Schwab and Macek can get every player who has ever played in a Richmond premiership to back them, but it still won’t be enough to make me vote for them. Like others, I wish they’d tell us why these former players are coming out in support of them, because I don’t get it. Where have they shown that they have any idea how to run a footy club? That’s what I’d like to know.
The Alternative group doesn't seem to have a clue about any of the real issues. And if they suddenly do now, they have simply left their run too late. Their reactive and conservative approach to all things doesn't inspire me one bit. And their lack of awareness and initiative even less. What an insult to people’s intelligence these people continue to be. Especially when their idea of getting support is to take pot shots at Casey and tear at the heart strings of supporters by getting former players to go in to bat for them. What about giving us some indication that they might know something about running a footy club.
Not much, if anything, of the Alternative group's stance adds up to me. Whichever way I look at it, everything seems to point to a personal grudge against Casey. For reasons I don't know or understand. The fact that the appointment of Miller means the real and deep seated issues that have held this Club back for years can now finally become a thing of the past, with some hard work to follow, seems to have escaped this group completely. And, because of that, what this group’s all about completely escapes me.
No doubt, Casey’s made mistakes, but others must know something I don't, because I don't understand the attack on Casey. Whatever people think of him, it seems to me that he has been the catalyst for any changes that are taking place now. Changes that I, and no doubt many others, have been hoping to see for some years. And I for one am ecstatic about those changes, because these weren't changes that could be made by simply appointing a new coach. And aren't changes that any previous Board had the initiative or stomach to instigate.
How about people like Schwab and Welsh taking some responsibility. If the President is voted in by the other Directors, where's the responsibility from these Directors for voting in the wrong person - more than once? And just because they don't like the decision they have made, why is RFC and its supporters being made to pay with a long and drawn out campaign that feels like it’s never going to end? You people stuffed up, now get on with it and stop wasting our time. After nearly a whole year of this garbage, this comes across as nothing more than little boys with their noses out of joint.
It seems that if we want to know how they would run RFC, we just have to rewind to the future. Because they seem to lack the same awareness and initiative that previous Boards did. No doubt, when things ultimately got a bit sticky, their idea of taking action and solving things would be to get a new coach. Why not? This master stroke could always renew the enthusiasm of everyone and make it look as though they knew what they were doing and were men of action. Never mind if they created an unaccountable environment within the Club and stifled the development of our players, because of their short-sighted, quick fix approach. As long as the finances were all in order, that's all that really matters, isn't it?
That might be enough for them, but it's not for me and, judging by the way they have run their campaign and the focus of that campaign, their idea of running a footy club clearly lacks any sort of vision and the awareness of what the real problems are and have been at RFC. The only vision I get is of them taking us back to the good old 1990's when we had money in the bank, but weren't competitive against the top teams. Back then, that didn't seem enough to stir any emotion in those on the Board. No, they seemed united that things were AOK in the RFC comfort zone that they helped create and/or perpetuate. And nor does our on-field performance seem to stir anything in the Alternative group now. But, for some reason, our finances do. I guess that's all they have to undermine Casey with.
How does their campaign even get to stand up? The AFL has checked things and they don't have a problem with the Club's plans for the future. And if RFC had done anything under-handed, wouldn't we have been raked over the coals by the AFL or someone by now? Wasn't Eddie President of his Club when they finished at the bottom of the ladder and made a huge loss? Who cares now? They're making loads of money, but they still don't have a premiership to show for it. The Kangaroos made no money, yet won two flags in the 1990's.
And unless it was to pay inflated prices to under-performing footballers, previous Richmond Boards wouldn't have spent more money on the footy department than was necessary, so is it any wonder we had money. Yes, we're all concerned about RFC and its finances, but there's more to this than just money, isn't there? Otherwise, I might as well just go barrack for the Commonwealth Bank. They even have our colours and I could get really excited about the profits they make every year, if I tried. And it'd save on a whole lot of unnecessary misery and grief, I suppose.
If there are over 35 candidates who have already nominated, then we can bypass those of the past and bring in those that come with no baggage. Even if it takes a week and a half just to get through reading all the candidates’ papers, it’ll be worth it not to have to deal with small minds such as those on the alternative ticket.
