Three current-day Richmond players – Shane Edwards, Nathan Foley and Jack Riewoldt, received Life Membership of the Club at the 2014 Annual General Meeting held earlier this week. Here’s how they each responded to the honor bestowed upon them . . .
Shane Edwards
“First of all, I’d just like to say how humbled I am . . . 150 games has snuck up on me pretty quick. I still feel relatively youthful. It feels like just the other day, I was sitting there, as a first-year player with Jack (Riewoldt), not knowing how many blokes are going to come through the doors every year. There’d be just so many players who have come through thinking that they’re going to get the 150. If someone had have told me when I started, I would have played 150 games, I would have been rapt. I’m just excited for the future, and I’d like to thank Dimma for all the opportunities he’s given me. He hasn’t dropped me to the VFL since he’s been here, touch wood. Thank you, and I hope for some more success.”
Renew or join as a Richmond member for the 2015 season
Nathan Foley
“It’s a huge honor. It’s something that I’m extremely proud of, and will be forever. With injury and form issues over the last few years at the back of my mind, it has, personally, been a huge goal to play 150 games and stand up here to receive Life Membership. In terms of the Club, I love the Richmond Football Club, I love walking in here each day, I love all the people and teammates I’ve got to meet over the years, and I love representing the jumper. In 154 games I’ve played, it has never once lost significance the honor of pulling on the Richmond guernsey and running out to represent this great club. I also know that with the people and structures in place at the moment, we’re on the right path to sustained success. On a personal note, there are so many people that I’d like to thank over the journey so far, but tonight I’ll just thank three. Firstly my parents . . . they’ve been the most amazing support for me from such a young age and they’ve given me every opportunity to achieve a childhood dream, which I’m so grateful for. And, lastly, I’d like to thank Kay, my fiancée. She sees the ups and downs of my football more than anyone and, despite me being very moody at times, her unconditional support is amazing, which I thank her very much for.”
Jack Riewoldt
“This is only the second AGM that I’ve been to. The first one was, as Shane (Edwards) said, the first week into my Richmond life. It’s been a pretty up and down Richmond life, personally, and for the Club. It all started with the Daltons . . . Rob (Club director), great to share a night like this tonight with you, life membership as well. You and your beautiful wife Lisa, and your three boys, really took me in, along with Carly (Riewoldt’s girlfriend). You looked after me early on there, and it’s fair to say I would have been a lot of trouble . . . I know my parents were pretty happy to get rid of me. They couldn’t put me on the boat quick enough to get me over here. The Richmond Football Club, and the people that are involved in it, have turned myself, and I know Carly, as well, into the people we’ve become today. It’s been an eight-year journey that I’ve enjoyed. Had a lot of ups and downs, said some things that I probably shouldn’t have, and said some things I probably should have . . . I can say that the first two weeks of this pre-season have probably been the hardest two weeks of training of my life. Townsville, last week, symbolised that really, in terms of how our boys are going about it. So, for all the members . . . this great club’s going back in the right direction. I know that the group of guys here, the leaders, Damien (Hardwick), all the people up here, are all striving and pulling in the right direction, and I think this football club’s set for big things. It’s a great honor, I really appreciate it, and I’d like to thank my mum and dad as well. They’ve never turned up to one thing I’ve won before.”
