I have just had a baby son 6 months ago. The problem is Ive bought him all this richmond gear to wear and play with....
I was born in 83 and when we had dress up day at primary school in your favorite afl team off i went in my richmond stuff. The thing is there was probably 500 people at my school and maybe 10 or 15 of us were in the richmond section. As i was only between the ages of 5 and 11 I guess it didnt annoy me a whole heap (bar the ribbing from my mates) and plus dad convinced me "The sleeping giant" would turn it all around soon. It used to be disheartening as all my mates went to the essendons, the collingwoods and the hawthorns. All those mates of mine have since tasted ultimate success
Now ive heard it for 25 years. I have since become a diehard supporter to the fact where when i was in high school i wouldnt talk to anyone for the rest of the day if we lost, then gradually as I got older Id want to be alone because i knew id end up arguing with someone if they bagged richmond players. Now i live with my wife and son so i suppose its normal not to talk to the wife the day of the footy because all they want to do is annoy you...
Today however i sat down with my son and his milk and me and my beer, watched the coburg team on tv and i was completely gobsmacked. For a team that is meant to of built up for the last 5 years, we had maybe 1 or 2 players that were young that i think can play this year (cotchin and edwards). The other young players richmond have recruited in the past 5 years are doing what exactly? No wonder Richmond have played so poorly this year, theres no1 there to put preassure on for the spots. I thought I heard how good of a list we had this year. We would be a top 8 team if not top 4. How can this happen when i couldnt see 1 player in todays game that had any hope bar cotchin edwards pettifer and cuz maybe of playing for us this year.
My son being 6 months old has no idea with the result and just smiles and laughs but geeez, I sure hope he doesnt go through the crap and bragging I and fellow richmond supporters my age have had to go through. Im just sick of the same crap year in year out. Im sick of waiting for the cricket season to end only for 3 rounds of footy to go passed before i want the cricket back. If richmond wants to remain a socalled big victorian club they might want to consider keeping the young kids interested by maybe winning a flag sometime soon? I can brainwash my son for so long because he cant talk but once he starts asking questions about why he should go for richmond i dont think il be able to give him a positive response.
In summing up we have no youngsters coming through, our best players are all aged over 30, yet every year richmonds new young list are improving and are going to earn the respect because they deserve it? Get real RFC. Stop pretending for my sake, your sake and our futures sake