Yet this entire time the reality was so simple - all we had to do was unite.
All these years the club had built a bad reputation. Although Richmond was so well supported - the finances were terrible and the facilities were below standard. Terry Wallace had stated when he first joined the club he had to paint the walls of the Richmond change rooms. How could we expect our club to succeed when the coach is deciding whether the walls should be painted yellow or black instead of actually teaching the players?
Even Andrew Demetriou claimed the Punt Rd. Oval surface was ‘crap’.
Coaches were humiliated, players weren’t developed and success never came to fruition. The truth is that we never needed a messiah. All we needed to do was work with each other. No one can pinpoint who’s to congratulate for this progression. Do we thank Gale? What about Gary March? Hardwick, Hartley, Lade, Leppa, Hornsby, ME Bank, Jeep, Richo, Cotch, Jack, Lids or Trout from Woodend? It’s a team effort and finally everyone’s moving forward together. However it was Brendan Gale that united us.
Through Brendan Gale the supporters are finally being represented. Here’s a guy who bleeds yellow and black. He united all past and present Richmond personnel. I respected his viewpoint. Get everyone working on the same page and finally ‘eat our own’ will become ‘eat em’ alive!’ His ability to be entirely honest has drawn admiration from the football world. Demetriou stated that Gale’s worked wonders for the club. Gale’s tireless efforts and innovative thinking has raised over 5.5 million extra dollars for Richmond. Soon that terrible Punt Rd. turf will be resurfaced and reshaped to meet our new professional standards.
The ME Bank Center’s also being used in full swing and on field results are improving. Gale’s contribution’s been the most important. He has sold this vision to the Richmond faithful. It was not an easy thing to do either, how do you convince people that this time it’s going to be different? Along with higher ups in the club, Gale decided it was time to be completely honest.
In twenty years - once we’ve won another five flags (hopefully), Brendon Gale will be looked upon as the man who united us all and unintentionally he becomes the Richmond messiah. What an effort.
Constandinos Bouliopoulos
Follow me on Twitter @conmjj
