Alex Rance sat down with Richmond Media's Matthew Richardson to talk about his career at Richmond...

Congratulations on an amazing career at the Richmond Football Club.

"It still feels a bit weird that it’s all come to a finality now, but I’m certainly grateful to have spent my whole career here."

You’ve just come from talking to the playing group, that must have been a really tough thing to do?

"It was, I practiced all yesterday...I thought I got all my emotions out then but as soon as you see your loved ones and your best mates, it’s really hard to not hold that emotion back. It was really tough because I love those boys and I care for them a lot but it's now a time for me to look after my own happiness and growth. Plenty of tears…but I’m a pretty emotional type guy. I play that way, I lead that way and I’m not ashamed of it. I think that’s what people like about me."

You’re 30 years of age and have nearly got back from a knee reconstruction, why now?

"I wanted to make sure that I got through my knee rehab. Today, I would have trained almost full training. I didn’t want it to be because of my knee or because my body was saying 'enough'. I wanted to make it a clear choice on what was important to me...And football has been for such a long time, I’ve dedicated so much time and energy to it, and I’m the type of person that if I commit to something I’m going to commit everything to it. That’s had its benefits but it’s also left some other areas of my life wanting, and so I need to spent that bit of time on those areas now."

Did it have anything to do with your knee and doubts that you could get back?

"No, my knee is fine. I’ve done some amazing work with Anthony Schache, Greg Hickey and Rob Inness. I did my triple crossover the other day and I’ve done so much strength work. It’s fine to go, I’ve been training a bit and I probably could have trained fully today."

Has this been weighing on your mind for quite a long time?

"It has, I guess I didn’t really deal with the underlying things in 2015 that were causing me that uncertainty and I treated footy almost like a Band-Aid…It did make me feel better, but underneath still I felt uneasy and undivided, like I was split between two worlds. I don't regret a thing because I’ve learnt so much across the journey and met so many amazing people but I wish I had have been more honest with myself to understand what makes me happy and what I need."

What's next for you?

"The main focus of my life I want going forward is my spiritual growth, to dedicate more time and energy to that because it’s always been in the background and a big part of me, but it’s always sort of got the best of the rest."

Do you feel like you can give that 100 per cent now and you couldn’t beforehand?

"It was a bit of a time thing with scheduling and football demanding a lot from us, but also an energy thing. I would always give all my energy to be here and make the group connect and happy and laugh and give everything out on the track and when I got home I wouldn’t have time to take in any more information and grow spiritually. Also, my family, they also cop the best of the rest as well… I want to give them my best and be that funny larrikin to them."

Who did you lean on throughout your decision?

"Probably the two greatest within the industry were Blair Hartley, who’s our list manager, and I can’t understate how supportive he was. It is pretty rare in the meat market of this industry to have a list manager who cares about the individual and the person rather than the salary cap gap or the skill-set they’re going to lose or bring in. He doesn’t treat us like meat or robots and he’s been so supportive this whole year…My manager Tommy, he’s been such a good mentor and sounding board for me. Dave Astbury, Dylan Grimes, Ben Rutten, those three have been really huge for me and also my mum, dad, sister, brother-in-law and their kids. It’s been a huge support network and I definitely couldn’t have done it without them."

You’re an author of two children’s books and you have your Academy as well, are you going to continue with those?

"Those things are passions of mine, education especially and working with young people. Helping others is the overarching thing that I want to do, but making sure that I put it in its place. You know how much commitment is required to be good at your craft and I want to make sure that with the Academy and the writing I can pick it up and put it down like a normal job because football is not like that. The Academy definitely, I love that. I've got one more book coming out but I think that will be it for that, but just having that life balance."

What Tigerland memories stand out the most?

"There’s different memories that flash through. I remember when we were playing together and this facility didn’t exist and we were in the possum-infested gym underneath the grandstand. They were fun memories too. I don’t see any one as better than the other. Certainly, the build and culmination of being there and struggling for a while and playing a few finals and coming back down and then having that reward of 2017 was amazing…After the (2017) Grand Final and all the fans were out on (Punt Road) oval…that was a really fun, carefree time."

How do you want to be remembered as a leader at the Richmond Football Club?

"I’d like to think it’s my off-field connection and side of things that is more valued than my on-field. I loved competing at training and making other better, but the thing I’ll look back on my career and be most proud of is Nick Vlastuin, Dave Astbury, Dylan Grimes and the back six and the strong unit we created there, Bachar Houli, Jayden Short, Nathan Broad, all these guys. We created this strong connection and bond that was almost telepathic and that’s the type of leader I want to be remembered for, someone that made other people better but also could lead by example."

What’s your message to the Tiger Army?

"I've had so many amazing experiences and I remember when I first came everyone was like 'it’s a sleeping giant, wait until you guys have success' and I was like 'yeah sure, everyone probably says that'. But it really is and I don’t think you can fully grasp the community aspect until you have that success, because it really shows what it means to everyone else. From the two-year-old to the 85-year-old that’s been a member for their whole life, to share experiences with that, it keeps you grounded, it keeps you humble, and I’m so grateful for the Tiger Army for allowing us to do what we do, which is something we love."

When you first arrived in 2008 it was tough times. You’ve seen a lot of change and you’re leaving the place in pretty good order.

"That’s another thing that I’ll be proud of, to be part of that legacy shift. We tried really hard and we had a lot of debt at that time and our facilities probably weren’t up to scratch but we were trying. We still had so much heart and we were doing our best but the pieces weren’t quite getting together. Then a little bit of change here and there and I'd like to think I had a little bit of a hand in that…I will look back and think I put my piece in the puzzle and now I can stand back and look at the picture that was created."