The Richmond Football Club has been the envy of the competition for the last three and a bit years, claiming two of the three available premierships in that time.
The key to their success has no doubt been the culture the football club has developed.
Led from the top by President Peggy O’Neal and CEO Brendon Gale, that culture has crept all the way through the football club.
The Tigers have turned into one of the biggest powerhouses in Australian sport, smashing through the 100,000 member barrier in 2018 and 2019 and closing in on that staggering number again in 2020.
Over the past few weeks the Tigers have been under scrutiny for numerous incidents that may be starting to drag that culture through the mud.
When looked at in their entirety these incidents show what might be a pattern of behaviour that isn’t showing the club in a great light.
The obvious incident to mention is the groping scandal that has arisen over the past few weeks, defenders Nick Vlaustin and Jayden Short were seen fondling the genitals of ruckman Mabior Chol.
Chol clearly didn’t want to be touched, yet the incident took place over two separate weeks after Richmond wins.
An underrated incident and consequence from these actions was coach Damien Hardwick’s lie to the media when asked for his comment on the matter.
Hardwick and media manager Jaimee Damon, dismissed the questions stating they weren’t aware of the issue. However that weekend Hardwick admitted he knew of the incident and had dealt with it at the time of asking.
Hardwick then left the press conference early as a result of the journalist continuing to press the issue.
Lying to the media about an incident such as that is disappointing and leaving the conference early because of such questions is a poor move especially considering the nature of the incident.
It wasn’t about on-field tactics or anything that would affect the club on-field, it was about what was seen by some as a sexual assault.
If we then shift the focus on-field, the actions of Richmond’s two key forwards, Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch in particular have raised some eyebrows, both have been cited by the match review officer for incidents that can only be labelled as poor.
Lynch was fined $500 for an aggressive shove to the back of Brisbane defender Alex Witherden’s head while he was on his stomach and unable to defend himself.
Riewoldt was also fined the week later, he was reprimanded for striking Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas in the groin, another action that has no place in our game.
The Tigers are sitting in sixth on the AFL ladder, if they plan on making a push for a second straight premiership and a third in four years, the club needs to address this pattern of behaviour.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Biggest issue here is there was a camera in the room .... if you don’t get caught then you don’t have an issue.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't bother me, just saying.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Sorry man, this article is pretty light on for facts, a couple of minor incidents don't make a cultural issue.
Steven Harris
Nobody said cultural problems in the Australian cricket team when big Merv stuck his tongue in Allan Borders ear every body just shook their heads and moved on...but not in these enlightened times.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Ha ha. We all wish Richmond were imploding with a culture problem. They’re not and their culture is the envy of most. Presumptuous to claim they are really with due respect to the author.
Dave
Roar Rookie
As a Tigers supporter and not knowing all the facts, I’m still disappointed that it happened and should never happen again, anywhere for that matter! However having said that, as long as Mabior is ok and happy with moving forward and his mental health hasn’t been affected and also both the players involved have publicly apologised for their actions, then let’s move on and move forward! Tigers have a premiership cup title to defend and I sure do hope they can do just that, hopefully starting with a win tonight over the Suns!
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Well if that's the case blokes in every footy club in the country should be charged with sexual assault. Let's not get carried away with hyperbole; it just cheapens it for people who have actually been assaulted. Of course it's not all business - yeah they're professional footballers, but they're still footballers in a footy club. Heck, I'm an accountant and I even sometimes have a laugh at work.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Mabior was probably part of the whole thing, which had probably been going on for weeks before that.
Chris_S
Roar Rookie
The crime was doing it at all. Doing it on camera was just stupid. Mabior should have punched them on the nose right in the middle of the team song. His problem is that he put team harmony first. Good on Richmond for supporting him. If its wrong its "wrong" it doesn't matter how many other people at other clubs are doing it. Good on Richmond for not "doing what other clubs do". That's a good culture
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
If it is homoerotic, it would be sexual assault. I was expecting a serious footy club would be all business. Ahh I guess they are just kids.
Larrikin
Roar Rookie
Any more ego there heads would explode
DTM
Guest
I agree. It is pretty immature but normally kept behind closed doors - their crime in my view was doing it in front of the cameras. The other issues are common place in the AFL and no cause to question the club. Richmond is a well managed club with a quality team and an excellent coach. In my many years of playing sport, I have personally done worse than each of these incidents (none of which I'm proud of) just a bit of luck that I was never good enough to have cameras monitoring my movements.
Blitz
Guest
Envy of the league ???????? Um, nah!
DarwinDee
Guest
Multiple flags since the 60s and looking good again... 100,000 membership - can the tigers send some of their culture issues Melbournes way?!
RT
Roar Rookie
What hysterical protestations?
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I guarantee it goes on at every club; it's just not normally caught on camera. There's plenty of homoerotic touching in male sporting clubs, they just pretend it's manly bonding.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
The touching was childish stupidity. Couldn’t see it happening under Hodge at Hawks, Selwood at Cats. A distraction when focus is needed. Not a cultural issue, maybe leadership.
Chris_S
Roar Rookie
Good comment Neil. The important test of culture is what happens when things go wrong. My impression of the incident was that Chol did not like it. To me that makes it bullying. I think they took advantage of Mabior's good nature. It was wrong. The thing about Richmond is they didn't make excuses, they made the players publicly apologize unreservedly with no excuses and they put all the appropriate things in place to support Chol. I don't know if the incident was due to the Richmond culture but the response showed a very good strong culture
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
No. They don't. The envy of the league. Really poor and superficial article.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
I doubt there's a 'serious' culture problem at Richmond. But nonetheless the author has highlighted a few issues that should probably be addressed within the club. Always easier to deal with these things early before real problems develop.