Summary
* Both Price and Bolt are Tiger supporters. Price is a member as is his whole family. Bolt converted because his kids barracked for Richmond.
* Why keep the faith? Gale replied because there's an exciting transformation taking place at Punt Rd. There's the physical with the new $20m redevelopment, new coaching staff with impecible credentials and an exciting young group of kids. Youngest side on the park last weekend since the draft was introduced.
* Price said it was the youngest side only because 4 older guys played up and you must have been filthy when you first heard what happened. Gale said we were. We are a bit thin in terms of leadership so we've got to set standards. Those standards weren't met in Sydney and that's it.
* Bolt thought Cousins was unlucky. Sure he wouldn't have punched anyone but Cousins was being the enforcer. Is that what you want? Gale replied that as he said before we're a bit thin in terms of leadership. Cuz brought to the club not just for footy but as a leader. Thought he could have done better. Bolt asked if Connors was punched once or twice. Gale said he was "subdued" and left it at that.
* On the positive Astbury, Dea and Taylor made their debuts.
* Hit 40k members last Friday. Says a lot about the passion and loyalty of our supporters. It also shows that we've in the past set the benchmarks both on and off the field. We've been the best in the past. We aren't at the moment and it doesn't guarantee we'll be successful in the future but it demonstrates we have the capacity to become the best. When we reach a sustained and competitive basis it will be a sight to behold. We've got to get through their period. It'll be tough and challenging but we know exactly where we are at.
* As a club we would've known about GC17 and GWS coming in. Timing not great but there's 15 other clubs in the same situation. Why we were aggressive in going to the draft last year. We felt the players who weren't going to be apart of our 11th premiership had to go. This year we've got 16 players capable of debuting. That's almost half a list. 7 of them have already.
* You go into every game to win but finishing mid-table doesn't benefit anyone. You play to win premierships and finals and if you don't there's opportunities to rebuild. Clearly in that rebuilding phase at the moment.
* Bolt asked how do keep up morale when you're getting thrashed every week? Gale said clubs are quite immune from the public perception of gloom and doom. We are quite "bullish". There's just so much to do. Personally jumps out of bed and ready to attack the day. Our staff do too. Everyone knows what to do and what is expected individually. There's so much to do. That's leadership. We have a terrific coaching staff. You try and break up "islands of excellence". Break things down into small comprehensible parts and go about each task and each training drill. Whereas if you think about the whole situation it can become quite overwhelming. We're confident in ourselves and staff that we'll eventually get there.
* Price complained about the language of our supporters behind the Punt Rd end goals. 12-13 y.o. girls chanting out "bulls---". Made him feel uncomfortable. Won't sit there again. Gale said it's a fair point and that the AFL has gone to great trouble to make the game accessible to women and kids.
* Bolt said he always liked Richmond because we come across as a family club with a family atmosphere. Handing out footys after games etc. Getting Cousins was a red flag for him, losing Richo, and doesn't having 4 drunken players hurt the brand. Gale said we're about Y&B and Tigers for life. Research says our fans follow us due to that family association. Those incidents are inconsistent with our brand and why we deal with them.
* Gale finished with promoting our new 3-game membership for those with work, family commitments who can't get to most games.
