Too timid in Tigerland
09 May 2007 Herald-Sun
Mark Stevens
I WAS lucky enough to be there the last time Richmond sang the song, Mark Stevens writes.
It was Monday, March 26, at the Regent Theatre. A long way removed from the sweat and liniment of the rooms.
Near the end of the Hall of Fame night, the entire list was called up on stage to receive their 2007 guernseys.
Then they were invited to sing what was supposed to be a stirring rendition of We're From Tigerland.
No one looked like they particularly wanted to be there, front and square, in front of the faithful.
Some barely moved their lips. Others mumbled.
The coach Terry Wallace later half-jokingly told the crowd that he hoped the boys put more effort in next time they have a win.
That victory still hasn't come, but the body language on stage that night said a lot about the group Wallace has to work with.
The Richmond list is loaded with introverts. There is barely an outgoing type among the senior or middle generations at Punt Rd.
When it all fell apart on Sunday night, there was no aggro or obvious showings of passion.
It was left to Matthew White to wave his fists after a long goal and dash to the bench with panache and intensity never seen before.
The other shy Tigers simply retreated into their shells as the Geelong Pussies turned into bullies.
Asked yesterday about his players' body language, Wallace said: "It was appalling . . . no doubt about that."
Wallace has known about the problem for some time.
It is understood he was stunned at how reserved some were when he first arrived at Punt Rd.
They used to call Michael Tuck "Humphrey" in his short stint as reserves coach at Geelong. He was the man who didn't talk.
Wallace soon found he may have had a few Humphrey B. Bears of his own.
Others say the problem is endemic. That the "quiet man" syndrome has been going on for years at the club.
Skipper Kane Johnson is hard, straight-down-the-line, but reserved.
Matthew Richardson can let it all out when things are bad, but he's never been a real fist-pumper when it's going well.
The departed Darren Gaspar and Andy Kellaway never opened up.
Celebrating goals and getting everyone "up" has always been an important plank in Wallace's philosophy.
It was part of the reason he was attracted to David King as an assistant coach.
King's antics when the Kangaroos were flying are legendary. He had a stinging tongue and a lethal celebration act that would rile the opposition and lift teammates.
While the likes of Tony Liberatore, Jose Romero and Paul Dimattina added the grunt at the Bulldogs, Wallace could rely on the naked passion of Rohan Smith to help get the boys up.
When the Dogs were up and running from 1997-'99, they had flamboyance in spades.
Johnson yesterday admitted the group could be quiet.
"But I think we're working on that. With a young group coming through, we have got a lot of extroverts in that group," Johnson said.
"It's just a matter of them getting the confidence to actually speak up out on the ground. With a lot of the senior players not out there at the moment doesn't help because they actually hold the group together. We're going to be working on it in the future."
Right now, Wallace would give anything for a little bit more flair.
White and Jack Riewoldt, close to debut, apparently have the pizazz to lift their mates. Nathan Brown, as arrogant on-field as anyone when things are rolling, is being sadly missed.
King, the man who famously used to cup his hand to his ear and bait the crowd after a goal, has plenty of work on his plate this week.
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