Richo: I want to be skipper

[julzqld]

28 March 2003 Herald Sun
By MARK ROBINSON

A REBORN Matthew Richardson has set his sights on being the next captain of Richmond.

Sights set: Matthew Richardson wants to be the next Richmond captain.
Picture: Michael Dodge

Richardson, entering the first year of a four-year reduced contract, wants to succeed Wayne Campbell when he retires.

"I'd love it," he said, ahead of tonight's blockbuster pipe-opener against Collingwood at the MCG.

"It's something I could look at when I finished my career and say: `I've captained the Richmond Football Club.' It would be pretty special."

The 28-year-old All-Australian is deputy vice-captain and said captaining the Tigers against Essendon in London last year had sparked his latest personal goal.

"For a nothing game in London, I was actually captain. It was the first time I had been captain and I know it's a bit of hit and giggle, but I really enjoyed it," he said.

Tigers coach Danny Frawley, who dropped Richardson to the VFL after Round 14 last year, showed his faith in his key forward by appointing him to the leadership group with Campbell and backman Darren Gaspar.

"Obviously, Wayne has done a great job. I can't speak more highly of how he's gone about being captain, he's put in his heart and soul," Richardson said. "But If I'm still going around and whatever happened for whatever reason, if it ever came up I'd be right on it."

Frawley's support, he said, and the realisation he had to improve his on-field demeanour have changed him.

"Danny's given me another leadership role this year, reinstated me, and he did not have to do that," Richardson said.

"He's shown faith in me to be one of his leaders and I hope to repay him by being a good leader for him."

 

[admin]

I hope to repay him by being a good leader for him."

Don't we all hope Richo leads well, preferably not deep into the pockets either.
GO RICHO

 

[diggler]

He will never be leader. Tonight proved that in a time of crisis when an easy goal should of been kicked he missed and missed and missed again.

 

[admin]

Haha Diggles, I think you missed a few missed's there. ;D

 

[JohnF]

Richo thinks he'll be around after Campbell retires? If Campbell is a masochist he could stay around for 5 more years. Richo has 2 years left. 3 at Most.

 

[julzqld]

Article by Roger Merrett in today's Gold Coast Bulletin:

"Not yet Richo"

"I noted with interest and disbelief Richmond forward Matthew Richardson saying in the southern papers last week he wants to be captain.

I really think Matty needs to worry about becoming a better team player instead of thinking of being a captain.

If you look at the captains of other teams, you can see a lot of qualities in them Richo has yet to develop in his game.

Who can forget last year when he stopped chasing the ball and sulked when a teammate's kick to him fell short and another time when he publicly berated one of the young players for missing a goal."

Oh the wisdom of a former player, now postmaster!

Would he prefer Richo took after Wayne Carey and shagged everyone's wife and girlfriend??? Sure we would wish that he was more like Michael Voss, but he isn't. But then again Michael Voss is a better captain than Merrett ever was.

And haven't we heard enough of what happened last year. Richo can't change what happened and hopefully has learnt from the past and now we should all look forward to the future.

 

[Richos_gal]

The thing that bothers me though is that if Richo was the captain last year would his behaviour in the infamous carlton game have been different?
I studied Psych at school for a while and I remember studies showing that if a person's authority/responsibility has been increased it can have a dramatic affect on their attitude.

My hypothesis is that if Matthew Richardson is granted the captaincy his Mr. Hyde personality will disappear.

 

[julzqld]

Sounds like a good theory to me.