Former football star and media personality Matthew Richardson is well known for his wild on-field demeanour and high-flying yet tumultuous career.
With 17 illustrious seasons at the Richmond Football Club, ‘Richo’ became one of the game’s most renowned figures in an era of stale on-field personalities and mostly robotic temperaments.
On Thursday, August 15 at The Corner Hotel in Richmond, Richardson will be joined by prestigious You Am I frontman and diehard North Melbourne fan Tim Rogers for the second instalment of Presentation Night, and the 282-game superstar couldn’t be happier.
“When I first came to Melbourne, the first band I saw on multiple occasions was You Am I,” he says excitedly. “Tim’s a great showman and a hero of mine musically so to stand up there with him will be great.”
Following a successful sell-out debut that featured legendary Australian musician Paul Kelly and Western Bulldogs footballer Bob Murphy, Presentation #2 promises to be an engaging event full of light-hearted discussion and playful banter, and Richardson speaks eagerly as he anticipates the upcoming program.
“Me and Tim will basically get up there, talk crap and have fun,” he says keenly. “I love my music and Tim loves his footy, so a few good yarns will be told.”
While the Richmond Team of the Century member openly declares his passion for music and the renowned independent music scene, he also confers his regret at having never pursued the vocation.
“I bought a guitar a few years ago, but I’ve had my wrists operated on and can’t get my hands around to learn the chords,” he exasperates. “But even though I can’t sing and can’t play, I still love listening, and I appreciate good music, so I’ll happily chat about it any time.”
“At the end of the day, if you’re up on stage, you’re performing, and when you’re out there playing, you’re performing also.”Indeed, while alternative genres and the notorious grunge scene of the 90s helped shape Richardson’s early life, it also strongly influenced his demanding, and at times tedious footballing career.
According to Richardson, due to the overwhelming nature and weekly pressures of professional football, the release provided through music proved particularly therapeutic.
“Footy’s all consuming. It’s in your face, it’s in the paper every day. It’s a seven day a week job and you can never really get away from it,” he confides. “Over the years, when I wanted to chill out, it was always either listening to music at home with friends over a beer or going to a gig.”
Having also been fortunate enough to have met numerous musicians throughout the course of his career, Richardson naturally notes the bond between footballers and musicians, and the many similarities shared between the two.
“At the end of the day, if you’re up on stage, you’re performing, and when you’re out there playing, you’re performing also,” he says reflectively. “Something I enjoyed, being a footballer, was getting out there on game day in front of 60,000 people. You’ve got people cheering you on if you do well and booing you or having a go if they’re the opposition, and it’s the same for a band up on stage.”
Echoing these sentiments and reaffirming his appetite for the evening is presentation host Francis Leach, who after 30 years in the sporting and musical professions, observes many similarities between the counterparts.
“They have a lot in common in regards to the nature of their careers and their passion for their chosen field of expertise,” asserts the Triple J and Grandstand Breakfast man. “They obviously get a rush performing for people, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Certainly, despite Richardson’s inability to pursue his musical intentions, his appreciation for Melbourne’s iconic live music scene is palpable.
“I came from Devenport in Tassie, and to be honest, we didn’t get a lot of bands down there,” he says thoughtfully. “““In Melbourne, you’ve got a great live music scene, plenty of great venues, and you can always see a band any given night of the week.”
In order to capitalise on such an opportunity, Richardson would regularly frequent inner-city Fitzroy in search of the best local gigs, whilst also scheduling time for his favourite few.
“There’s too many to remember… I saw the Beasts Of Bourbon at The Tote one night and it was just this raw experience,” says the former Best and Fairest winner. “I watched You Am I at The Forum when they played Hi Fi Way and Hourly Daily and that was great also.”
With a further passion for alternative rockers Soundgarden and the renowned Seattle music scene, Richardson can’t help but look forward to the evening, while Leach similarly foresees a night that not only determines how kicking a ball or writing a song can come to define us, but also an examination of the unified relationship between the two much-loved obsessions.
“Hopefully it’s a physical conversation that will give a deeper understanding of their favourite footballers and musicians and why they’re so interested in one another,” Leach asserts. “It will be fascinating for me to explore each other’s understanding of what each other does, what sacrifices they make, and how it works.”
Indeed, in a football and music-loving town where the two pursuits are so often followed with equal passion, Presentation Night makes perfect sense.
To have two greats of their respective fields talking about their love of both capers together, gives punters the opportunity to learn something new about them beyond the usual reportage of their endeavours.
“If you like your music and footy, be sure to come along,” Richardson insists. “Chill out, have a beer, and enjoy yourself. It should be a fun night.”
Presentation Night #2 2013
Featuring TIM ROGERS and MATTHEW RICHARDSON, hosted by FRANCIS LEACH
THURSDAY AUGUST 15TH – CORNER HOTEL, RICHMOND
Tickets on sale Friday 19th July from The Corner box office
