Players back Wallace
Tony Sheahan | September 07, 2008 12:00am
FOUR former players have thrown their support behind Terry Wallace as he enters the final year of his contract as Richmond coach.
Former Western Bulldogs players Luke Darcy, Paul Dimattina and Steve Kretiuk and former Richmond defender Mark Graham said they could not understand why their former coach's future was the subject of such speculation.
"In terms of being an innovator, he was probably better than just about anyone," Darcy said. "His record is just fantastic."
Dimattina agreed: "I've always believed he is a bit of a genius. We were very close to winning Grand Finals in 1997 and '98 and they were probably the most enjoyable years I played in the game. Unfortunately we didn't get over the line, but they were the best years.
"But they would be mad not to (keep him for '09)."
Graham, who spent a decade at Hawthorn before playing a season under Wallace at Richmond in 2005, described him as "sensational", and pointed to the Tigers' inspirational victory over Hawthorn three weeks ago as evidence.
"Tactically, he is certainly switched on, as he showed against Hawthorn," Graham said.
Wallace's power has been diminished at Richmond in recent weeks, with president Garry March recently assessing the club's 2008 season as a five out of 10.
Kretiuk described Wallace's positive energy as his strong suit.
"He can instil belief in a person like few others," Kretiuk said. "I wasn't blessed with talent or speed, but one thing he did was he trusted me to play on the best forwards.
"He would never degrade you in any way and it was about getting you up each week."
Dimattina agreed: "He is a master tactician and he is great at getting the most out of the playing group and the best out of a negative situation. If you were down on form, he would just make you believe.
"He was a bit of a preacher in a way and you believed whatever he said."
Graham, who played 21 of a possible 22 games in his final season as an AFL player with the Tigers, said: "I know first hand the players at Richmond really respect him."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24303869-19742,00.html