This is good to see finally. Leave the coaches alone and focus on the players, we have a full list to choose from going into round one. If we can't win it will not be because of the game plan or injuries or coaching moves. It will be because we (the players) can not execute the plan and the skill levels and turnovers are still a major part of our downfall.
Tigers under gun
Rebecca Williams | March 14, 2008 12:00am
RICHMOND captain Kane Johnson says it's up to the players to ease the scrutiny on coach Terry Wallace this season, declaring everyone at the club is under pressure. The Tigers are entering their fourth season under Wallace, coming off the back of a horror 2007 season when the club finished last with just three wins.
The pressure is sure to build on Wallace in the penultimate year of a five-year contract if the Tigers' fortunes don't improve.
But Johnson said it was unfair that the heat should fall solely on Wallace and it was up to the players to do their part to revive the club.
"I think every coach is under scrutiny and Terry has done a fantastic job and he's got our support," Johnson said yesterday.
"We have just got to make sure that we can get the pressure off him.
"I suppose any team that wins three games there is going to be pressure on everyone at the club, isn't there? There's not just Terry, it's going to be the whole club.
"I think it's unwarranted that it's just on him, I think it's got to be on the whole footy club."
Johnson said the spotlight on the Tigers was justified.
"The scrutiny is going to be on us, but that's fine," Johnson said.
"We've got to deal with that and expect that it is going to be on us and hopefully change everyone's opinion on where we're at and where we're going."
But Johnson was confident the Tigers could improve.
"It's the first time since I've been at the club that that we've got a fit and healthy list and everyone available," Johnson said.
"We didn't have a proper ruckman last year with (Troy) Simmonds out, and Cogs (Mark Coughlan) is coming back, he is a massive in.
"Nathan Brown is the best that he has moved in two years, too."
Johnson, who was impeded by a broken hand last year, said he was looking forward to a bumper Round 1 clash against Carlton at the MCG.
And he said he was ready for the job on the most-talked about player over summer - Chris Judd.
"It will be a good challenge."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23373126-19742,00.html
