Former Richmond premiership player Emmett Dunne will join the Club’s board from September, filling a casual vacancy created by the retirement of long-serving director John Matthies.
The Club’s nomination committee – chaired by Kerry Ryan - recommended Dunne’s appointment to the board and that appointment was approved this week.
Dunne, who played 115 games for the Tigers between 1976 and 1983, was a member of Richmond’s 1980 Premiership side. He returned to coach the reserves side from 1988 – 1992 and also served as ruck coach under Allan Jeans and John Northey from 1993 to 1995.
Dunne has served as a member of the AFL tribunal since 1997 but will now step down from that role.
Professionally, Dunne served 39 years with the Victoria Police eventually being promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner in 2009. In the 2011 Australia Day honours he was awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM). He retired from the Victoria Police in 2015.
“We are delighted to have Emmett join the board. He brings a wealth of experience on many levels - not only as a result of his long association with elite and grass roots football - but through his distinguished career with the Victoria Police,” Richmond president Peggy O’Neal said.
“He brings a particularly strong skill set in areas such as ethical leadership, culture and capability, integrity and security – areas of paramount importance in the modern game.”
Emmett Dunne as the Assistant Commissioner of the Victoria Police
Dunne said he was thrilled to be given the opportunity to give back to the Club that has been such a great part of his life.
“In many ways I grew up at Richmond having arrived at the Club as a player at such a young age. I look forward to working collectively with the rest of the Board and management and making a positive contribution to the Club,” Dunne said.
John Matthies served 12 years as a director of the Club.
“On behalf of our members, I would like to thank John for his service as a director. He is a life member of the Richmond Football Club as well as a member of the Jack’s Club coterie. He has made a significant contribution over a long period of time and we look forward to seeing him at the football into the future,” O’Neal said.
O’Neal said Dunne’s appointment continued the Club’s considered approach to succession planning and brings to four, the number of new directors appointed in the past three years.
“As I have said consistently, succession planning is fundamental to any well-governed organisation and it is of great importance to this board,” she said.
“This appointment has been under consideration since John informed the Club he would be retiring a number of months back.”
