RFC Memorable Moments #1: the "Save Our Skins" campaign

[mightytiges]

Were the Tigers ever well off financially?

Doubt it given Richmond was traditionally a working class suburb. Before the modern professional era there wasn't the financial pressures on Vic clubs as there are now.

Even in 1980 when we had 1 million people come through the gate to watch us we only made $20k from a revenue of $1 million. The 2 years before that we made losses.

Our biggest ever annual profit of $918k was funnily enough in 1990. Obviously most of that came from SOS. The next best was $789k in 1997 but $560k came from the JDF. By 2002 we were roughly $2.3 million in the black (total assets - total liabilites) but the combined losses of $800k in 2003 and $2.2m in 2004 put up back in the red for the first time since 1994.

However the RFC was financially in its worst state in 1987 when we were $1.7m in debt yet our annual revenue was only $2.3m. Without SOS we were screwed.

Now days the Club's revenue is over $22m so a debt of roughy 600-700k in 2004 while not satisfactory isn't something to go into a flat panic about. With proper and realistic management and a bit of commonsense it can be turned around pretty quickly.

[PuntRdRoar]

im sure every richmond supporter or most around australia would be happy to contribute via direct debit say $5 a week from there wage. whilst this may seem silly if 10,000 richmond supporters did this..the club would make $50,000 a week or $2.6 million a year to pay of our current debts. i think a $5 a week income tax would make us the wealthiest club in the country sooner rather than later. I urge the administration to consider this option and include it as an extra option on the membership forms.

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SMILING TIGERS

By Justin Brasier
The Sun



THE SNIFF of life was sweet at Punt Rd Oval last night.

And Tiger greats Kevin Bartlett, Michael Roach and Emmett Dunne had every reason to be happy.

The Tigers are officially half way towards saving their beloved club.

Richmond general manager Cameron Schwab couldn't hide his satisfied grin when he announced the Tigers had raised $507,000 so far in its fightback appeal.

"I think we should be able to make it," Schwab said. And with the club $129,000 ahead of schedule, Schwab's confidence appears justified as the Tigers head towards their $1 million target.

Schwab,however, conceded the club still had a huge battle ahead.

"The last half a million is going to be a lot harder than the first half," Schwab said.

"The first half has basically come through donations from people who feel highly about the club. In the next half, we've obviously got to be providing value for money."

The club's next big fund-raising function is the legends' match, likely to be at Windy Hill, which has been moved to September 30 due to the qualifying final replay.

With the October grand final, Richmond has also moved its 1980 Premiership Reunion to October 5.

The Tigers are organising a car raffle and on October 21 they are holding a gala concert at the Metro Nightclub.

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TIGERS’ NEED BRINGS TRUCE TO SPRING ST

By Mick Atkins
The Sun
Thursday, September 13, 1990.



JOAN KIRNER well remembers the Saturday after the merger between Footscray and Fitzroy was announced.

"It took me two hours to do my shopping (in Williamstown)," the Premier said yesterday.

"Even the shopkeepers were crying and everyone was coming up and saying: 'Joan, you've got to do something about this'.

"I realised how important a football club is to its community - it's part of everyone's life."

Her recollections of Footscray's fight to survive prompted her to pledge her support for Richmond recently and, like Opposition Leader Alan Brown, has donated to the Tigers cause.

Richmond president Neville Crowe was on hand yesterday to accept Premier Kirner's $150 and Mr Brown's $200 donations.

It was good to see Victoria's best-known political enemies agreeing on something.

Mr Brown, from Wonthaggi, has supported the Tigers all his life and claims that his great, grandparents were also Tiger fans.

"The club is down at the moment and needs the support. It's imperative that they survive," he said.

Mrs Kirner said she would help the club in any way she could - any way short of singing at the "Save the Tigers Spectacular" at the Royal Oak Hotel, Richmond on Saturday night.

"The whole bloody audience would' leave," she said.

