Dear Members and Supporters,
What a year it has been for the Tiger faithful! Our second Premiership in three years has been wonderful reward for everyone associated with the Club and it will make our holiday season all the more enjoyable.
The 2019 Premiership might still be fresh in our mind but there is much to look forward to in 2020.
Next year will mark our inaugural season in the AFLW competition and I know we are all eagerly anticipating the historic season opener at Ikon Park on Friday, February 7. I encourage all of you to attend so that we see the ground packed with the yellow and black army for such a significant occasion.
Our AFLM team is back on deck, diligently preparing for their Premiership defence. There is so much excitement around the Club; Tom Lynch and Marlion Pickett participating in a full pre-season at Richmond for the first time and our wide-eyed, new draftees taking everything in. The team is as hungry as ever, and I know that we all look forward to watching them play in 2020.
The retirement of a Club great is a difficult time for everyone, and so it was with the recent announcement made by Alex Rance. Alex has been a magnificent part of our Club, a champion player and leader. We will certainly miss having him around the Club and a part of our team but we wish him and his family all the best for what lies ahead. He is always welcome at Punt Road Oval.
At our recent AGM, some questions were raised which I thought were worth addressing in this column as well.
The first was regarding the correction of our historical records and confirmation of our best and fairest winners pre-1940. After some anomalies were brought to the attention of the Board, we requested the Club’s History & Tradition Committee to investigate the best and fairest awards pre-1940. After a two-year investigation, it became clear that in many of those seasons, no best and fairest award existed. In the interests of maintaining the integrity of the Club’s historical records, the Board made the appropriate corrections but we remain open to any further evidence to establish that awards were given in those years.
Members also asked for an update on the Club’s proposed redevelopment of Punt Road Oval. As many members and supporters would be aware, the Club secured $15 million funding from the Federal Government and continues to work with the State Government to secure funding that will enable the facility redevelopment to go ahead. The Club has appointed an architect and commenced planning processes to expedite the redevelopment once funding is secured. Much of the Board’s efforts in 2020 will be to progress this major project.
As 2019 draws to a close, I again want to thank the most loyal and passionate fan base in the land for your magnificent support. Our members and supporters make this Club great and we will continue to work hard to deliver you another successful season in 2020.
Have a happy and safe holiday season and see you at round one in 2020, when we unfurl our premiership flag.
Go Tigers
Peggy O’Neal
President
Richmond Football Club
