Richo to the rescue after team's 401-point thrashing

[one-eyed]

Richo to rescue after team's 401-point thrashing
MEGAN LEVY
May 11, 2010 - 3:38PM


North Sunshine Roadrunners thrashed by local rivals Albanvale Cobras 67.22 (424) to 3.5 (23) in the Western Region Football League.

It was one of the biggest floggings in the history of Aussie rules football.

But the North Sunshine Football Club’s 401-point drubbing at the hands of local rivals the Albanvale Cobras on Saturday may actually prove to be a blessing in disguise.

On the back of their 67.22 (424) to 3.5 (23) loss in Western Region Football League second division on Saturday, AFL legend Matthew Richardson has offered to hold a training session with the Roadrunners, who have not notched up a win in two years.

Club president Mark Neicho, who has been fielding media inquiries all day following the schellacking, said the visit from the former Richmond forward would boost the spirits of the demoralised team, which was gaining notoriety for all the wrong reasons.

‘‘It is a big loss and you’d expect some sort of comment on it, but there’s no way I would have thought we would have received this amount of  coverage,’’ Mr Neicho said.

‘‘Matthew Richardson’s offer was a bit of surprise, it definitely threw me back a bit that one.

‘‘Knowing he’s going to come down and do a training run might pep the guys up enough and keep them motivated. Who are we for Matthew to put his time in? I just think that shows the character of the man.’’

Mr Neicho, who sometimes runs on for a game when numbers are dire, said the team had been rocked by injuries on the day of their latest loss, with 12 regular players out on the day.

As a result a number of players had to double up and play two games, which took its toll, he said.

Fourteen Cobras belted goals during the match, thought to be the sixth biggest flogging in a seniors footy game.

‘‘We knew we weren’t going out there with the best side we could possibly put on the ground,’’ he said.

‘‘It is quite an unfortunate thing that’s happened to the guys. It’s quite sad. We had a couple of guys that came off the field who were actually crying. They were quite sad about what happened to them.

‘‘But we have to be there for the guys and try to support them and try to be as positive as we can.’’

Mr Neicho said the seniors had been defeated by an average of 30-35 goals a week this year. Their "best" game was when they were only beaten by 15 goals.

He said the Roadrunners had been trying to re-build after they recently spent two years playing in the first division.

‘‘It cost us way too much money, then we couldn’t pay the players to stay in our side so they left us, and we were left with a side that basically couldn’t compete. But we have a five-year plan that we’ve put in place,’’ he said.

Mr Neicho said the seniors had been defeated by an average of 30-35 goals a week this year. Their "best" game was when they were only beaten by 15 goals.

"Like I was saying before, they’re all friends, they get together, they have a good social life there," he said.

"We’re playing teams who pay $50,000-60,000 a year for their teams, and we don’t pay. We’re just out there trying to have some fun."

Despite the walloping, the two teams reportedly shared a beer in the clubhouse after the demolition, which was played in good spirits.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richo-to-rescue-after-teams-401point-thrashing-20100511-upry.html

[Ruthless]

Played 20 years for that club and might just have to come out of retirement for a night. 

[Jacosh]

  Nice one Richo, It really does show what a great guy he is.  Would be good if a few of his AFL mates that have also retired got down there and helped him, They could turn it into a fund raiser for the club.  Couple $ to have a training run with Richo and who ever else was there with him before or preferably after the main training sesion.

[one-eyed]

Footy battlers call on Tiger great, Matthew Richardson, for extra help
Terry Brown
Herald Sun
May 21, 2010



 
IT'S cold and it's dark and they've been belted by 103 goals in two games, once by 401 points.
But don't be fooled.

At North Sunshine, the Roadrunners are up and running - and a new recruit is behind it.

Richmond legend Matthew Richardson arrived last night 50 minutes early for training, but plenty of players still beat him there. They put the big fella in Saints colors he hasn't worn since the juniors.

He tells coach Pat Angeleno: "Mate, I'll just train with you. You just do the normal training, I'll run around. Have a bit of fun."

Normal training? You're kidding.

"Just man on man, hard at the footy," Richo tells the troops. "That's all I can tell you."

"Do you want a game? We need a full-forward?" a cheeky bloke chips across the huddle.

Then almost instantly, Dempster Reserve oval is alive. Players run like men possessed, scream for mates, lead hard and fast.

Richo joins in the drills, then takes a shot from near 50.

"Richo misses!" a Roadrunner cheers with delight.

President Mark Neicho can't stop smiling, watching the boys go hard at it 45 minutes early.

"Six o'clock's when they usually get here, then they sit around for half an hour talking crap," he says.

"I've never heard so much noise on the ground at training."

Under lights on the oval, Richo leads for a footy from full-back and a bloke kicks to him, two TV cameras taking it in.

The player shanks it. Worst kick of his life. It bounces about nine times before it dribbles to Richo.

The team needs the training, like they need a full-forward, like they need sponsors and, maybe, a miracle. They get a surpruse, at least, when training finishes more than an hour early.

It's been a good, sharp session and the sausages at the clubhouse are calling and the beer is cold.

The Roadrunners take on Wyndham Vale at home tomorrow, and the comeback starts there, they hope.

Players stand on the steps with an AFL giant, and if grins were goals, they are home already.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/footy-battlers-call-on-tiger-great-matthew-richardson-for-extra-help/story-e6frf7kx-1225869363533