In praise of players with personalityBigPond Sport
By Nick Place
Wednesday, May 04, 2011The scene is Saturday night at a rocking MCG, moments after Richmond has recorded its second win in a row - a significant achievement at any time for this rebuilding bunch of Tigers.
The team might be edging towards football respectability at last, but not so much that ever-loyal supporters take for granted the chance to sing that brilliant anthem. In the stands, the fans are in full voice.
The players, understandably spent, stagger towards the centre circle, having shaken hands with their Lion opponents. The Tigers can barely lift their legs. Yet as the famous song reaches its crescendo, one player raises his left arm to the sky and pumps it in time with the words. YELLOW (fist pump) and BLACK! (fist pump).
You already know it's got to be Jack Riewoldt.
Just a small moment, but so telling. Jack connected to the fans, even as he walks to join his teammates. Jack revelling in that song, living in the moment, sharing his joy.
Jack's emotion is so much a part of the package that the Tigers love. This is a guy who has been known before the bounce to wish goal umpires a good game. This is a player who would give his slightly better-known cousin, Nick, plenty of stick before he had any right to. Richmond figured early that this was just the nature of the kid, that he needed to be an extrovert. And that this was a great trait for what had been a very quiet, meek, unsuccessful team.
A large part of Richmond's improvement is the willingness of Jack, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin, among others, to back themselves; to believe.
During the kerfuffle earlier this year about Riewoldt's body language and supposed criticism of teammates, I could only think of how I wished my team had another 21 on the field who demonstrably cared so much. It's why Tiger fans also love Jake ‘Push-ups’ King.
Same with Matthew Richardson, Richmond's previous star with a personality so big the forward line could barely contain it. How can you not want your players to be so passionate for the jumper?
I love characters in football, yet every time one sticks his head up, earnest media and former-players-turned-commentators can't get in line fast enough to 'tut-tut'.
Even off the park, we secretly hate personality in our stars; I have no idea why. Remember Geelong's James Kelly pretending to be asleep as the camera panned around the Cats singing their club song after a win a year ago? Oh dear, what a sign of a terrible culture at Kardinia Park … arrogance, superiority … or, hang on, a funny sight gag.
All those ex-players now sitting in judgment should know better than most that the televised singing of the song in the rooms is a contractual obligation, and part of the existing TV deal. I kid you not.
What about when Aker was a good bloke, without the post-career need to be controversial and, well, shrill? His post-victory handstands in the Lions' glory years were fantastic.
And Collingwood appears to have no qualms about allowing Harry O a personality, thanks to his mastery of his Twitter account and comments such as he'd be happy to meet Barack Obama if he ever came to town. I also miss the old Tadhg Kennelly, along with stunts like his brilliant impromptu riverdance on the premiership podium.
I say we celebrate Jack Riewoldt and his like, even if they do occasionally wave arms at a teammate who has screwed up once too often. You can bet that when that teammate gets it right, Jack will be the first one there to celebrate with him. And celebrate loud.
I'd much rather watch that than a gaggle of robots in yellow sashes.
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