's misplaced strength. I see nothing wrong with what was done as long as they stay strong when it comes to behaviour code and other FAR more important things for the club.
The number 17 issue isn't important and I feel they handled it well.

I guess we all look at things differently don't we WP?

[WilliamPowell]

Although I somewhat understand where you are coming from, I feel a good board allocates importance to issues that it feels need to be supported.  While standing firm for keeping the number 17 may look strong, I feel it's misplaced strength. I see nothing wrong with what was done as long as they stay strong when it comes to behaviour code and other FAR more important things for the club.
The number 17 issue isn't important and I feel they handled it well.

I guess we all look at things differently don't we WP?

Obviously we do and there's nothing wrong with that.

Differing opinions and views are what makes the world go round

To some people the Number 17 issue is important. 

I would have thought though that there was no need for the board to do anything, the policy was in place had been for nearly a decade. It was a resolution therefore it was binding.

What they did was create an issue that wasn't needed. Are they seriosuly suggesting that Cotch would have knocked back the captaincy if they had said you have to wear number 17? I don't think anyone believes he would of.

Personally I just think the whole thing has sent a poor message on so many levels

And yep I probaly see things very differently 

[Dice]

And BTW what happens if the next Captain says "I really liked that idea of the Captain wearing number 17, I'd like to bring it back?" Are the board going to say NO becasue we've shelved it or will they say "OK whatever you want let's bring it back 'cos Gary's gone"

Flip Flop 

Thankfully Cotchin ended that ridiculous ' tradition ' and stuck with the number every tiger kid's parent paid to have fixed on the back of their young kid's guernsey. Number 9.
 To answer your question WP , March stated in the interview that the 'traditon' was dead and buried and wouldn't be revived 

[WilliamPowell]

Thankfully Cotchin ended that ridiculous ' tradition ' and stuck with the number every tiger kid's parent paid to have fixed on the back of their young kid's guernsey. Number 9.

So when did become ridiculous exactly? From the beginning when it was first announced and Wayne Campbell embraced the idea, or was it during Kane Johnson's tenure or was it when Newman became captain? Or is it just ridiculous now becasue it's Cotchin who said "No".

If Cotch had said yep I'll wear it if I am made captain (which he originally did say at the end of last season in an interview BTW) would it be ridiculous?

Actually IMHO it probably would have been the moment when the whole "tradition" was validated in the eyes of many who hadn't embraced the idea. He was perfect for it. Sadly now we will never know

To answer your question WP , March stated in the interview that the 'traditon' was dead and buried and wouldn't be revived 

I know what Gary said yesterday but up until this appointment he had said like everyone else "our captain wears 17". So I wouldn't put much credence in what Gary said especially in light of the fact Gary will only be there until the end of the this year. 

[tony_montana]

Personally I was never a fan of the idea. i've always been of the belief that each player can make their own history with their own number and we don't need to desperately claw at yesteryear's success. (Not saying they were necessarily doing that, but that's the impression I got). I'm glad Cotchin decided to keep his own number.

[tigers_of_old_1980]

I thought March spoke well and defused potential headline questions regarding Dusty. Well done.