Excuse the typos and grammar as I was typing while listening.
Gary March on Club Corner - 40 mins
* Conscious decision by himself and the board to keep a low profile. News about Richmond should be about the football department - Wallace, Wright, Miller and Sugar. Doesn't see his low profile as an issue - most people couldn't name Brisbane's president when they won 3 flags. The board shouldn't be in the media. He's passionate at the game but doesn't see the need to have his face shoved in a camera.
* Background in sport mechandise over the past 12 years involving sponsorship, event management and the sporting goods industry. That's why he was asked to join the board in the first place. He was reluctant to become president but because the board supported the choice and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity he said yes.
* 2005 the most defining year of the RFC. 2004 was the darkest time of the club - financially and football wise. 2005 was a test of metal whether we would get through that. Basically said we did that - made a profit and the side was competitive.
* We've hit our membership target already. Equivalent to last year. Sponsorship - we've gone from bottom 4 to top 4 in value of our jumper in the last 3-4 years. He's not sure if we'll get 30,000 members this year but it is the goal next year. We are actively aiming and trying to broaden the supporter base (eg. Jells Park family day).
* Widening gap between rich and poor clubs. Interstate clubs plus Collingwood and Essendon are something like $2.5m (?) ahead of us due to their stadia deals. March wants to see the AFL equalise this. We never have gone to AFL for handouts. We have gone recently to the AFL to help out reducing our 4m debt but not through handouts. Plan to irradicate this debt in the next few years. We've gone to the AFL to ask to help equalise the stadia deals through the distribution of the AFL monies.
* Handed to the AFL our position this week. Doesn't think grandstanding achieves anything. AFL needs to listen to all clubs not just the vocal ones. Looking for equality in the AFL distribution model. We can prove to the AFL we are running the club properly (ie. making profits). We are disadvantaged due to our stadia deal through fixturing and where and when we play which is something we can't control. The AFL needs to do something about that via their distribution of monies to all clubs to even out the playing field.
* Would like to play our home games at the 'G and knows supporters want that too.
* About the alternative guernsey - board meeting today. Board view is we don't clash with many clubs at all - maybe only Essendon. They don't think we clash with anyone else but asked AFL for clarification. We will wear an alternative strip if mandated by the AFL but don't see the need for us to wear one. March said he doesn't believe it is for merchandise reasons as some people suggest as people don't wear sleeveless jumpers around the street unlike soccer supporters do with their short sleeve tops. We want to wear our traditional guernsey and we will only wear a clash jumper when there's and if there's a clash. Not at other times.
* Believes the larger white numbers on our guernsey are pretty good this year. Nowhere near as many complaints as last year. Good to be back to our traditional full sash jumper but it's up to the members to decide. If our members prefer to go back to a black back then that's something we'll consider. It's up to the members.
* It was March's idea to put the alternative strips before the members and let them decide which one. Thought there was a perception amongst supporters/members that the board hadn't listen to them previously. He wanted to change that by including the members in the decision.
* All 16 clubs should live by the competition rules whether we always agree with them or not. That includes Collingwood.
* March said we need to give the kids time. Mentioned St Kilda and Geelong players taking 5 years to become top senior players - Corey, Kosi, Ball, Chapman, etc... He said some people had said to him we should to play Hughes in the seniors after he kicked 4 goals but we've got to give the kids time to develop. Many of our kids are only in their first 1-2 years but there's (too) high expectations on them already. We're starting to see some of the 3rd year kids coming on - Rainesy. Wallace was given a 5 year contract to develop our list properly for long-term success.
* Wallace continually updates March on where we are at and what we need to do. March sees his job as providing Wallace with the tools to achieve the things Terry and the football department needs to become successful. Wallace is a great educator. All coaches are very open and realistic with March.
* We'll be going out to the greater Melbourne region to broaden our supporter base but our home will always be Punt Road. $6m government plan - new hospitality and medical areas and social club. Close to sign off with State and Local government and the AFL. Start sometime next year. Finish in a few years. First two phases of the redevelopment we did on our own and we're now getting assistance for this. We'll be staying at Punt Road Oval.
* Miller - much maligned for being on the board but he is still there and a credit to him that he hasn't jumped ship. Outstanding football brain and works particularly well with Wright. He's been a CEO of a football club and has knowledge of many areas of a football club. By being on the board we keep an eye on everything. Miller knows his place as part of the football committee and as an employee of the Club. Miller is more involved in recruiting side of things so he's separate to Wallace in that regard.
* Wright - job to balance the books. Did that. Terrific with our members and sponsors. Both Steven and March are there to do a job. We have Wallace and Miller for the public role.
* Example of our supporters - the support we got post bulldogs and Saints game. They rightly were angry on the night of the doggies game but we didn't eat our own.
* If we're realistic about this football club we need to get to being consistently competitive against the elite sides. Playing one good game or one good quarter isn't good enough. 10 goal losses are unacceptable.
