Richo | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Richo

There have been many fantastic posts tonight on here and it's been great reading everyone's comments, I too am gutted, devastated and overall numb and sad. I'm 26 now and basically as a youngster idolised Richo since I saw him debut and as I grew up I just idolised the bloke even more. An out an out champion of the game which non Tiger supporters unfortunately have only seen in the last 2 years, and will be immortalized as one of the only and true Richmond champions. When I think of Richo, I see him soaring over a pack of blokes, battling one on one with his opponent and taking the mark with strength and then (most of the time :p) drilling a great goal. The greatest memories I have in my life are going to the footy with my dad (who is now quite ill) and watching the Tiges lose more games than win but we would sit there week in week out in awe of this big bloke in the famous number 12 that we love and adore.

My fondest memories are seeing Richo snap his 10th against the dogs and every Richmond supporter jumping out of their seats. To say watching Richo all these years is a privilege doesn't pay homeage to the man he is, not perfect but gee I don't think as Tiger people we will ever see another player play for Richmond is the same capacity and have the same heart as Richo has. While the ultimate goal and prize has eluded our great club for decades now, Richo has made the pain bearable and given us a smile each week with the crazy antics he would do on the field with us all saying the old Tiger cliche "well at least we have Richo" which now makes me upset that I won't hear nor say it again over a beer before the game at a local pub near the G. I love you Richo, and even though this wasn't the way you should go out, you have gone out with grace and dignity, you haven't limped to the finish line like so many past champions have and you have gone out on your terms. I look forward to one more memory come round 1 next season and hearing 50,000 loyal, true, Richmond fan chant "Richo.....Richo....Richo" one more time, plenty more tears will be shed but for myself and my family, we thank you so much for your loyalty and true tiger spirit over the last 17 years. We now have one big goal and purpose to right the wrongs of 2009 especially the round 1 debacle by showing the spirit Richo played with his whole carer and smashing the blues Round 1 2010 to send Richo out on 1 more high and letting him sing the theme song! GO RICHO & GO TIGES!!!!!!!!!!!!! :clap :clap :clap :clap
 
Tigerbob said:
I don't know what to say.

I have this feeling of a loss. It actually feels like a family member has gone. I didn't think I would take it this hard.

I am shattered. I only remember Richmond with Richo. I grew up with Richo and he was an idol to me, both on field, and certainly off the field.

A genuine bloke, the best you would ever meet.

I am shattered. I seriously feel numb. Matthew Richardson represented a lot to every follower of our club, he was the shining light and something to hold onto and be proud of.

Now that he has gone it is going to be a new Richmond. A new era most certainly.

Forever Richo!
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Mate, I'm with ya. Totally.

From 6pm til 10pm. It hasnt got any easier.

Heading off to the footy, tellin the bemused mrs leysy he was heading off to sink beers, watch Richo & then have a few more going by the true aliby leysy was talking about Richo's game until AM just won't work anymore.. :-\
 
Well done Richo. You are a special guy.

I'll be up front and say I was never your biggest on-field fan, BUT your passion, commitment, athleticism and want for success can/could never be questioned by anyone.

However it is your off-field performance that I dip my lid to you Matty. IMO just as, if not more important than anything you were capable of on-field. I've been fortunate to witness some of the best moments that I have seen from any sportsman from any sport. His willingness to talk to fans and not just Tiger fans, pose for endless photographs, sign countless jumpers, books, beanies you name it and always, always with a smile and friendly banter.
One occasion was at this year's Dreamtime game, he was sitting a couple of rows behind us, and once supporters from both teams spotted him, he was not left alone for the entire match. He was just brilliant the way he responded to everyone.

He once knocked a beer out of my hand on a trip to Tassie. We were on the Spirit of Tasmania, I think it was for David Boons Big Walk or similar a few years ago, and he was so apologetic, I was stunned. Most people I've met who are classed as superstars in their fields can be real prima donnas, that is not the Matthew Richardson I've seen.

The media pressure, supporter and club expectations can turn some of these guys into prize tools, look at Fev, Carey etc just to name a couple of recent examples. Matty you are so far above these blokes, I can only hope that because your blood runs Yellow and Black, that you'll stick around the club, even in an ambassadorial role short term. Teach our now very young team, how to behave when not on the field, how they are so lucky to have an opportunity to play AFL footy and what a privilege it means to don the Yellow and Black.

Eat em Alive Matty , Eat em Alive Tigers.
 
Tigerbob said:
I don't know what to say.

I have this feeling of a loss. It actually feels like a family member has gone. I didn't think I would take it this hard.

I am shattered. I only remember Richmond with Richo. I grew up with Richo and he was an idol to me, both on field, and certainly off the field.

A genuine bloke, the best you would ever meet.

I am shattered. I seriously feel numb. Matthew Richardson represented a lot to every follower of our club, he was the shining light and something to hold onto and be proud of.

Now that he has gone it is going to be a new Richmond. A new era most certainly.

Forever Richo!
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Yeah I agree. This is the break from 1980 to today. It feels so new, so different.

