Lives in Cricket No 12 - Ric Charlesworth

in contrast to the short, intensive, hockey-related visits to numerous countries over the past two decades. * * * * * In the next two years Ric found completion of his university studies in philosophy and history ‘challenging and stimulating’ and felt comfortable with his ‘new family situation’. But Oscar’s arrival and Carmen’s ‘consequent change in circumstances made another income source desirable.’ Opportunity lay in another sport. Even as he looked forward to a sabbatical that would take him to Italy for several months, his reputation had made him a recruiting target for Australian football. In 2000 he had spent a day at each of two prominent Melbourne clubs, Essendon and St Kilda. But while press speculation linked him to those and other clubs, he had no intention of moving east away from Perth. He had left parliament to avoid constant inter-state travel, so it made no sense to join a Melbourne club. Both of the Perth AFL teams, the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers, were interested in finding a role for him. He was drawn more to the Dockers because he’d been a founder member of the club and because ‘West Coast had a better playing group, so Fremantle represented more of a challenge’. Above all he was drawn there because the CEO was his friend and great admirer, David Hatt. ‘Richard Charlesworth is the best sporting coach I have ever come across,’ said Hatt in 2002. Back in 1996 Hatt had asked him to complete a review of coaching at Fremantle. He had spent the summer there and delivered a report that suggested getting rid of one club employee. If the coach in 2002, Damian Drum, was aware of that report, it could only have heightened his misgivings about Ric’s arrival as a ‘high performance consultant’ employed two days a week. His role was only vaguely defined as dealing with anything to do with performance on the field and off. ‘Essentially,’ he said at the time, ‘I am a consultant to the coaches and I have interactions with players at the same time.’ He spent some time earning the trust of Drum by saying, ‘I am not a know-all, I actually think I have something to offer and I’m here learning too. I can offer a different approach and different 1993-2002 75