Tigers take steps to lift Wallace
Michael Gleeson | The Age | July 19, 2008
TERRY Wallace will still be pulling the strings, but he may not be the one delivering all the messages in today's match against Essendon.
After spending several nights in hospital with a respiratory infection that threatened to deteriorate into pneumonia, Wallace was back at Punt Road yesterday for a team meeting but ignored the cold and drizzle during a light training run.
Richmond director of coaching Brian Royal said Wallace would certainly coach today but changes might be made to accommodate his health, such as taking a lift to reach the coach's box.
If Wallace's hacking cough and chest troubles prove too much, Royal will deliver the talk at the breaks. But the message being passed on will be Wallace's.
"Terry is fine to coach," Royal said. "He again spent the night in hospital last night just to continue the medication, but he will definitely coach.
"Probably one of the harder things is climbing the 90 stairs to the coach's box at the MCG, but there is a lift and we will put a few things in place which will allow Terry to get down on the ground."
Wallace is likely to leave the coach's box earlier than normal — well before the ends of quarters — to give himself time to reach the huddles without exhausting himself.
"If it comes to the crunch where I have to speak to the players at the breaks, we can work that out as the game goes on," Royal said.
"I think all the coaches will play a more significant role.
"Terry has been laid up in hospital, he is going to be weak to an extent, so it will be up to all of the coaches to help Terry out.
"But it's work as normal. We all contribute on game day so I don't see it as any different … it takes a lot to keep him down.
"Terry had a distinguished career as a player and played with a lot of pretty critical injuries, so I don't see this holding him back.
"He is a pretty tough person and very competitive, and no doubt he sees it as a very important game, and wants to be in charge."
It is understood Wallace was extremely ill during last week's match against West Coast in Perth, having woken in his hotel room in a cold sweat with a persistent cough.
He coached through that game after taking medicine prescribed by the club doctor, but the airconditioning on the weekend's two plane flights meant he was unable to shake the chest problem.
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