But I just cannot believe that I will never see the big unit run himself into the ground on those long searching leads. Never see him look at a team mate with those filthy looks after another kick bounced at his feet or made to prop under a ball after getting five yards on his man. Never see him kick one of those 50 plus goals around the corner without looking. Never see the massive spring getting 197cm and 105 plus kgs off the ground. Never see that look from the other teams key defender like he is going to hurl up his grade three play lunch. Never see the big lug walking through the centre towards the Punt Road End. Never see thim make the impossible look easy and the easy look impossible. Never see him kick another tumbler. Never see him look like he the world is going to end because of this loss. Never see some many number 12's on kids backs. Never yellling RICHO again at the top of my voice. Never watching him torment other sides. Never get to say "Yeah we lost but Richo flogged ya".

Most of all I just miss having someone in the Richmond jumper who every supporter knew if they were on song they were impossible to stop.
 
As a kid I was sad to see Michael Roach carried off the ground for the last time and wondered if my sadness was normal. As a 37 year old I am fighting back tears at this news and am completely comfortable with it.
This is going to make the four and a half hour journey to Melbourne to watch the tigers so much harder.
 
Your a true champion . Footballer and person the tigers won't be the same without you Richo
Your'e my idol and my 6 year old boy's we will miss you.
:clap :clap
Here's to you mate :beer
 
Sad day for all of us.

Sill, he gets to go out of the game with universal respect and will, no doubt, forge out a successful media career, that's better than most.

He loved his club as much as we did.
 
Baloo said:
I thought this was a thread about Richo, not about claw.
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hmm what was it that poster said at the start of this thread oh yeah no need to say it your obviously one *smile* off.
 
Highflier.jpg


wbRICHO94.jpg


BAOTC_Richardson.jpg


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DDRicho_wideweb__470x360,0.jpg
 
I feel obliged to post for the first time in honour of a man who has kept my faith in the richmond football club spirit all these years. He personifies heart, passion and has stood up for our team time and time again against the odds. I have watched most of Richo's games since 1993 and seeing him run around as a young kid that year and really making a mark, I thought success would be around the corner for us with Richo at the helm. Unfortunately we and Richo didn't see the sucess he deserves during his time at the Mighty Tiges and all I can say is that it has been a pleasure to watch him all these years during our ups and downs (mainly downs) and we will always remember the Big No. 12 as a Richmond great. Thank you Matthew

:clap :clap :clap :clap
 
SCOOP said:
Yeah I agree. This is the break from 1980 to today. It feels so new, so different.

But I just cannot believe that I will never see the big unit run himself into the ground on those long searching leads. Never see him look at a team mate with those filthy looks after another kick bounced at his feet or made to prop under a ball after getting five yards on his man. Never see him kick one of those 50 plus goals around the corner without looking. Never see the massive spring getting 197cm and 105 plus kgs off the ground. Never see that look from the other teams key defender like he is going to hurl up his grade three play lunch. Never see the big lug walking through the centre towards the Punt Road End. Never see thim make the impossible look easy and the easy look impossible. Never see him kick another tumbler. Never see him look like he the world is going to end because of this loss. Never see some many number 12's on kids backs. Never yellling RICHO again at the top of my voice. Never watching him torment other sides. Never get to say "Yeah we lost but Richo flogged ya".

Most of all I just miss having someone in the Richmond jumper who every supporter knew if they were on song they were impossible to stop.
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Beautifully put. Captured my feelings of loss perfectly. I am almost in denial.

I go back to '67 with my earliest Tiger memories. This is the hardest retirement to accept. I just don't want it to be true.

And thanks for that photo tribute Leysy.
 
Brodders17 said:
leysy that last photo is a beauty.
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Yeah it is. Reckon we forget the spring the Ricky had early on. The first two give a climpse back 15 years.
 
Leysy Days said:
Yeah it is. Reckon we forget the spring the Ricky had early on. The first two give a climpse back 15 years.
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unfortunately we cant forget the hair he had 15 yrs ago tho.
 
I'm going to miss Richo incredibly... A true tiger, through and through...

Never will we have a player so talented, entertaining and a true blood tiger ever play in the yellow and black again :(
 
A true gentleman and true champion. Mixes it with the best ,not only at Richmond but in League football history. Even he had not been injured in '95 who knows, he might just have pinched a flag too.
 
MODOK said:
I feel obliged to post for the first time in honour of a man who has kept my faith in the richmond football club spirit all these years. He personifies heart, passion and has stood up for our team time and time again against the odds. I have watched most of Richo's games since 1993 and seeing him run around as a young kid that year and really making a mark, I thought success would be around the corner for us with Richo at the helm. Unfortunately we and Richo didn't see the sucess he deserves during his time at the Mighty Tiges and all I can say is that it has been a pleasure to watch him all these years during our ups and downs (mainly downs) and we will always remember the Big No. 12 as a Richmond great. Thank you Matthew

:clap :clap :clap :clap
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Great first post Modok.

Yeah, i'm devastated that he has retired. I've never really witnessed any success as a fan of RFC, but i did get to enjoy watching a superstar develop in an weak team. As some have said, it would've been great to see him off in a farewell game (probably would have broken a record attendance), however instead we will probably witness extremely poor membership numbers in 2010.

Regardless, thanks for the on-field memories Richo, you're a superstar with a heart the size of Phar Lap!
 
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