In the heart of Melbourne winter it was time for Presentation Night II: The Sequel. Host Francis Leach hoped it would be more Hot Shots Part Deux than Dumb And Dumberer and he can rest assured it was a night even Margaret and David would give full stars.
After the success of part one with Bulldog Bob Murphy and Paul Kelly, it was no surprise to see another big crowd at the iconic Richmond venue. The line-up was Richmond favourite Matthew ‘Richo’ Richardson and You Am I’s Tim Rogers. Both had a home ground advantage with Richo the ‘Prince of Punt Road’ and Tim pointing out a spot in The Corner he likes to call ‘the Roger-ing room’.
Hailing from Tassie, Richo’s love of music has come a long way since the first album he received from his mum- a wedding band covering hits of the day. He spoke fondly of his early experiences of the Melbourne music scene and seeing You Am I live. Rogers, the face of the AFL finals series for the second year running with his East Fremantle FC sports bag in tow told of his love of his precious Kangaroos.
Both are much loved characters but astutely aware of their luck in careers. As Rogers said, “Don’t expect me to deal in reality, I’m 43 and in a rock band”. Similarly, son of Richmond premiership player Alan, Richo went on to become a football icon but admitted putting all his eggs in the one basket, leaving school to sell car insurance in Devonport until the 1992 draft.
ABC Grandstand host and compere Francis Leach kept the conversation flowing and brought in segments including the ‘Kitbag’ in which Richo unveiled serious gems- a 1993 Tasmanian state of origin jumper and a set list signed by Pearl Jam front man and unlikely Tigers fan, Eddie Vedder.
Rogers spoke of playing representative sport before hearing Rolling Stones’ Start Me Up and discovering music. He broke up the chat with an intimate rendition of Be Prepared with the apt lyrics: I played some football for ten or twelve years/ Before them damn Rolling Stones wrecked my brilliant career.
For the Grand Vinyl segment, each guest played a record. Richo, feeling like a groupie, went with You Am I’s Berlin Chair. Rogers assured him there was plenty more to being a groupie and opted with The Replacements’ Takin’ a Ride, proclaiming the Stones got him interested in music but The Replacements made him want to join a band.
Open and honest as always, Rogers was able to go from discussing elite sports and skinfolds tests to lamenting the pressure we put on young men and discussing his experiences with mental illness and looking to the stage for wellness.
The trio had a great chat- Richo pleaded for more duffel coats, revealed his grudge against 1982 GF streaker Helen d’Amico, admitted checking Big Footy after a loss and talked up Tony Abbott’s “sex appeal”. Rogers spoke of a backstage experience with two basketballers and a Gobbledok, having a smoke with shinboner of the century Glenn Archer and kicking a goal at the Community Cup in front of his daughter.
There were lots of laughs, cheers and some moving moments including Rogers revealing his choice to “Live a life with heart”. He finished off the night with Paragon Café and Berlin Chair (much to Richo’s delight). If we left it to Bruce McAvaney to describe Presentation Night, he’d have to say it was seriously “special”.
