ANDREW Richardson is bowing out of his five-year coaching stint at SFNL club Robinvale Euston, feeling exhausted but extremely grateful and proud of what he was able to achieve.
“Richo” took the Eagles to the finals in the three full senior seasons he was in charge, as he balanced midfield playing duties with the coaching demands.
A succession plan has been a year in the works, with ex-South Mildura mentor Craig Davison announced as Richo’s replacement on Thursday.
Richo was having one of his best ever playing years in 2022 before a hamstring injury forced him out of the final five rounds of the season.
He said he would aim to continue playing for the Eagles next year.
“I’ll either be playing at Robinvale Euston, or I might call it a day. I’ll just see how the body is feeling at Christmas time,” he said.
“It’d be nice to go out for a run around without all the pressures of coaching.
“We’re trying to keep the group together for the next three or four years. That’s why (2017, 2019 and 2022 premiers) Irymple have had so much success in recent years.
“They keep the nucleus of their team and add one or two players here and there, which seems to be the blueprint for a successful season.”
Asked this week to reflect on his five-year coaching journey, Richo said with a laugh: “Exhausting. Nah, it was an amazing experience. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity and hopefully I contributed well to the club and the players along the journey.
“But there’s always an expiry date with coaches because it’s such a demanding job.
“I feel like the club is heading in the right direction, though. We had the Under 16s win the grand final last weekend, so the future looks bright for the club.”
Eagles president Phil Lamattina said that Richardson had given him plenty of warning that he was ready to step down as coach.
“We’ve been speaking to Craig (the father of Wentworth star Cambell) for just over 12 months now about this role, and working together with Richo on a transition,” he said.
“It was important for me that we brought someone in who Richo was able to work with.
“Richo’s still a great footballer and, managed correctly, he’s got another couple of constructive footy seasons left in him.”
Asked for his reflections on Richo’s coaching stint, Lamattina, who has been the club boss since 2018, said: “Most importantly, I’ve seen him grow as a person.
“We know he has been a great footballer for some time. But it’s been personally satisfying for me to have an influence on his leadership journey with the club.
“To be able to have success in the group and finally get the players to buy into what he’s been selling and what the football club is about has been absolutely fantastic.
“I can’t sing Richo’s praises high enough. But we now look forward to a new chapter with Craig as our senior coach.”
