To everyone concerned, from the President down to the players.
This is an open letter .
I want to make it known that today may be the beginning of the resurgence of the Richmond Football Club.
I am so proud to be a Richmond supporter today. Not only a club supporter , but a supporter of football in general and a believer that people deserve a second chance in life. Its an Australian way of life. !
Richmond showed compassion, humility and a willingness to give a man a chance to redeem himself on the stage that he has excelled at. On the football field.
On two levels the club has done so much to show other clubs up.
1. With Polak being retained on the list after almost dying , suffering a brain injury , to me shows that the wheels may be turning. They could easily have delisted the kid, gained an extra pick and wished him the best in his recovery, but what they did was they said, we will keep you on, you are part of our family. We will give you the full support and if you happen to come back next year , great , but if you dont well we want you around the club. You are an inspiration , a young man, who fought back and slowly, slowly even being on the field is encouraging others in life, not just in sport that anything is possible.
2. Cousins. Whatever happened with Richmond's about face and recruiting him to the club, doesnt bother me (just a media beat up) what makes me proud is they have giving him this chance. Who knows what could have been his fate had Richmond not giving him this "lifeline". Just seeing him smiling on his way to the airport made me emotional in a way because he is someone's son and this has given people who have struggled in life with whatever comes their way, an opportunity that you can get things right if you have the desire. The club by giving this young man the chance he craved for to make up for the past few years troubles(to himself and his family) has brought the football community as a whole together.
I implore all Richmond supporters to get behind this man, the club, the players and the coach.
Get to the club today, sing the club song with gusto, cheer for Ben Cousin's and all the players (who i believe wanted Ben at the club). Get a membership, which i will do today(by renewing it).
Another point i would like to make(TO THE PRSIDENT) is to extend Terry's contract, show the faith you have shown Ben , by another year. Give him this courtesy . Terry won my respect how he spoke yesterday at the press conference and he deserve's not to have his fate hanging over his head next year. I have firm belief that the sleeping giant that is the Richmond Football Club is about to be awoken.
This has been an extrodinary few days for the club.
Supporters who are not Richmond supporters have come out and stated that the club is the second one they will follow and some have even gone as far to say that they will buy a Richmond membership.
The club , by extending their hand out to Ben , have not only won the football world's respect but by and large have won the respect of everyone.
Now the rest is up to Ben. I hope he realises what the club have done for him and he takes this second chance and gives something back to the club.
All Richmond supporters shouldn't expect instant success or a Ben Cousin's who won a Brownlow, 4 B & F and was a premiership captain. Just to have him back doing what he loves, to have the young players watch how a champion trains and if this can rub off on the players , well watch out .
15 clubs couldn't and wouldn't give Ben the chance that Richmond has done.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RICHMOND FOOTBALL CLUB.
Kevin Sheedy thankyou for believing in Ben and that Ben deserved a second chance in life.
To Terry and all the players i am so proud of you all for what you have done.
To the players, the rest is now up to you to make next year and beyond count. Football can be short lived, make the most of the opportunity to play the game. Finals next year is what you should aim for. Aim high.
EAT M ALIVE
George Tritsas
This is an open letter .
I want to make it known that today may be the beginning of the resurgence of the Richmond Football Club.
I am so proud to be a Richmond supporter today. Not only a club supporter , but a supporter of football in general and a believer that people deserve a second chance in life. Its an Australian way of life. !
Richmond showed compassion, humility and a willingness to give a man a chance to redeem himself on the stage that he has excelled at. On the football field.
On two levels the club has done so much to show other clubs up.
1. With Polak being retained on the list after almost dying , suffering a brain injury , to me shows that the wheels may be turning. They could easily have delisted the kid, gained an extra pick and wished him the best in his recovery, but what they did was they said, we will keep you on, you are part of our family. We will give you the full support and if you happen to come back next year , great , but if you dont well we want you around the club. You are an inspiration , a young man, who fought back and slowly, slowly even being on the field is encouraging others in life, not just in sport that anything is possible.
2. Cousins. Whatever happened with Richmond's about face and recruiting him to the club, doesnt bother me (just a media beat up) what makes me proud is they have giving him this chance. Who knows what could have been his fate had Richmond not giving him this "lifeline". Just seeing him smiling on his way to the airport made me emotional in a way because he is someone's son and this has given people who have struggled in life with whatever comes their way, an opportunity that you can get things right if you have the desire. The club by giving this young man the chance he craved for to make up for the past few years troubles(to himself and his family) has brought the football community as a whole together.
I implore all Richmond supporters to get behind this man, the club, the players and the coach.
Get to the club today, sing the club song with gusto, cheer for Ben Cousin's and all the players (who i believe wanted Ben at the club). Get a membership, which i will do today(by renewing it).
Another point i would like to make(TO THE PRSIDENT) is to extend Terry's contract, show the faith you have shown Ben , by another year. Give him this courtesy . Terry won my respect how he spoke yesterday at the press conference and he deserve's not to have his fate hanging over his head next year. I have firm belief that the sleeping giant that is the Richmond Football Club is about to be awoken.
This has been an extrodinary few days for the club.
Supporters who are not Richmond supporters have come out and stated that the club is the second one they will follow and some have even gone as far to say that they will buy a Richmond membership.
The club , by extending their hand out to Ben , have not only won the football world's respect but by and large have won the respect of everyone.
Now the rest is up to Ben. I hope he realises what the club have done for him and he takes this second chance and gives something back to the club.
All Richmond supporters shouldn't expect instant success or a Ben Cousin's who won a Brownlow, 4 B & F and was a premiership captain. Just to have him back doing what he loves, to have the young players watch how a champion trains and if this can rub off on the players , well watch out .
15 clubs couldn't and wouldn't give Ben the chance that Richmond has done.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RICHMOND FOOTBALL CLUB.
Kevin Sheedy thankyou for believing in Ben and that Ben deserved a second chance in life.
To Terry and all the players i am so proud of you all for what you have done.
To the players, the rest is now up to you to make next year and beyond count. Football can be short lived, make the most of the opportunity to play the game. Finals next year is what you should aim for. Aim high.
EAT M ALIVE
George Tritsas
