It is with some bewildered thoughts and feelings I look at some of the behind-the-scenes and off-the-ground doings of the current board of the Richmond Football Club.
As a 56-year supporter maybe I am qualified to write this.
The proud history is under siege or so it seems.
Firstly, the removal and non-existent now museum, which held so many treasured items, now sits in boxes.
Secondly, the stripping of the Jack Dyer Medal, or the best and fairest as it was called, of 1932 from the man himself.
(Photo by Getty Images.)
Similarly the stripping of the ‘34 medal won by Ray Martin is extraordinary seeing the reason these medals being taken out of the record books is due to lack of evidence.
It’s an inditement on the current board that in fact there is significant evidence via a The Argus newspaper article.
The Jack Dyer Medal has also bizarrely been dated back to only 1965 so Neville Crowe is the inaugural winner.
This makes no sense, as does the abolition of the ‘ten years service to the club’ policy for recommendations for the very coveted life membership of the club.
The Jack Dyer Stand built in 1914 is soon to make way for an extended oval to accommodate better training and playing facilities.
Does the club have it in for the late Jack Dyer? One may think so after the events and decisions of the past few years.
This extraordinary contempt for tradition and history is a sad lament and black name on the current success of the Richmond board.
Progress is one thing, history is another. Football clubs should never put money and a need to be stamped in history over that very thing history.
The history of one the greatest clubs and sporting clubs of the world, the Richmond Football Club.
Eat ‘Em Alive indeed.
Rick
Guest
There is proof and it has been pasted onto the club but they don’t seem to care
Milo
Roar Rookie
Slow news day? The B&Fs were removed as there was little evidence to support them, actually there was conflicting evidence so if / when it becomes crystal what happened then Im sure the awards will be made. Think we can trust Tigers like Emmett Dunne and Rhett Bartlett who have done enormous research on this. The Jack Dyer Stand is being rebuilt and that's long overdue. The museum will also be reinstated. Lets hold off on the panic just at the minute.
Richmond Tigers of Old
Guest
It’s got nothing to do with Jack Dyer. It’s about pulling down a grandstand of historical significance to Melbourne and Richmond. Once it’s gone it’s gone.
Richmond Tigers of Old
Guest
Yes we agree. It’s a sad thing that they’ve been able to get away with all of this because they are winning. There are many old players such as Royce Hart, Ron Branton amongst then who are disgusted by this. If more people cared then maybe it wouldn’t of happened.
Seano
Roar Rookie
Easily the stupidest thing we have done.
big four sticks
Guest
Possibly, however I have had dealings with the board, over the abolition proxy votes at AGM’s. I do not see eye to eye with O’Neal. I openly supported the Malvern group at the time. Originally I was not a fan of Hardwick, however I have changed my position on Dimma. All I can say about O’Neal, is that we agree to disagree. Jack Dyer is a spiritual icon of our great club. He was Richmond through and through. His legacy cannot be tarnished.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Drawing a seriously long bow there, BFS.
Gold Coast Tiger
Roar Rookie
Love your passion, but I feel that you aren't fully in the know of the facts as to why the club is undertaking these changes. The old grand stand...as loved as it is...is rotting away and is a fire hazard. Imagine if the museum lost all of its treasured collection due to a fire! The current administration have done a wonderful job the past few years and have delivered 3 Premierships in the past 4 years. Just because the old grand stand will be removed, it doesn't mean that the club is turning its back on its proud history. In fact, the new facilities will honour that history even more. The years of finishing 9th on the ladder year after year are certainly well behind us and the club is continuing to move forward.
big four sticks
Guest
I have had the issues with the current board; see my article defending democracy at Tigerland, published by the Roar in 2017. Peggy O’Neal is an ex Freehills lawyer. Freehills is a right wing law firm that sides with big businesses over workers. Despite being a police officer, Jack Dyer was a member of the Australian Labor Party. He even stood for the seat of Prahran. I sense there is a lot of politics at play.
row
Roar Rookie
from what I've been told the stand, given it's old and wooden, has been deemed a major fire hazard and as such can't hold supporters (or a very limited amount). really no way around this if the club hopes to attract larger crowds, if that ever happens again, for AFLW and VFL games, given one side of the ground would essentially be closed off. tricky one for the club I understand.
Jacqui
Guest
I've been a Richmond supporter about as long as you, and it seems a bit of an over reaction to say the club's historyis under siege. Yes, the museum is packed away but temporarily, I believe, and will return once the new works are done. As for the Jack Dyer medals, they weren't presented so history is being honoured. Maybe if there's evidence to the contrary you can share it. The club has a great history, but it exists in the present and our players on all our teams will benefit from a bigger oval and better facilities.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Well said, Richie. Often people not privy to the decision making process let emotion cloud their response. I'm pretty sure Captain Blood will forever be an icon of the RFC.
RT
Roar Rookie
I agree with some of your points, but history should be respected. If the Historical Committee believes these awards were never actually given, then we shouldn't pretend they were, just because we loved Jack Dyer. What is the evidence in The Argus? Can you post a link? As for the stand, people seem to object to its removal simply because it was named after Jack Dyer, but it was named after him 82 years after it was built! It wasn't built in is honour. By all means object under heritage grounds or if they don't honour him another way to compensate, but not because of the name.
RT
Roar Rookie
Better to move to Tullamarine
Seano
Roar Rookie
I can’t believe firstly they would want to tear it down and secondly the supporters would let it happen!
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I read the title of this article and thought it was about how they've been finishing higher than ninth, therefore not honouring their history :laughing:
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
I am not a Richmond supporter, but was astonished when I first heard that the Jack Dyer Stand was being removed. Surely this will not be allowed?