The wannabe Richmond coup has very little substance in their offerings, writes Mark Robinson

THE wannabe Richmond coup is angry and exasperated and wants change, but there was very little substance in their offering.

Damien Hardwick and the Tigers are under pressure. Picture: Getty Images)

THE wannabe Richmond coup is angry and exasperated and wants change, but there was very little substance in their offering.

The gist of their message clearly shows they are passionate, but it wasn’t a knock-you-down, where-do-I sign rally for the Tigers masses.

The bombshell announcement there was to be a press conference was pop-gun in its delivery.

The nitty gritty hurt them.

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In a 28-minute spiel led by Dr Martin Hiscock — aka Dr Smooth — it was revealed they want a chief executive of football. That’s an upmarket job title for a man — they say will be Neil Balme — who will oversee the football department.

And?

And?

A new coach?

No, that won’t be happening. They want to keep Damien Hardwick, honour his contract.

The Richmond Board challenge is being led by Bryan Wood, Philip Allison, Dr David Marsh OAM, Dr Martin Hiscock, Margaret Kearney and Bruce Monteath. Picture: Michael Klein

But here’s the caveat: They want to tell him how to coach and how the game should be played. If the group wins power, you suspect that first meeting with Hardwick will be a doozy. Either the plan is to force Hardwick to resign because he will feel his position is untenable, or they really think they, as board members, know it all about football.

A new head of football?

No, that won’t be happening. They’ll be keeping Dan Richardson.

A new chief executive?

No, that won’t be happening. They’ll be keeping Brendon Gale.

Pop goes the gun.

In the heartland of Richmond at the late Leo Barry’s gym, where Tiger tyros have been punching bags for decades and where the coup leaders put on the gloves, the knockout never came.

If the group wanted to make noise, like a really big noise, they should’ve made the mandate about Hardwick and not on a new “football CEO” position which may or may not be filled by Balme.

One question folks: Do you want Hardwick? Yes or No?

At least those who want the coach gone, might be motivated to act.

As we sit here, what would they actually be voting for?

The whole Balme thing was odd.

They are confident of getting Balme out of Collingwood to fill the new fandangled position, but Hiscock said no one had spoken to Balme. Anyone believe him?

But then Bruce Monteath, who will fill a football director’s role if the group gets up, admitted he talks to Balme. “I catch up with Neil from time to time to talk about football and his future and I would love to get him to Richmond,’’ Monteath said.

So, which is it? Spoken to Balme or not spoken to Balme?

If you have, then be transparent.

If you haven’t, then how can they use Balme’s name as the key plank in their strategy to topple the board?

The announcements on Gale and Richardson was nice of them, too. They’re not even in power, but they’re guaranteeing those two employment.

That’s insulting to Gale who has worked tirelessly for five years to save this football club from financial ruin. Hiscock hasn’t spoken to Gale, he rang him on the morning of the press conference and left a message, then proceeded to announce Gale will keep his job.

Half of me says congrats for being so upfront. The other half asks: Who the hell do you think you are?

Brendon Gale has worked tirelessly for five years to save Richmond. Picture: Getty Images.

President Peggy O’Neal responded and, in some ways, spoke with the same passion and message about putting this football team in premiership calculations.

The board’s review into what went wrong in 2016 and what changes will be made for 2017 is urgently needed.

The Herald Sun understands it will be revealed later this week or early next week.

The promise is there will be significant change. There has to be.

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You can’t have a season like 2016 and expect Francis Jackson (recruiting), Richardson (head of football) and Blair Hartley (list management) to not be under pressure to keep their jobs.

The Herald Sun believes a senior football person will be joining the football department — and it could be Balme — and that a massive overhaul of recruiting and development will be announced.

If not, it would be the second pop-gun offering in a week.

Originally published as The wannabe Richmond coup has very little substance in their offerings, writes Mark Robinson