One of the candidates in the fiercely contested Richmond election says he is not "challenging" the club board and wants "evolution rather than revolution" at Tigerland.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But Jason Dowd, who owns and runs the Mitch Dowd underwear brand, said "there won't be blood in the corridors at Punt Road if one to two board members change".
Dowd said he would continue to support the current board and administration, which had done well to create a stable club and healthy finances. He and Joe Russo are running for the Richmond board independently, contesting positions held by Maurice O'Shannassy and Rex Chadwick, in what is the once-volatile club's first election in six years.
"I'm not challenging the board, I'm simply putting myself up for election," said Dowd. "In fact I think they have done a great job creating a stable environment and turning finances around and would continue to support the current board.
"These elections should be seen as evolution rather than revolution ... and all good organisations recognise the need to renew and inject fresh ideas and thinking. I also believe members should have a say in who runs their club. It's been six years since this has occurred.
"Stability is great, but needs to be balanced by the need for clubs to continue to evolve and improve. Without an injection of new thinking, you risk complacency."
Richmond president Peggy O'Neal has called for stability in what was both a clear reference to past volatility and an endorsement of the incumbent board members who are seeking re-election.
Dowd has met with the club's nominations committee and then decided to run for the board.
Dowd said if elected he would bring "a sense of urgency and manic pursuit of excellence in every part of the organisation ... without that, in a highly competitive environment like the AFL, you will be left behind."
He said he would "encourage the club to be bold in decision making and hold everyone in club accountable for their performance".
The voting for the Richmond election closes on December 4.
Richmond has made 11 consecutive profits, and has risen under Damien Hardwick from near the bottom to make three finals series in a row, but has been unable to win a final. O'Neal, the AFL's first female president of a club, was elected president to replace Gary March late in 2013, in what was seen as a compromise candidate after a tussle between Malcolm Speed and March's vice-president, O'Shannassy.