"But I could recommend Alan (Brown). He put on a great show at a Parliamentary concert a while ago ... I can't tell you what it was about."

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A SOS car sticker - courtesy of Moi   

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TIGERS FIRE UP

The Sun
Thursday, September 20, 1990.



IT was a sight to gladden the heart of any football supporter.

Legends from the Richmond sides of the 1960s and 70s were back at Punt Rd oval last night preparing for a game that is turning into a who's who of football greats - the 'Legends match.'

It is hoped the match at Windy Hill on Sunday, September 30, will attract 20,000 fans from all clubs.

Tiger general manager Cameron Schwab said: "We're hoping to raise $100,000 from it - tickets are already available at the club."

When the call went out to former players of Richmond and Carlton for the big game, the response was overwhelming.

The names include some of the greats. For Richmond: Bartlett, Bourke, Dean, Hart, Sheedy, Barrot and Clay. For Carlton: Jesaulenko, Nicholls, Jones, Southby, Gallagher, Doull, Keogh and Fitzpatrick.

Many played in the golden era when Richmond won four premierships in eight years and met Carlton in three grand finals.

The clash will featuresome traditional confrontations of yesteryear such as Crowe-Nicholls, Balme-Southby and coaches Barassi-Hafey.

Former Tiger ruckman/forward John Ronaldson was moved by the atmosphere at last night's first (and probably only) training session: " I can feel the old Tiger spirit tonight - when the going get tough the tough gets going," he said.

He supports a national competition but the last thing he wants to see is the disappearance of his beloved Tigers.

Ronaldson admits he's slightly past his peak and has lost a little fitness since his playing days.

"I'd be happy to sit on the bench," he said. "One kick will do me, then I'll need a rest."

Richmond Legends' coach Tommy Hafey was quietly confident about his charges chances against the Carlton Legends.

"We're gonna kill 'em," he said. "And you can quote me on that."

"We'll have about 30 on the bench. It will stretch right around the wing."

But Hafey was mystified why the likes of Sheedy, Northey and Malthouse weren't at training.

"I've got no idea where they are," he said.

*** As the Tigers SOS campaign reached $550,000 yesterday, another major fundraiser was kicked off.

A raffle is expected to raise about $180,000, with the first prize a new model Laser, donated by long-time Richmond supporter and former committee man, Bib Stillwell.

Tickets for the raffle are $2 and will be on sale at Swan Street Auctions, Richmond Football Club and all the Tigers' fundraising functions.

On Show-Day eve the club is holding a gala night with players and personalities at the Chevron Hotel. Tickets are $10. The event begins at 8pm and continues until 7am Thursday.


KB and Ronaldson

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Moi's pic of the old boys a week before the Legends' match.

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'DISCO' WILL ROCK TO SAVE TIGERS

By Mick Atkins
The Sun
Tuesday, September 25, 1990.



BACK in Michael Roach's first season with Richmond he was dubbed "Disco" after a stirring solo rendition of the then popular hit Disco Duck.
He was only 18 and his teammates had him well and truly charged when he hit the stage at the Seaview Hotel in Fitzroy St, St Kilda.

"I wasn't asked to, I just got up there and felt good," Roach, now 31, recalled yesterday.
   
Despite his giving the game away last season, Richmond supporters are hopeful of coaxing Roach out of retirement tommorrow night and getting  him up on stage at their big fundraising night at the Chevron  Hotel.

But Tiger stalwart David Cloke, who was at the Seaview that memorable night, isn't so keen.

"Mate, his voice is bad enough when he's just talking," Cloke said yesterday.

Roach warned that everyone playing in the Legends match against Carlton this Sunday had vowed to stay off the grog tomorrow night.

"It's too big a game for that," Roach said.

If the Tigers can pack the Chevron, the Save Our Skin fund will be boosted by at least $15,000.

Chevron owner and avid Geelong supporter, Antione Moussi, has offered the Tigers the night's door takings.

All Richmond players will attend and supporters can stay until 7am.

