Richmond board challenge: Who’s on the Tigers’ board now?

A GROUP of prominent Richmond identities is seeking a spill of the club’s board, with details to be announced this morning. WHO’S ON RICHMOND’S BOARD NOW?

A GROUP of prominent Richmond identities is seeking a spill of the club’s board, with the names and details of the ticket to be announced this morning.

But just who is running things at the Tigers at the moment?

PEGGY O’NEAL — CLUB PRESIDENT

O’Neal — a lawyer — has been on the club’s board since November 2005, and was subsequently elected to the role of president in 2013. Last month, O’Neal launched a passionate defence of her board, which re-appointed coach Damien Hardwick for a further two seasons earlier this year.

“It is unfortunate that the board (of all things) has become the headline on the front page and on the back page,” she said.

BOARD SPILL: PROMINENT TIGERS MEMBERS CALL FOR CHANGE

“As I have said previously, stability at this club has been important. Good clubs are stable clubs and it has been a key to our improved performance, on and off the field, in recent years.

“Stability and change actually go hand-in-hand. Stability allows change.

“Instability and change become chaos — and I refuse to let that happen to this club.

“Some have tried to suggest that stability has come at the expense of change.

“That is utter nonsense. This is a very different club to the one it was, even as recently as four years ago.”

Richmond president Peggy O'Neal at Punt Rd. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

MAURICE O’SHANNASSY — VICE PRESIDENT

O’Shannassy has been a director of Richmond since December 2004. Currently chairman of a financial services company, he has more than 25 years experience in financial services and funds management, and became a life member of the Tigers in 2014.

MALCOLM SPEED

A former barrister and sports administrator, Speed — who was CEO of Cricket Australia and the International Cricket Council — was appointed to the Richmond board in October 2011. He declared last month that he had nothing to do with a push to overthrow O’Neal.

Malcolm Speed joined Richmond’s board in 2011.

JOHN MATTHIES

Matthies has been on the Richmond board for more than 12 years, and is also the chair of the “history and tradition committee”.

A lawyer, he became a life member of the club in 2013. He will step down from the board at the club’s annual general meeting with Emmett Dunne his replacement.

ROB DALTON

Appointed in November 2004, Dalton is chair of the club’s finance committee. He has also held the position of treasurer since 2009.

A life member since 2014, Dalton holds a Senior Audit Partner position at Ernst & Young Chartered Accountants.

TONY FREE

Free was appointed to Richmond’s board in June 2008.

A former captain of the Richmond Football Club, Free played 133 games and is also a dual Jack Dyer medallist who became a life member of the club in 1996.

REX CHADWICK

Chadwick, a former managing director of a leading advertising agency, was appointed to the board in December 2009.

KERRY RYAN

Ryan currently sits on the board of CPA Australia, and was appointed to Richmond’s board in October 2013.

She has over 20 years’ experience as a commercial lawyer.

JOHN O’ROURKE

O’Rourke — founder and chairman of Plenary Group, joined the board in November 2015. He is also a director of the Victoria Racing Club.

EMMETT DUNNE*

A now-former member of the AFL Tribunal, Dunne — a Richmond premiership player — is set to join the club’s board this month. Dunne played 115 games for the Tigers between 1976 and 1983 and was a member of the Tigers’ 1980 premiership side. He also coached the reserves side following his retirement and served as ruck coach from 1993 to 1995, also serving 39 years with Victoria Police.