Matthew Richardson on job for Tigers Tony Sheahan
December 19, 2009 8:25PM RICHMOND'S favourite son is returning to Tigerland.
Matthew Richardson has joined the club's off-field leadership group, which will see him working in the club's commercial operations department three days a week.
"Richo" vowed he would get his hands dirty, denying the role was a token job.
"That was one of the things Brendon (Richmond CEO Brendon Gale) spoke to me about, and I just didn't want to be down there for the sake of it," he said.
"Brendon wanted me where I had a key role and where I had something to do, and I'm actually contributing and I've got goals that he wants me to achieve.
"I am little bit nervous. I've been playing footy for 17 years. You wonder what you're going to do after football, but I'm looking forward to it."
The role will be in addition to media commitments with Channel 7 and 3AW.
Rick Olarenshaw will make way for Richardson to become Seven's boundary rider.
"I'm fresh out the game and I played last year, so I think I've got a fair handle on how the game is played. I think I've got something to offer," he said.
"It's going to be great. I'm really excited by the opportunity. It's going to be a challenge because I'll be new to a lot of the stuff I'll be doing."
His role at Tigerland will be a little more grounded.
"I will be looking after sponsors of the club, the Jack Dyer Foundation, helping with membership and all of our coterie groups. It'll be exciting and I'm looking forward to it," the 34-year-old said.
The hamstring that cost him his career is still on the mend and he has no plans for surgery.
His decision to hang up the boots still resonates within the football world.
"I'm 100 per cent comfortable with it," Richardson said.
"When I look out at the boys training when I go down there, I wish I was out there on the track, but I just know my body is telling me otherwise.
"If I wanted to do a high level of activity I would have to have the operation, but I'm not planning on doing that so hopefully it will heal itself."
A kick with an amateur side hasn't been ruled out, but .it will all depend on his body.
Not only was there the hamstring worry, a knee injury threatened to derail his 2010 season had he decided to give it one more crack.
"I had an operation at the end of the year and it came up all right," he said.
"I was struggling a bit at the start of the year, so I had the operation then, too. I had my medial ligament fixed up, so I was confident that was going to be fixed.
"But it was my hamstring that was the concern."
Richardson's popularity can only be measured once the season gets under way, but if the dvd release which features highlights of the 272-game career is any indication, he is in a league of his own.
1000 copies were sold in the first 48 hours, and two testimonial events are planned. One in Melbourne, the other in Tasmania, to thank all the supporters from the Apple Isle.
He can be seen on the club's website with regular updates.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/matthew-richardson-on-job-for-tigers/story-e6frf9jf-1225812042977
