In the first of a regular new series on richmondfc.com.au, Tony Greenberg goes head-to-head with Tiger president Gary March.

Tony Greenberg:  Let’s cut to the chase . . . are you concerned that Brett Deledio has put contract talks on hold? 

Gary March:  Brett has been a great player for the Club in the past and we obviously want that to be the case into the future.  He was recently made a life member, is a dual Jack Dyer Medallist, and a valuable member of our leadership group.  We clearly want him to remain with the Club and I am confident that will be the case.  He wants to play finals and there isn’t one person at Tigerland who doesn’t feel the same way.  We are all working towards making that happen. 

TG:  Speaking of re-signing, have you started negotiations with Damien Hardwick about a new contract?

GM:  Damien still has one year of his existing contract to run.  We have been pleased with what he has delivered in the first two years of his tenure.  The Club won’t be discussing his contract situation. We have a process in place and we will make an announcement when we are ready to do so.
 

TG:  What are the plans for the Fighting Tiger Fund this year?  Are you satisfied with the progress to date?

GM: The Club has a number of initiatives for the FTF in 2012.  We recently launched our FTF Patrons Program to members and 500 people have already joined. We are also planning another major function in early June, with details to be released in the coming weeks. Our target was ambitious, but I am really pleased with the response we have received over the past 12 months, and we remain confident of achieving our overall objective of $6 million.  In its inaugural year, the FTF enabled us to eradicate a decent chunk of our debt, as well as secure sufficient funds to ensure a full upgrade of the Punt Road Oval surface, which is a crucial factor in player preparation. 

TG:  Is the FTF still important given the AFL support through its investment strategy?

GM:  The AFL support is about all clubs reaching minimum standards across all aspects of their operations.  The FTF is about rising above those minimum standards and making this Club great again so it is as critical to the future of this Club as it has ever been. 

TG:  Are you pleased with membership numbers for 2012 so far? What is the target the Club wants to hit?

GM: The membership numbers are extremely pleasing to date (we have passed 32,000 members) and we are well on the way to achieving our target of 50,000 members for the first time in the Club’s history. We hope this will be an exciting season for Richmond supporters and we urge those who have yet to sign up as members, to get on board, so they can enjoy the journey. 

TG:  Is the Club on track with its 3-0-75 strategic plan?

GM:  We don’t shy away from the fact that 3-0-75 was an ambitious plan. All of our combined efforts are focused on making that plan a reality. Progress is promising on all fronts and it is part of aiming high in our quest to get this Club competing when it matters most - September. 

TG:  What is the pass mark this season? Do you expect to play finals?

GM:  We certainly aspire to play finals this season, and I’m sure the 17 other league clubs would say the same thing.  It is what everyone at the Club is working hard to deliver.  We are out of the transition phase; we have put games into players and turned over a significant number as well.  As Damien has said, players will earn games this year on merit, and we anticipate this will drive improved performance.

TG:  Does the Club now have everything it needs in terms of resources to succeed?

GM: We are significantly better resourced than any other time in our history, however, that does not mean we cannot be better. We are continually looking at ways to improve every facet of the Club, and we hope that the many initiatives we are looking at will not only put us up with the elite in the competition but will push us ahead in some of those areas. 

TG: How is the Club placed in terms of its business partnerships?

GM: We are pleased with how things are progressing in terms of the quality partnerships we have built. The Club attracted six new major corporate partners in 2011, which led to a record year in terms of net sponsorship. We are putting measures in place to ensure these become long-term partnerships and I would anticipate some further announcements in the near future.  

TG:  You are now one of the longest-serving presidents in the AFL.  Are you still enjoying the role and what are your aims for the rest of your tenure?

GM: I’m a long way behind Eddie McGuire and David Smorgon in terms of tenure, but it has been an immense honour to be able to serve the Richmond Football Club as president. Enjoyment in any role comes from the people you deal with on a daily basis and the group we have now at Richmond is one of the best I have dealt with over my career. It makes my job very easy and immensely enjoyable (although finals would make it even more enjoyable).  My aims have not changed since I became president - they were to provide Richmond with elite facilities, run a profitable club, clear the existing debt and ensure we become a sustainable finals team in the AFL. We are still striving to do this and I hope it happens during my tenure.