Tickets at $10 a head are available at the club or on the door from 8pm.

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EXTRAS OUT - NOW FOR THE BATTLE

By Mick Atkins
The Sun
Thursday, September 27, 1990.

RICHMOND last night made 35 changes for Sunday's big clash with Carlton at Windy Hill.

The Tigers retained only one player, ruckman David Cloke, from their last match and he'll be lining up on a half-forward flank.

At Carlton, the entire team has been replaced by 36 of yesterdays heroes.

And in a shock move, discarded coach Alex Jesaulenko has had a change of heart and decided he will stay with the Blues - as their full forward.

Enough of the funny business, Sunday's Legend's match between Richmond and Carlton promises to be a rugged affair with tough guys Vin Waite, Ricky McLean. Neil Balme, Robbie "Bones" McGhie and Barry Gill all ready to square the ledger from 20 years ago.

The entire Carlton backline has met and fully intends to avenge Neil Balme's rampaging efforts in the 1973 grand final.

And the Blues will be watching Laurie Fowler when he emerges from the dugout. They don't want to run into a shirtfront similar to the one he dealt John Nicholls in same match.

The Blues are hoping Essendon wins the preliminary final this Saturday, or it will leave Kevin Sheedy in a mean mood for the legends mate.

"I've already spoken to Sheeds about the match," Richmond skipper Royce Hart said from Tasmania yesterday. "I told him he can't go back to playing pretty football just because he's coached a couple of premiership sides.

"He's got to bite, scratch and spit like he used to," Hart said laughing.

"My preparation will be two hours of drinking lights at Whale Roberts' pub on Saturday night."

Richmond president Neville Crowe's training regime is more likely to meet with coach Tom Hafey's approval.

"I'm doing three laps a night ... around John Ronaldson," Crowe said.

The whisper is that if things get really tight in the last quarter, Hafey plans to sit Ronaldson, Balme and Whale Roberts on the Carlton goal line.

With 60 stone (380 kg) between them, the trio will jam between the goal posts and, as men of this age can't kick the ball higher than six feet, Carlton will be unable to kick a winning score.

A charge of $25 gets patrons admission to the ground, raffles, food, beverages and comedians, starting at around noon.

* A supporters bus will leave tbe Punt Rd Oval at noon and go straight to Windy Hill for the big match which starts at 2pm.


RICHMOND

B: Leech, Dunne, Dean
HB: Keane, McGhie, Wood
C: Bourke, Barrot, Clay
HF: Northey, Hart, Cloke
F: Balme, McLean, Rowlings
Foll: Crowe, Sheedy, Bartlett
Int: Ronaldson, Roberts, W.Walsh, Roach, Fowler, McMillan, Jess, Perry, Bond, Clayton, Stonehouse, Burgin, Cameron, Landy, Laughlin, Jewell, Morris, Owen

CARLTON

B: Waite, Southby, Gill
HB: Pinnell, Doull, Austin
C: Dickson, Chandler, Robertson
HF: Jackson, Maclure, Quirk
F: Fitzpatrick, Jesaulenko, Keogh
Foll: P.Jones, Barrassi, GalIagher
Int: Whitnall, Lukas, Bortolotto, Zoanetti, Mulcair, Warden, Marcou, Catoggio, Harmes, Auchetti, Fyffe, McConville, Francis, O'Brien, Munari, W.Jones, Davis, Bosustow


SOS total - Sept 27: $565,000

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GOLDEN OLDIES - THE LEGENDS MATCH

By Tony De Bolfo
The Sun
Monday, October 1, 1990.


Roger Dean

THE heroes of those great Richmond and Carlton sides of the '60s and '70s went back into battle at Windy Hill yesterday to save the Tigers' skin.

On hand to see the likes of Barassi, Doull and Jackson mix it with Hart, Barrot and Bourke was an enthusiastic crowd nearing 20,000 who added about $100,000 to the fight to keep the Richmond club alive.

Richmond's Rex Hunt who had stripped for the game, relished his roIe as the stand-in commentator.

