Tigers fight to hold fans * Jon Ralph
* From: Herald Sun
* February 27, 2010 RICHMOND chief executive Brendon Gale says there is no excuse for the Tiger Army not to sign on this season, even with the Ben Cousins buzz gone and a year of pain forecast.
The club was thrashed by Hawthorn in its NAB Cup opener a fortnight ago and today faces premier Geelong in Yea at 4pm in what could be another one-sided contest.
But Gale is bullish about the club's membership levels, which last year reached an exceptional 37,000.
The Tigers now have 28,600 members, just short of their goal of 30,000 by the end of February.
Coach's box sponsor Lite n' Easy yesterday signed on for another two seasons, and Gale is hopeful reluctant members will do the same."We have renewed Lite n' Easy," Gale said.
"Rightly or wrongly we had plenty of attention on our coach's box last year but we are thrilled.
"Last year was a bumper year for members, but we have ambitious plans for the future.
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"Look, we are aiming to hold up our (membership) numbers.
"A lot of people say there will be natural attrition and there was the Cousins' factor (last year).
"Last time I looked Ben was still here with us and the results were disappointing last year but we have got to suck it up.
"We have got a new coaching team and a new exciting way of playing footy.
"It's going to take a bit of time but there are 16 kids capable of debuting for us this year and a lot of them will form the basis of our next premiership side.
"We really encourage our members to sign on and be part of the journey."
Gale said the club's hierarchy was not dismayed by the dismal start to the year against Hawthorn.
"We knew Hawthorn would be a very good side, and they should finish top four," he said.
"Last year we finished 15th.
We want to get a whole lot better.
"Next up we get the reigning premiers.
"It just reinforces the competitive nature of this competition and the work we have to do.
"We have got ambitious plans for the future and we know where we want to be in three to five years, but clearly we have a lot of work to do."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-fight-to-hold-fans/story-e6frf9jf-1225834979525