Richmond board must show us its vision for 2017, says BartlettLinda Pearce, Larissa Nicholson
The Age
4 August 2016Richmond legend and vocal media commentator Kevin Bartlett said on Wednesday he supported the contentious pre-season decision to extend Damien Hardwick's contract for another two years, but said he would not "take sides" in any political stoush.
Tigers forward Jack Riewoldt called for calm after his team's devastating loss to GWS on the weekend, while former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said the intense pressure Hardwick faced would not help Richmond play better.
But a group calling themselves the Richmond Rollercoaster has established a website asking Tigers members and fans to support major change at the club.
Bartlett said like every Richmond member, he wanted to hear how the board had viewed the 2016 season.
"What is the clear direction from the board? Or what is the clear direction from a new group that actually wants to challenge?" he said.
Bartlett said he was unaware whether Hardwick featured in the disgruntled supporters' plans, but did not expect that any coup would be – as the would-be challengers apparently hope – "bloodless".
Nor would current president Peggy O'Neal remain in charge should any challenge be successful, Bartlett said, while adding that suggestions former cricket administrator Malcolm Speed was the leading candidate to replace O'Neal had "never been articulated".
"I don't believe any of the agitating group ... see themselves as being president. I think what they see themselves (as) are people coming in with new and fresh ideas. Now if it goes to a vote, that's going to be up to the voting members of the Richmond Football Club to decide whether or not they can see what direction this particular group may want to take..."
As anticipation mounts about a potential overthrow of the board and the future of Richmond's football staff is called into question, Riewoldt told AFL 360 that Hardwick had had just one bad year in the top job.
"All I can say to them is we're not playing Fantasy Football, you don't trade people in or get rid of people, week in, week out, you can't get rid of a good person and then hopefully have him back in two weeks," he said.
"I think the commentary about trading some of our better players is exactly that and I think the coach comes under that as well."
Mick Malthouse, a former Richmond premiership player who was sacked as Carlton's coach during the 2015 season, also weighed in when asked about the pressure building on Hardwick.
"Is it unfair? Well, I define fair as nothing to do with sport, in this instance," he said on SEN radio.
"What I do say is that we're very quick to point the gun at one person, but let me assure every listener that it's not only the coach who gets it in the neck here."
Malthouse said the scrutiny Richmond faced would be reflected in their on-field performances.
"It never improves the input and it only detracts from the style and the way the players want to play," he said.
"So stand by, because it will not be good football over the next month for coaches that are under pressure, because the players also feel it."
A letter purportedly from IT executive Leon Davies, part of a prominent group of Richmond supporters planning a board coup, is doing the rounds saying fans were concerned their club was accepting mediocrity.
The letter said change must come from the top.
"Stability has led to complacency and the acceptance of below par performances in all areas of the Richmond football club," it said.
Bartlett referenced chief executive Brendon Gale's ambitious five-year plan, which was drafted after Gale's arrival in 2009, to more than double membership to 75,000, clear its multimillion-dollar debt and play finals three times by 2014.
"That was a great dream and it proved correct — except winning a flag," Bartlett said. "It was a bold prediction at the time, and virtually all those boxes got ticked and, as a result, Richmond members believed in the dream, and came on board.
"At the end of this season, the present board, or the new board, has to actually explain what the dream is for the members to sign up in 2017? What is the direction of the club?"
As to the impact of more dismal performances on next year's membership, Bartlett said if Richmond continued to lose by 60-80 points in the remaining rounds and did not show sufficient cohesion, effort and competitiveness, that it would have "a massive effect" on the support levels in 2017.
"This (Friday's) game against Collingwood is a massive game," he said.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-board-must-show-us-its-vision-for-2017-says-tigers-great-kevin-bartlett-20160803-gqjw5v.html
