Richmond coach Adem Yze has decided to move Richmond’s premiership memorabilia out of clear sight at Punt Road.
The first-year coach is intent on building new memories as the Tigers enter the post-Damien Hardwick era, choosing to move pictures of the 2017, 2019 and 2020 flags to less obvious areas.
Yze told Channel 7 of the mindset behind the temporary erasure which included the removal of a 2017 premiership photo.
“I had the luxury of walking in and recognising different photos that are up that might have been for too long,” Yze said.
“It’s just like we need some clear air here. Why is that in this room? That was six years ago.
“I felt like I was disrespecting people by saying, ‘Does this need to be in here? Can we can we move it? Can we get some blank walls?’ The leaders bought into that.
“We had a discussion around it and it was time that that needed to be shifted and almost (considered) like a fresh coat of paint.”
SEN Breakfast’s Garry Lyon is a fan of what Yze is attempting to do by clearing the slate.
He believes it is a step in the right direction so early in Yze’s senior coaching career.
“I really like hearing that,” the Melbourne champion said.
“That was a long time ago. We’re never going to disrespect them. They’re our heroes. They’ll be Hall of Fame members forever and a day.
“But let us put them over there with all the things we’ve achieved in the past. Let’s leave room for something we can achieve in the future.
“I love that.”
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy had a similar view, referencing the flag-winning Hawthorn and Geelong teams of the very near past that future sides would attempt to emulate.
“I thought that was fantastic,” Healy said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“They are all about building new history. You can’t live in the glory of what’s gone, even though it’s still fresh and it’s not far away (that it happened).
“With a new coach it is time to turn the page and to worry about the future. There’s plenty of time to celebrate the greatness of the past, there’ll be a 10-year anniversary in a few years.
“For this group, and particularly the guys who didn’t play in those (premierships), is they don’t want to be talking about the greatness.
“That overhung Hawthorn for a long period of time, people trying to emulate the deeds of the great Hawthorn sides.
“I’m sure that it probably was reminded of the (Geelong) group under Chris Scott for a period of time. They won one and then they won another 10 or 11 years later, which was one of the great Grand Final victories.
“It’s a great move by Yze.”
Kane Cornes, who recently attended Port Adelaide’s 20-year premiership celebrations, agrees with Healy.
He described it as a bold and courageous decision which highlights Yze’s attitude towards creating his own history at the club.
“That’s what I thought as well,” he said.
“It looked bad because they had the pictures of it. They had the Channel 7 cameras in the lecture theatre and Chris Newman was up addressing the group.
“Adam Yze, he spoke on a whole heap of things, but that was the thing that struck me as well. About how initially when you’re a new coach, you feel like you’ve got to come in and do everything.
“Now that may be confronting for a couple of those premiership players that have been in the room and you go, ‘oh, hang on, what’s this guy doing coming in and getting rid of all that history?’
“But it’s not about history. History can happen in 5-10 years.
“I just caught up with the 20-year Port Adelaide players on Friday morning and it’s just as good. You don’t need those photos for the current group.
“In fact, I think it’s a little bit daunting when you are comparing the current group to that of the Richmond dynasty of the past.
“I thought it was an excellent move and a bold one and one that would have taken a little bit of courage for a new coach to come in and make.
“Tigers fans, your coach is impressive and that’s what you get, the insights, when your coach speaks.”
After an impressive first-up run against Melbourne in a practice match last Sunday, the Tigers will meet Collingwood at Ikon Park on February 27.
They kick off the 2024 season proper against Hardwick’s Gold Coast in Opening Round on March 9.
