Jon Anderson says Richmond needs to take a leaf from great clubsHerald-Sun
September 14, 2014 YOU speak to persons with good memories of the early Kevin Sheedy Essendon years and they still shudder when recalling the vitriol that spilt forth from the coach’s mouth in the Southern Cross ballroom on the evening of September 24, 1983.
Some remain uncomfortable with his stinging criticism when he challenged a club, one that had achieved little in 18 previous years, to take the next step and avoid another 83-point thrashing like they had received in that year’s Grand Final from Hawthorn.
Sheedy spared no-one as he spoke, his ruthless streak inflamed from some self-satisfied smiles he noticed in the room. History shows he got his message across with some effect and after all, he had been appointed because he was a Richmond mongrel who accepted nothing but victory.
The same Richmond club that succumbed meekly last week for the second year in a row come September action. And a club that seemed to get plaudits rather than paddywhacks for a miraculous recovery to make the finals from an impossible position.
During the week I heard two supporters with public prominence loudly praising the Tigers for their year. What year? One where they were so inept early that they found themselves 3/10 before a nine-game winning streak that included wins over just three finalists, one of whom in Sydney rested key players prior to their Round 23 game.
Naturally enough their run to September involved a near-nauseating level of publicity, undeserved much of it but understandable all the same. And now it would seem that some Tigers are actually proud of their 2014 season.
Exactly the type of attitude Sheedy was referring to 30-odd years ago at Windy Hill and one that can become a cancer within a club, unless of course mediocrity is acceptable. It’s hard to imagine men such as Damien Hardwick and Mark Williams, both of whom know exactly what is required to go all the way, being remotely satisfied with what took place this year.
But getting that message across to others is the hard part, people who have forgot what real success is after just four finals series in 34 years. Sustained failure becomes infectious and can rule a club for decades.
Richmond now finds itself with Essendon in the twilight zone, one where anything other than complete rejection of another September capitulation will see those clubs hover between 10thand sixth for another season.
To what purpose? To titillate supporters, ensure healthy membership, provide positive fodder for the next year, or the one after that.
There is nothing wrong with copying from successful clubs so the Tigers could do far worse to watch how Geelong reacts to what many described as a brave loss to North Melbourne.
Do you reckon that club’s hierarchy will be comforting themselves that they got close to the Kangaroos? Forget it for they will be filthy, embarrassed at the club’s first straight set finals exit in 17 years.
What do they say, it’s how you handle adversity that is your true measure as a person? Or in this case a football club named Richmond. Back in their hay day in the 1980s, a large group of Hawthorn players would give the grog away during the season. And Robert DiPierdomenico was one of them, someone who enjoyed a party as much as anyone.
It was that extra yard of dedication that no doubt helped the club reach eight Grand Finals in nine years for five Grand Finals. I’m not suggesting any club will ever achieve that again in an era of 18 teams, regular interstate travel, national draft and salary cap, but the Tigers can build their own dynasty if it really means that much.
It has to come from the strongest in the group, and in particular one who may not necessarily always be seen as the person who is going to show the way just as Matthew Scarlett did at Geelong.
Maybe that man is Jack Riewoldt, a young man with a wide range of emotions on display but one that continues to show signs of maturing into a central figure for the yellow and black.
http://www.news.com.au/national/jon-anderson-says-richmond-needs-to-take-a-leaf-from-great-clubs-ross-lyons-whack-at-mitch-clark-out-of-line/story-e6frfkp9-1227057507036
