The $6 million man Caroline Wilson
February 16, 2011IT WAS over a game of golf three months ago that Brendon Gale asked his first AFL coach, Kevin Bartlett, to cement his reconciliation with the Richmond Football Club.
The Tigers' CEO told the five-time premiership champion he needed him to back an audacious campaign that would pave the way to the club's 11th flag. And then last month Gale told Bartlett he wanted to raise $6 million in 12 months - and that he wanted Bartlett to not only back the bid but front it.
Which is exactly what the Richmond legend has agreed to do, revealing yesterday to The Age that it was Tom Hafey who brought him back to the club four years ago but Gale and his team who have helped him to believe in a successful Richmond again.
Bartlett has agreed to play a central role in the Fighting Tiger Fund and will deliver the keynote address at next month's pivotal campaign launch at the unveiling of the Punt Road Oval's new ME Bank facility.
Having privately told Gale that Richmond people needed to stop blaming the past Bartlett would only say of his 16-year schism with the club: ''I was always a Richmond supporter. I just didn't attend certain functions. It was Tommy who brought me back.''
Significantly, the game of golf at Metropolitan last spring also involved recently sacked Essendon coach and former Richmond captain Matthew Knights, another favourite son who Gale felt should be brought back into the fold. Gale's lieutenant Simon Matthews made up the quartet which the Tigers' CEO described as: ''Two honest and trustworthy administrators versus two sacked coaches.''
Although months of planning has gone into launching the 12-month fundraiser - which aims to kill off Richmond's massive debt, leaving more than $1 million left in change to immediately plough into football - Gale said Bartlett was the obvious choice to lead next month's campaign launch.
''He's one of our greatest players and he symbolises those who have come back into the fold,'' said the Richmond CEO. ''He's a wonderful communicator, of course, but to be honest I wondered if he would be prepared to take it on with his media commitments. We understand there are times when he has to criticise us as well. But he is a part of our tribe.
''In the past this club has not been as united as we'd like and some became separated from the club and there were factions. Kevin is a club legend associated with great success but he's about the future as well.
''For him to help us - well I don't think there's any greater sign of unity if Kevin Bartlett declares that: 'Now is the time. Right here, right now'. What's past is past. He's got his reasons for that and I fully respect those reasons.''
The AFL has approved Gale's request for a one-off jumper to be worn against Carlton on July 2, a Saturday afternoon Richmond home game at the MCG, to feature the names emblazoned on the yellow sash of every supporter who has pledged more than $5000 to the Fighting Tiger Fund.
Gale first met Bartlett when the then Richmond coach travelled to the former's Tasmanian home to sign him. The ruckman made his debut in 1990 and played every game that season. ''He was just a legend as far as I'm concerned,'' said Gale. ''He didn't have a lot to work with then but he was always so incredibly positive.
''I was just grateful for the opportunity. To be honest I probably only deserved only 10 senior games that year,'' Bartlett demurred. ''I would say perhaps Benny deserved less than 10 but I was determined to persist with him and he went on to play almost 250 games.''
Sacked at the end of the following season, Bartlett famously said he would not return to the club while any member of the Tigers' then board and then CEO Cameron Schwab were still at at the club. For years he resisted all attempts to get him back to Punt Road but did attend premiership reunions and other player functions.
Acknowledging that the $6 million target posed a massive challenge for the club, Bartlett applauded Gale's ambition for the Tigers.
''I think it's one of the most positive things they've done in a long time,'' said Bartlett. ''This is not about surviving, it's about winning.
''In the past people here only responded when the club looked like it was going broke. We saw something similar at North and unfortunately for Fitzroy couldn't survive at all. I think Brendon realises the Tigers can survive but the message to supporters now is that if you want to win a premiership you need a lot more than we have.
''The Tigers are falling behind the eight-ball. Richmond has won 10 premierships in 102 years but it's been nearly 30 years now and that's well outside the average.''
Richmond pays its players 92.5 per cent of the AFL salary cap and spends $2 million less on its football than Collingwood.
The March 17 function should raise a minimum $1 million with some 300 guests asked to pledge $3000. Gale has asked campaigners from Richmond's past including Clinton Casey to be involved and the night will be hosted by Brian Taylor, heavily feature Matthew Richardson, Bartlett delivering the main address.
''This is a pretty brave call by Brendon,'' said Bartlett. ''I've got great confidence in him and I believe he is a great individual. He realises as I do that we need to acknowledge everyone from our past because all those people over the last 30 years have done a great job in keeping the club alive and surviving. But now is the time to be audacious.''
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-6-million-man-20110215-1av42.html
