FOOTBALL

By LIAM DURKIN

 

HE might have to pull on the boots himself.

Former Thorpdale footballer Rhy Gieschen has been appointed Richmond Football Club’s national recruiting manager.

Gieschen has been with Richmond’s recruiting team for the past two years since joining the club as Victorian recruiting manager.

He is the son of Maffra’s Jeff Gieschen, who himself coached Richmond between 1997 and 1999.

Somewhat ironically, the paths of Maffra and Richmond have been almost identical since both won premierships in 2019, and now find themselves coming off wooden spoons.

Perhaps even more astonishing is the links between Richmond and the potato farming town.

Rhy played two seasons for Thorpdale from 2014-15, missing just one senior game in that two-year stretch.

Richmond and Hawthorn premiership player Barry Rowlings is from Thorpdale, while the Tigers’ current AFLW coach Ryan Ferguson is the son of Thorpdale ‘everything man’ Dave Ferguson.

Essendon is also well connected through 100 gamer Jason Winderlich and 1960s Bomber Jim Forsyth (whose son Tim won bronze in high jump at the 1992 Olympics). All three grew up in Thorpdale.

Football is a way of life for the Gieschen family. Jeff has seen the game from all angles, as a player with Footscray, senior coach, and as the AFL’s umpire manager.

He won two Trood Award and Rodda Medals for the Gippsland League best-and-fairest with Maffra FNC.

The Gieschen name is synonymous with the Eagles, and the family has combined for more than 1000 senior games between them in the red and black.

Winston Gieschen held the Maffra Football-Netball Club senior games record on 253 until it was surpassed by Daniel Bedggood last year.

Rhy has worked for close to 15 years in the AFL industry, holding talent and operational roles at the AFL, AFLCA and AFL Victoria.

Richmond General Manager Football Talent, Blair Hartley said the club felt Gieschen was ready to step into the new role.

“Rhy did an outstanding job in assisting and guiding the recruiting process in the preparation for last year’s national draft,” he said.

“He has had a strong grounding in the AFL industry, having played a variety of roles in both talent and operations.”