Winning 2020 flag would be the hardest of all, says Richmond presidentBy Michael Gleeson
The Age
September 27, 2020 — 6.10pmA third premiership in four years, in a season like no other, would be the hardest-won flag of all, Richmond president Peggy O'Neal admits.
Indeed, whoever wins this year, after a season of quarantine, dislocation and uncertainty, it will be a victory of elevated rather than diminished significance, the Richmond leader said.
Reflecting on a year of difficulty from which the the reigning premiers have finished in the top four and are flag favourite again, O'Neal said it was satisfying to reach this point.
She said talk of asterisks against a flag this year were misplaced. It should be stars.
"It's been a very tough season, but I was always optimistic it would come together, especially as everyone was so committed to make it happen," she said. "I would talk to [chief executive] Brendon Gale regularly and he said 'we are in with a chance if we come together at the right time'. Being top four now for four straight years is terrific.
"I think the teams that have been in quarantine and hubs and done travel and been away from home would say it has been the hardest year. The stop-start year from March then nothing and then into hubs, it's a different competition, you cannot compare it to other years.
"This is a season where everyone just had to get on with it. I think it is the hardest year. It's difficult to compare it to the other two other flags we have won.
"What we have asked people to do, I think it's harder. They were asked to go away for four weeks, then it became six weeks then the end of the season."
Richmond have endured a season punctuated by uncharacteristic moments of controversy and missteps.
Two senior players had to apologise for groping another player, explained as being in jest, during the team song after one game, a source of regret and embarrassment. Other issues, such as the fine handed to the club for a breach of COVID-19 rules by Trent Cotchin and his wife, and contemptuous post-match comments by Damien Hardwick about David Schwarz, did not signal broader problems, O'Neal said.
"People like to think that any little thing that goes wrong, there is some underlying big thing that's gone wrong and that was never the case," she said.
"People make mistakes from time to time and you have to be prepared for how you handle that. Things happen and I think when it's in a heightened state of everyone together operating together under protocols, it's harder because there's so much at stake.
"People make mistakes. Trent said 'I will pay the fine' so I don't know what more he could do.
"It's easy to slip up, especially when there are layers and layers of rules. Just because you have a label [as captain] does not mean you don't slip up.
"I am sure everybody wishes things didn't happen."
Richmond have not unfurled their 2019 premiership flag because the season began only briefly in Victoria and without crowds.
O'Neal hopes crowds will return next year so that there can be a ceremonial unfurling – potentially of two flags if things went well this year, too – but knows that there are still no guarantees around a normal 2021 season.
"There are so many uncertainties, financial uncertainties for all clubs. Will round one be in March next year? Will there be crowds? If so, how many people?" she said.
Clubs are wary that while the overwhelming majority of fans did not ask for membership refunds this year, renewing memberships next year will be another issue if unemployment is high, discretionary spending limited and doubts lingering on whether crowds can attend.
Richmond have been very successful in recent years in identifying and developing talent from outside the regular pathways, especially Indigenous talent, with Marlion Pickett the most obvious example.
But those programs are under threat in the new football economy and under the reduced soft spending cap.
"We put together a program that works," O'Neal said. "We have been able to identify and develop a lot of players who might otherwise have been overlooked we want to do that, but with fewer people it's less likely we can do as much.
"It does not mean we don't want to, it's the way the numbers are that we may not be able to for a few years until the competition gets back to normal.
"We are committed to continuing as much as we can but we have to be realistic that if you have fewer people, you can't do everything."
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/winning-2020-flag-would-be-the-hardest-of-all-says-richmond-president-20200927-p55zo4.html
