Talented Richmond forward Chris Knights paid a glowing tribute to the culture at Tigerland in his retirement speech to the Club’s playing group yesterday.
Knights, who announced he will be retiring from league football at the end of the season, following an injury-ravaged three years with the Tigers, couldn’t speak more highly of how he’d been treated throughout his time at the Club.
“One of the trademarks of this football club is aware. When I came to the football club I remember having a look at the word . . . I saw the word, but you know at footy clubs you often see words on the wall and they don’t really have meaning behind them,” he said.
“But I couldn’t believe the amount of care that everyone in this football club not only has towards each player, but the support staff.
“I received text messages and phone calls every day, asking how I’m going, how’s the injury going.
“So, it’s something that I’ll take into my life when I leave this football club, and it’ll be something that I’ll be proud to talk about Richmond Football Club when I’m finished . . . the care that this culture has towards one another.”
Knights also offered some prudent advice to his Tiger teammates . . .
“I learned a lot of life lessons about planning, preparation, discipline, that I feel will hold me in good stead when I leave this football club,” he said.
“Don’t be too afraid of what’s going to be beyond your period at the football club.
“You might not know what you’re going to do when you finish football, but everything we do at this footy club sets us up to be not only be elite footballers, but elite people in society.
“If we have that motivation, discipline, and attention to detail that you have, towards being the best footballer, you can be the best at anything.”
Knights finished with a regretful, but at the same time grateful, message . . .
“One of the thing that pisses me off is I didn’t get to play more footy with you on game day. But at the same time, I’ve got to be part of this group for a short period of time,” he said.
“This is the end of an amazing chapter . . . It’s a really great experience and I’ll cherish it for the rest of my life.
“I look forward to ending it with you boys, whether I’m in the team or whether I’m just training and being a part of it.”
