Matthew Richardson is a massive reason why Richmond today has a tick over 65,000 members, despite not having experienced any sustained success for such a long time now.
Richardson, who tonight was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, has, in many respects, been the glue that’s held Tigerland together when the going has been at its toughest.
To an entire generation of Tiger supporters, the man known simply as ‘Richo’ provided them with a strong emotional link to the Club . . . a real purpose to their Yellow and Black barracking.
Richo was (and still is) their hero. They loved the way he played his football with such vitality, determination and passion, to go with his enormous natural talent.
The fact he wore his heart on his sleeve, every time he pulled on the famous black jumper with the yellow sash, made him even more endearing.
It’s doubtful if any player in Richmond’s history has shared more of an emotional connection with Tiger fans than Matthew Richardson.
He loved Richmond as much as they did, and they, in turn, followed his lead to commit to the Tigers.
Richo provided them with enormous enjoyment over the best part of two decades as well, with his amazing gut-running, spectacular marking and exciting goalkicking exploits. The occasional brain fade by the big bloke merely added to his appeal among the Richmond faithful . . .
For season after season, regardless of how the Tigers were performing, Richo supplied the supporters with sufficient incentive to turn up to watch them play. If they were badly beaten, they could still revel in Richo’s fabulous feats.
It’s been just over five years now since Matthew Richardson played the last of his 282 games for Richmond, but he remains a much-loved, greatly-admired figure at Tigerland.
These days, he’s carving an impressive niche working in the Club’s communications department, conducting interviews on ‘Roar Vision’, writing a regular column for the website, and co-hosting in his inimitable style on Richmond’s official podcast ‘Talking Tigers’.
The rest of the football world has grown to appreciate Richo, too, through his fine commentary work on Channel 7 and 3AW.
In an industry where, as ‘Skyhooks’ once sang, “Ego is not a dirty word”, Richo remains remarkably unaffected by the fame and fortune he achieved throughout a magnificent league career (as much as we kid him otherwise each week on Talking Tigers).
His self-deprecating sense of humor is, indeed, a breath of fresh air among those who take themselves way too seriously.
Mate, on behalf of everyone here at Tigerland, heartiest congratulations to you on your Australian Football Hall of Fame induction. It’s richly deserved.
I’ll leave it at that, as I’ve got to go and help the Talking Tigers’ team widen the studio door at the ME Bank Centre, so you can fit your burgeoning bonce through, now that this wonderful honor has been bestowed upon you . . .
