RICHO LAUDS GALE'S FORCE

LEGENDARY Richmond boss Graeme Richmond built a powerhouse and now chief executive Brendon Gale has created a dynasty that has elevated his name as one of the Tigers greatest administrators.

Tiger icon Matthew Richardson said his former teammate and fellow Tasmanian was worthy of the accolade after rebuilding the club from a laughing stock to a three- time premiership dynasty with zero debt and 100,000 members — delivering even more than Gale promised upon starting the position back in 2010.

Richmond, who held a host of administrative roles from 1962 to 1986, oversaw the Tigers’ growth into a powerhouse that led to five flags during that golden era.

But Richardson said Gale, 52, now deserved to be mentioned in the same breath.

“History will show he’s going to be right up there with the great administrators of our football club,” Richardson said.

“We’ve had some pretty big names as administrators, the biggest would be Graeme Richmond, by the time ‘ Benny’ ( Gale) has finished — it is a big comparison, Benny has been involved with three premierships and Graeme was involved with four or five — he’s not going to be far behind Graeme and he’s as big a name as there is in football administration.”

Gale has had a huge impact on the club.

Having been recruited from Burnie, Gale played 244- games at Richmond between 1990 and 2001, before returning to take over as chief executive.

Richardson, who played alongside Gale for eight seasons, said the skills Gale picked up as a player had been instrumental to his success as an administrator.

“He was always lways one of the lads, s, but what Benny can do is relate to people on all l levels,” he said.

“That is what it takes in his CEO’s job now as well, l, to be able to talk and comcommunicate with ith all different people ople across the club, from players to volunteer staff to your coaching staff.

“He’s got a great ability to relate to everyone at the club.

“At football clubs too, you need a CEO who understands the intricacies of football on actual game day and having played 244 games, he’s able to do that and then he’s got the intelligence to run the club with all the other partnerships and finances and everything else involved.”