Shame Matthew Ricardson was never skipper of Richmond Mark Robinson | Herald Sun November 13, 2009 RICHMOND great Kevin Bartlett last night said it was a shame Matthew Richardson never got to captain the club.
Stunned by the news of Richardson's retirement, Bartlett last night heaped praise on the retiring champion but lamented the fact Richardson did not lead the famous yellow and black.
"It's a great shame he was never made skipper," he said.
"I'm certain he thought it would have been a great honour, and it would would have been, but that honour is now dead.
"I thought a couple of years years back the club should have recognised his tremendous contribution to the club.
"He had his weaknesses, on the field he did a few silly things, but his desire to play and train hard and live and breathe Richmond, I felt he was entitled to be captain."
Drafted to the club under the father-son rule in 1992, Richardson finishes his career on 282 games.
"I'm disappointed for Richmond fans because for a long time he has been heart and soul of the club," Bartlett said.
"The Tigers have not had a lot to cheer about but they always had Matthew Richardson who has been a really great player for the club.
"He's been popular, he wears his heart on his sleeve, when the Tigers were down and out, the thought of having Richo was just fantastic for supporters.
"He's really been special for Richmond, he carried the hopes and aspirations on his own shoulders.
"He was demonstrative and flamboyant, but he always was a Richmond champion who loved the club so dearly."
Bartlett was joined by an overwhelming list of football people paying tribute to Richardson last night.
Premiership wingman, captain and coach Francis Bourke said he was surprised by the decision.
"I took it for granted, I suppose, that he would be OK to play, but if it's a medical issue that's fair enough," Bourke said on SEN.
"He's been for many supporters, myself included, an absolute beacon in some pretty dark times,
"The other fantastic thing about Matthew is that he's always had time for people, supporters and kids."
Richardson kicked 800 career goals and was the club's leading goalkicker 13 times.
He won is only best and fairest in 2007, was runner-up four times and placed third on another occasion.
Late in his career, 2008, Richardson was switched to wing under coach Terry Wallace, and finished third in the Brownlow Medal - and there was no more popular loser.
His father Alan (Bull) Richardson played 103 games for the Tigers, including the 1967 premiership.
The news broke last night, much to the frustration of the Tigers, after Richardson's manager Ricky Nixon had been in discussions with Channels 10, 9, and 7, over media deals for next year.
Richardson's brother-in-law and former coach (briefly), Jade Rawlings last night described Richo as an "iconic figure".
"He's genuinely loved and he has represented himself and his family over many years," Rawlings said. "It's sad he's not playing again."
Rawlings said Richardson's qualities included his love for the mighty Tigers, his training intensity at every session and his will to win.
"People looked at his shortcomings, but you have to focus on what he brought to the table and that was competitiveness. I don't know if anyone took more contested marks over the past 10 years," Rawlings said.
"He's revered in a lot of ways and the thing I like about him most, even though he has genuine star factor, is he hasn't changed as a person," Rawlings said.
"He's a great friend to a lot of people.
"When he told me, I was shocked, I wasn't ready for it. I was disappointed, but the way he spoke he had a lot of conviction and we just reflected on the good, rather than the sadness."
Recently retired teammate Mark Coughlan could scarcely believe Richardson had retired when informed last night.
"It comes as a total shock to me," Coughlan said.
"He is the sort of guy who you will be telling your kids about in 50 years time.
"He has so much ability which he gave to the club, and he gave it to the supporters as much as he did to his teammates.
"He was always the last person there talking to the fans and signing autographs for them.
"I am really saddened to hear the news. The least he deserved was being chaired off at the MCG.
"We lauded him as the most dominant forward at the club in its entire history.
"He is the best forward we have ever had. He has probably given more to the club in the last 20 years than anyone else.
"The membership certainly wouldn't be the way it was without him.
"He pulled more people through the turnstiles than anyone else at the club."
Coughlan said Richardson was also the most supportive teammate at Punt Road.
"He is just a lad. He deserved to be the captain of the club at some stage throughout his career but it didn't happen," Coughlan said.
"I think we are all mere mortals compared to the big fellow.
"When you were drafted he was the first guy at the club to take you out for dinner to say hello, and when you retired he was the first one to take you out for coffee to say hello."
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