Richmond's fan on the field
Martin Boulton | July 22, 2007 | The Age
DAVID Norman has been watching Richmond play footy for a long time.
President of the cheer squad since 1980, the one-eyed Tigers fan proudly declares he hasn't missed a game since round three, 1972.
"Of all the players I've met in that time, and there's been some great blokes, without doubt the nicest one has been Matthew Richardson — by a country mile," he said.
"You go to a training session or a supporter's barbecue and he's always the last one out there having a kick with the kids or signing autographs.
"It warms your heart to see what he does for people."
The eldest son of Richmond premiership player Alan "Bull" Richardson, "Richo" was a passionate Tigers' fan from a young age and dreamed of playing the game at the highest level. His dreams were always in yellow and black.
A gifted athlete, he grew up in Tasmania and played for Devonport, but it wasn't long before Richmond came knocking. Having watched his rapid development, the Tigers secured Richo under the father-and-son rule and he made his debut against St Kilda in 1993.
"We didn't know much about him, but everyone said he probably would have gone No. 1 in the draft … you've got to look forward to that sort of thing," Norman told The Sunday Age.
"Let's face it, we weren't flying at the time and having a big, athletic kid come along was pretty exciting.
"I remember an early practice match at Skinners Reserve in Sunshine when he took a screamer, climbed all over the top of (former Kangaroos player) Mick Martyn in the goal square … fantastic stuff."
Some of the great Richo moments will no doubt be recalled in detail today when he plays his 250th game at the MCG, the scene of his 10-goal haul against the Western Bulldogs in round eight, 2004.
Former Tigers' captain Wayne Campbell, now an assistant coach at the Bulldogs, was watching from the sidelines that day and will never forget watching Richardson snag goal after goal.
"It was like all that was good about Richmond came out on that one day," he said.
"To see the crowd rise as he kicked every goal was a special footy moment … he's certainly entertaining, there's no doubt about that."
There have been rumours he may change clubs, but Campbell said that is never likely because his mate is "a very, very strong Richmond person" and it "wouldn't be right" to end his career at another club.
He's topped the club's goal kicking 11 times and has 727 heading into today's match, but whether he's on target or not, Richardson has been of the game's great entertainers and most passionate competitors.
Just days after suffering a fractured eye-socket in round eight this year, the two-time All-Australian told stunned coach Terry Wallace he was right play the next game against Essendon.
And play he did. Richo booted four goals in a thrilling encounter, almost winning the game in the dying seconds with his fifth goal, only to have it snatched away by a controversial umpiring decision.
He was gracious in defeat, but the look of disbelief on his face when the umpire changed the script typified the passionate way Richo has always played the game.
"People love him because of the way he plays," Campbell said.
"He's just as passionate and tries as hard as he ever has, (and) in a side that's not having a great year, he's still been able to perform very well."
Another former skipper, Matthew Knights, said he wasn't surprised to see Richardson overcome the odds and line up against the Bombers in round nine.
"It didn't surprise me one bit — his resilience is first class and his courage is amazing," he said.
"He's never flinched in marking contests, either going back with the flight or jumping on a pack, and his ability to push through fatigue is excellent."
Tigers fans, according to Knights, have loved "riding the bumps with him through every contest" in a career that's pushed him to third on the club's list of goal-kicking greats.
David Norman believes Richardson is really "a supporter who happens to be good at playing footy" and his passion for the club will have a lasting effect, long after he's retired.
"He'll be responsible for 10,000 members in 20 years' time, thanks to all the little things he's done for kids, he's captured them and made them Tigers forever."
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