And this is the next one.
Richo, the bare facts.
By Shane Crawford. ‘97
Glamour boy, spectacular aerialist, goal-kicking superstar and renowned athlete are platitudes associated with Richmond idol Matthew Richardson.
There might be a grain of truth in the sequence of glowing clichés you hear whenever Matthew’s name is mentioned and I’ll admit I’ve been an admirer of his freakish ability.
But what do we really know about this shy, sensitive player, the son of bull who burst on the scene in 1993 and has captured the hearts of thousands of tiger fans?
I made it my job this week to find out, to delve into Richardson’s lifestyle like nobody has done before. Nothing has been left unturned; we have relied on many sources, discovering Richo has many qualities…and many foibles.
Did you know that he sleeps naked with his socks on?
That he is a Lego freak and his Mum still has his trains and stations in the garage at home? That he is impatient; he cannot stand still and knows the names of all the spice girls? These are a few teasers in the casual but high-profile lifestyle of the Men for all Seasons calendar boy.
But here are 10 things nobody else knows about Richardson.
1. He was a contented baby until his sister Samantha, was born and he had to share his Mum’s attention.
2. Academically he was bright, but his school marks could have been better had he spent less time at sport.
3. His grandma Jessie built him the handball target he used throughout his junior career. His parents had to leave the target behind in Tasmania, much to his disappointment.
4. Footballing Dad Alan did not pressure him into continuing with football and allowed him to develop at his own rate.
5. Reliable sources tell me he is showing worrying signs of thinning on top.
6. He is another who eats a Mars Bar before every game.
7. He is meticulously tidy in his bedroom and as a youngster used to become upset if things were left lying around.
8. His habit of leaving the toilet door open does annoy.
9. His locker is filled with adoring letters, which takes him longer than most to open.
10. He has a fascination with John Travolta and believes he has the same moves on the dance floor.
All that aside I have the greatest respect for Matthew for the way in which he has recovered from a knee reconstruction, and an injury that could have been a huge blow to a player of his style.
I’m going through ankle problems and know the frustrations an injury causes.
Yet I feel that in later years there is still an exciting opportunity in Hollywood for Matthew or his management group Club 10 to cash in on.
He is the perfect double (so his team-mates tell me) for Chewbacca, the big hairy kind-hearted creature in Star Wars.
