Richmond Football Club announced the Fighting Tiger Fund (FTF) had reached its ambitious $6 million target at tonight’s Jack Dyer Medal function at Crown Palladium.

More than 1300 Richmond members and supporters were in the room when Vice-President Maurice O’Shannassy made the announcement. 

Launched in 2011, the FTF was established to provide the Club with a significant cash injection to allow it to reduce the burden of debt and invest in football.

“The Richmond faithful have blown us away yet again. Their loyalty and passion for this Club is its greatest strength and we owe every one of them a great debt of gratitude,” said Brendon Gale, CEO, Richmond Football Club said.

“The best way we can repay those that have provided us with this wonderful opportunity is to deliver the on-field success we all crave and that challenge will take a very important step over the off-season and into 2013.”

The support of the FTF has allowed Punt Road Oval to undergo the biggest facelift in its history. It will have a state-of-the-art surface and the dimensions of Etihad Stadium.

“These works were critical to ensure our home was a facility fit for an elite sporting team. It will greatly enhance our capacity to properly prepare our football team,” Gale said.

“As a result, Punt Road Oval will also be home to our stand-alone reserves side in 2014 - a decision we have brought forward by one year thanks to the FTF. That is a wonderful outcome for the Richmond Football Club.

“Beyond this, the FTF means our improved financial position will allow us to be active in the free agency market and more effectively manage our playing list moving forward.

“And by the end of this financial year, we will have wiped in excess of $2.5 million off our debt in the past two years.”

It has been an enormous effort and everyone who contributed should be proud of the role they have played in making it happen.”