Richmond president Peggy O'Neal says Tigers are 'tired of watching someone else play in the grand final' Daniel Cherny
The Age
October 6, 2015 - 8:18PM Richmond president Peggy O'Neal says the Tigers are "tired of watching someone else play in the grand final," and labelled the conclusion to the club's season a "stinging disappointment."
Addressing 1600 people at the Jack Dyer Medal count on Tuesday night, O'Neal urged coach Damien Hardwick, the entire coaching staff and playing group to "grab the upcoming season with both hands and make it your own."
The Tigers were defeated in an elimination final for the third straight season, beaten by North Melbourne. It continued a 14-year stretch without a single finals victory, and a 33-year period in which they have failed to reach a grand final.
O'Neal praised the hard work of the club's staff and directors that has seen the Tigers become an off-field powerhouse, but said that much still needed to be done.
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"This club will demonstrate its conviction and its fortitude in coming months," O'Neal said.
"As a club we have one goal: to be a strong and bold premiership club. Our club off-field and on-field is vastly better than it has been in many years ... but there's much work to be done."
O'Neal described her emotions while watching Hawthorn beat West Coast on Saturday.
"We're tired of watching someone else play in the grand final. We want to be so excited that we wonder if our legs will carry us to the MCG."
Hardwick said he was "up for the fight."
"We'll roll our sleeves up in the coming weeks," Hardwick said.
He added that he wasn't perturbed by the doubters from outside the club.
"To be honest I couldn't give a poo what they think."
The Tigers bid farewell to retiring players Nathan Foley, Ricky Petterd, Chris Knights and former skipper Chris Newman.
Newman received a standing ovation. "It's really humbling," Newman said.
He said retirement hadn't sunk in yet, and thanked the crowd.
"Over the past 15 years I've been lucky enough to be part of the Richmond football club family. Although we never achieved the ultimate goal ... I can still hold my head up high."
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