Dear Members and Supporters,

Welcome to season 2021. I’m sure you are as excited as I am by the prospect of watching our men’s team take to the MCG tomorrow night against Carlton in the traditional season opener.

I know how much the players are looking forward to having fans in attendance and while the ground will only be 50% full, I have no doubt the noise made will nearly match that of a full house. Of course, we are all hopeful in the coming weeks that crowd restrictions will ease further, and our players can be inspired by the full force of the Tiger Army.

Tomorrow night we will unfurl our 2019 and 2020 Premiership flags which will be a truly unique and humbling experience. Our men’s team have made us enormously proud over the past two seasons, with our 2020 success coming in the most difficult of circumstances.

But so much of tomorrow night is about you, our members and supporters. You showed incredible loyalty last season, standing firm and keeping our Club strong and bold in 2020. As Damien Hardwick said on the Premiership Dias, “We play for you”.

As we watch two Premiership flags flutter in the breeze tomorrow night, we must reflect on what we have accomplished together. Tomorrow night epitomises the Club’s 2021 membership campaign Proud To Be Richmond. We have again hit the ground running in terms of our membership and we expect to be 90,000 members strong when the ball is bounced tomorrow night. Thank you again for your unparalleled support.

Speaking of proud, how can we feel anything but that, having watched our AFLW team compete this season. The team under the coaching of Ryan Ferguson and captaincy of Katie Brennan has been very competitive this season and we are home to some of the most exciting players in the competition.

To see the pure elation when the team won its first game against Geelong - and those beaming faces after they belted out the Club theme song - was wonderful. The team has two games to go to complete their second season and we wish them well against the West Coast Eagles this Sunday.

Off-field, the Club continues to work with the necessary authorities to progress our plans for the redevelopment of Punt Road Oval and the establishment of the William Cooper Centre, a new home for our community programs. This redevelopment is critical to ensure the Club remains in Richmond.

It will provide outstanding facilities for our elite football programs, community programs as well as supporters that attend the ground to watch our AFLW and VFL teams play. I would also like to clarify that this redevelopment will be home to the Club’s museum – there seems to have been some confusion around this issue - but it is firmly in our plans.

We have also welcomed Kate Palmer to the Richmond Board. Kate has an outstanding record as a sporting administrator and board member and we look forward to her contribution in the coming years. Kate replaces Malcolm Speed who has completed his maximum terms as a director.

The lead up to Round 1 has been a rollercoaster in terms of definitive crowd numbers, the implications for members and finding a system that effectively manages access as fairly as we can. I am aware that the Club’s membership team has been inundated by communications as we get closer to the bounce of the ball. I can assure you they are working as quickly as possible to respond to everyone and we are extremely grateful for your patience.

GAME ACCESS Richmond Membership Update - March 16, 2021

So football is back at the MCG and I can’t wait. I look forward to seeing you at games during the course of the season when we stand as one, Proud To Be Richmond, cheering on our players.

Should you have any questions you would like me to address during the course of the season please email president@richmondfc.com.au.

Go Tigers

Peggy O'Neal