"Why don't you have a go Bourke? Get fair dinkum," was one call to Tiger great Francis Bourke.

"The ball's there son, don't go to the hamburger stand," was his comment to portly Richmond ruckman John Ronaldson.

Royce Hart, perhaps the greatest of centre half-forwards, said the game proved people would go to watch Richmond play.
   
Hart, back from Tasmania for his game in 13 years,showed his old magic, but found the going tough on his 1972 grand final nemesis, Bruce Doull.

"The only thing Doully's lost is a bit more hair," Hart said.

Carlton Captain-coach Ron Barassi,  who marshalled his troops from the bench for the first half, thought he had completed the masterstroke when he went straight on to the ball to start the third quarter.

But before the end of the quarter, "Barass" dragged himself, to the ironic cheers of the crowd and the delight of commentator Hunt.


KB having a laugh with Rex

Former Carlton rover Adrian Gallagher and his old mate Peter "Percy" Jones graced the interchange bunker for the entire match.

Asked if that was reflected by Carlton's losing score, Gallagher responded: "I would think so."

Richmond coach Tom Hafey said later that current coach Kevin Bartlett should get his old number 29 out of napthalene and make a comeback.

"But I was very disappointed with his new style of play. This handpassing and short kicking is just not on," Hafey joked.

For the record, Richmond won 9.9-63 to 7.10-52, with the Blues goalless after half-time.


'bustling' Billy Barrot

SOS total - Oct 2: $675,000

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Three events to set your sights on

Write these in your diary and help us write off our million-dollar debt!

(*) Reunion Dinner 5th October: Relive the glory of our 1980 Premiership victory with the players who participated. There'll be dancing, entertainment, food, drink and more! 7pm till midnight. $50 per head.

(*) Aftermatch' Grand Final Day: Relax with the Tigers after the big game. Watch the replay, sink a drink then sink your teeth into our barbecue. Party till 8pm. Donation $2.

(*) Family Day 7th October: There's something for everyone - rides, food, drink, concert, disco, footy clinic, best & fairest count. Starts 11am. Entry free!

Events take place at the Richmond Club Oval, Punt Road, Richmond. For bookings, donations and further information phone 429 5333 and please help Save our Skin.

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While the SOS campaign entered its final month with Richmond still $325,000 short of their $1 million target, the Tigers recruiting efforts for following season carried on.

SA IS THE DRAFT TARGET

By Justin Brasier
Herald-Sun
Wednesday, October 10, 1990.

RICHMOND hopes to find replacements for sacked trio Stephen James, Peter Czerkas­ki and Gary Franga­las in a flying visit to Adelaide this week.

Tiger officials leave to­day confident of securing at least three of four South Australian draft picks in their raid.

Richmond recruiting officer Doug Vickers said yesterday the club hoped talented youngsters Rich­ard Gerke and Brett Chal­mers would follow Sturt defender Bruce Lennon across next season.

Woodville's Gerke, 18, and Chalmers, 17 from Port Adelaide, were selected by Richmond in last year's national draft.

Lennon, 20, has already indicated he would play for the Tigers next season if the club was still in existence.

Richmond also will speak to No.1 internal draft pick Andrew Payze, but the West Torrens star appears certain to remain.

Payze, 23, is considered a top chance to play in the South Australian compo­site team next season.

Several young South Australian players are finalising contracts with AFL clubs as the SANFL tries to assemble the com­posite team.

Clubs have until Mon­day to meet the AFL's deadline to complete paper work and have their South Australian draft players signed and regis­tered.

Richmond's axing of James, Czerkaski and Frangalas was not a big surprise as they had man­aged only 14 games be­tween them last season.

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Here's some pics from the S.O.S. Rally at the 'G courtesy of Moi  

For a bit of fun have a guess at who the Tigers in the foreground of the photos are?

1. ...
2. ...
3. ...
4. ... and ... and ...
5. ... and ...
6. ... and ...





 

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