Wallace vows less talk as Tigers get his full attention
Mark Robinson | March 05, 2009
TERRY Wallace has overhauled his media commitments and personal life to steel himself for one of the most critical seasons of his career.
Conceding it is finals or bust in 2009, the Richmond coach has lost 6kg after embarking on a "50 at 50" campaign - running 50km a week at the age of 50.
He has also cut back his media schedule.
"Tuesdays with Terry", the weekly sitdown with journalists at Punt Rd, has been abandoned.
His next love - listening to talkback radio and pre-match discussion - has also been a casualty as Wallace focuses all his energies on the Tigers.
After discussions with the club, Wallace will be available to the media only at the last training session of the week.
"We sat down and discussed what's best for the footy club, what's the best for me, what's best for us as a group," he said yesterday.
Wallace, more than any other coach, enters the season under the spotlight.
His five-year contract expires at the end of the season and he acknowledged he was likely to be sacked if the club missed the finals.
"I think so," he said.
"I think our people have been patiently waiting for the redevelopment . . . but at the end of the day we're all here to be part of finals."
A mid-year review with president Gary March and chief executive Steven Wright has already been scheduled.
Wallace said he had mentally and physically prepared himself for the media speculation about his future, which could start after Round 3 as the Tigers' first three opponents are Carlton, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs.
Asked if he was mentally ready for a barrage of criticism, he said: "Very much. In coaching a lot of it is how you handle yourself, how you're feeling, are you looking after yourself, so a lot of things impact the other. As the heat rises in the kitchen, if you're not looking after yourself, that can penetrate."
His plan was hatched over the Christmas break and began on New Year's Day.
"I've always looked after myself pretty well, but I reckon the last six months of last year I didn't," Wallace said.
"Not eating as well as you can, not drinking to excess, but I put on a little bit of weight which I wasn't too happy with and I looked at myself and said, 'I don't like the direction I'm heading', so I just changed a few things.
"I walk in the door at home, jump straight on the running machine. You run 10km and you haven't got any stress left."
The media has long been a passion, through his interest and club interest, at Richmond and the Western Bulldogs.
"I enjoy media," he said.
"I love Saturday afternoons. From 11am I listen for a couple of hours in the lead-up to games.
"I've done media and I really enjoy the whole thrust and parry of where the game's at, the issues, I love it.
"I've always tried to keep a finger on the pulse of what's going on with talkback radio, that sort of stuff.
"But I have to say I'm letting it go for the next 12 months.
"For the same sort of reason: to keep your sanity."
He said the recruitment of football manager Craig Cameron would mean he was less a spokesman for the club.
To end his weekly chat with up to 10 media outlets on Tuesdays was a "joint decision".
"At the start of last year Craig Cameron wasn't in his position, so (after he arrived) we sat down and decided I'll do what a lot of coaches do and that's the last session of the week," Wallace said.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25140363-19742,00.htmlSee tomorrow's Herald Sun for a Q & A with Richmond coach Terry Wallace.
