It's all in the numbers for Tigers
Len Johnson
The Age
July 12, 2006
Terry Wallace believes Richmond will have to win 13 games to ensure a place in the eight, otherwise the Tigers' lowly percentage will leave their fate "in the lap of the gods".
Having righted its season after a start that brought two 110-plus point losses in the first seven rounds, Richmond sits eighth with eight wins and six losses. The Tigers' percentage, however, is only 87.1.
"When you've got the lowest percentage of that (contending) group, if you're serious about finals, you'd have to look at 13 wins, otherwise it's in the lap of the gods, it's not in your control," Wallace said.
"Twelve wins is a real chance of getting you there, but in our position 13 would be necessary."
Wallace said the Tigers' percentage made them look "fairly lonely" in contrast with the other teams in the eight.
Richmond will play Melbourne at the MCG on Friday night in a match of far greater significance than seemed likely when the teams started the season with three successive losses.
It is also round 15, after which each team has played every other team once.
"It's the end of everyone playing everyone else once and you would like to be in the eight after that," Wallace said.
Minor vagaries of the draw aside, the ladder tends not to change that much from round 15. Wallace said Richmond had travelled five times, would have its sixth interstate game the following round (against Sydney), but then had its remaining games in Melbourne.
He also had "no problem" about praising his players in public, doubting that his observation that ruckman Troy Simmonds was the best in the competition "at this stage of the season" could act as motivation for opponents.
With Simmonds coming up against Jeff White, Wallace said he was not worried the Demon would be fired up. Indeed, Simmonds' history of being let go by Melbourne might spur him on.
"Stimulation works both ways," said Wallace.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/07/11/1152383742065.html
