Done and dusted, new Tigers show grit

[mightytiges]

Done and dusted, new Tigers show grit
By Melissa Ryan
The Age
Mildura
February 2, 2005


Rory Hilton fires off a handball as Richmond footballers train amid the Mildura dust.
Photo: Glenn Milne
 

Even though Richmond coach Terry Wallace had told his travelling Tigers to expect the unexpected from the weather at Mildura, he was thinking heat, not a dust storm, at their first training session on camp.

Markers put out for drills suddenly disappeared in the orange haze, while dust and grit clogged the players' eyes and mouths for the hour-long session.

"By the time we got out there, the Mallee was on the ground," Wallace said. "It was testing, to say the least. It was almost mid-hurricane conditions at one stage. People are here to see us put on a show, so we can call it off or we can work our way through it. So we just thought we'd work our way through it."

The testing conditions added another dimension to what Wallace said had been a tough pre-session for his troops as he continued to work them into the shape he wanted.

Wallace said he had been unhappy with the "levels of conditioning" when the players arrived back for training last year. "I made sure we worked them pretty hard, especially over the first few months," he said.

The club will hold an intra-club match at the same ground on Thursday afternoon and, with its opening Wizard Cup match against Collingwood in mind, the players will have another hitout next Wednesday at Victoria Park, where they will be divided into teams of "possibles" versus "probables".

As for Thursday's match, the format will not be decided until the weather conditions on the day are assessed.

The AFL last night confirmed it was in final negotiations with Richmond about playing West Coast in the annual exhibition match at the Oval in London on October 8.

Richmond football director Greg Miller said the Tigers were interested, but wanted a closer look at the timing and costs of the trip.

- With West Australian

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/02/01/1107228703044.html?oneclick=true

[mightytiges]

Another fair backhander at the previous coaching staff in there from Wallace. No argument though about our lack of fitness last year.

Who's the player on the far right in the pic?

Possibles vs Probables?

Schulz on Richo at HF
Tambling on Rodan or Krak (worth going just to see this)
Chaffey/Hyde on Johnno
Jackson on Brown
Knobel vs Stafford
Kellaway on Cambo in a pocket
Rix on Simmonds at one end
Limbach v Gas at other end.

[WilliamPowell]

Who's the player on the far right in the pic?

Nathan Foley

[WilliamPowell]

"By the time we got out there, the Mallee was on the ground," Wallace said. "It was testing, to say the least. It was almost mid-hurricane conditions at one stage. People are here to see us put on a show, so we can call it off or we can work our way through it. So we just thought we'd work our way through it."

How refreshing  Kudos for going through with the session - these camps are all about promotion and goodwill - Tezza knows it - doubt we would have "worked way thorugh it" in 2004  .

I reckon the Tigers scored some "brownie" points yesterdy and perhaps sold a few memberships in the process (a win/win)

[WilliamPowell]

Tigers on a program of pain

02 February 2005   Herald Sun
Jon Ralph

RICHMOND is prepared to run the injury gauntlet in a brutal off-season under new coach Terry Wallace.

Players have regularly broken down under torrid training sessions that sometimes run to three hours. But it has been a risk well worth taking in a bid to fast-track the young side, according to the Richmond coaching staff.

The emphasis on leg weights, repetitive kicking drills and speed means up to 10 players have been absent from training at times, but the tide is beginning to turn.

Wallace said he wasn't prepared to handle players with kid gloves just to get them through the pre-season unscathed.

"Any coach wants to come in and stamp his own style on the group and, probably, I was a little disappointed at the levels of condition when the group arrived back at training. We worked pretty hard, especially over the first few months," Wallace said at the Tigers' AFL community camp in Mildura.

"We had a few problems over Christmas with a few breakdowns, but we worked our way through that and most guys are on the track. And if they are not, they are only days away."

Assistant coach Bryan Royal sees similarities between the Tigers and Wallace's 1997 Bulldogs, who were smashed on the track in the pre-season, but surged up the table from 15th to just miss a Grand Final spot.

"We have been able to sustain the pain as a coaching staff," Royal said.

"We say, 'We hope we don't lose any more guys today'."

"We might lose one but we can go on to the track now knowing they are in really good shape and they are now not missing training. Their bodies are used to the sessions we are giving them," Royal said.

"If you asked the individuals they would tell you they have learnt a lot over the pre-season but we have probably lost a few guys because it's gone from a real endurance-based program to a real strength-based program.

"When you change a program you are going to have a few injuries but to their credit the guys have been able to bounce back and get past that."

Mark Coughlan, Brent Hartigan (both osteitis pubis), Greg Stafford and Rory Hilton (both knees) have all had modified pre-seasons, but no one else has been spared.

Royal said Richmond wasn't prepared to have a list full of injury-free players if they weren't fit enough to compete anyway.

"Mark Coughlan had osteitis pubis but he is now on the track and has completed most sessions since Christmas.

"Andy Kellaway has had a slight quad, Shane Tuck had a little bit of hamstring soreness.

"Jay Schulz has been one who has missed bits and pieces (with a calf) but his body is now able to maintain that volume of work that we have put in.

"We have got probably three-quarters of the team fit and there are probably a quarter of the team that have broken down throughout parts of the pre-season.

"I couldn't tell you that we have 41 on our list that are totally fit because they are not. But there are certainly 34 or 35 of them that are in super condition."

The Tigers have pledged to play direct long-kicking football that was so lacking in season 2004.

While Wallace has made an art form out of playing ball-carrying, skilful football, he will not play the possession game at all costs.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,12122143%255E20322,00.html

[Ox]

20 years from now we'll still be LMAO @ The Frawley occupation of Punt road.

I know i ALWAYS have to have an extended dig when this fools name arises but it's
cheaper than professional help and as such is justifiable in my books.

Still haye his gut as much as ever.

[mightytiges]

Mark Coughlan, Brent Hartigan (both osteitis pubis)

Maybe I missed this before but how serious is Hartigan's OP  ?

lol @ Frawley occupation. Spud ousted by Wallace and the coalition of the willing to kick butt  .

[Tiger Spirit]

Even though Richmond coach Terry Wallace had told his travelling Tigers to expect the unexpected from the weather at Mildura, he was thinking heat, not a dust storm, at their first training session on camp.

Markers put out for drills suddenly disappeared in the orange haze, while dust and grit clogged the players' eyes and mouths for the hour-long session.

"By the time we got out there, the Mallee was on the ground," Wallace said. "It was testing, to say the least. It was almost mid-hurricane conditions at one stage.]Even though Richmond coach Terry Wallace had told his travelling Tigers to expect the unexpected from the weather at Mildura, he was thinking heat, not a dust storm, at their first training session on camp.

Markers put out for drills suddenly disappeared in the orange haze, while dust and grit clogged the players' eyes and mouths for the hour-long session.

"By the time we got out there, the Mallee was on the ground," Wallace said. "It was testing, to say the least. It was almost mid-hurricane conditions at one stage.

Having experienced the odd Mildura dust storm or 3, I can say that it’s not the greatest experience you could ever hope to have.  How lucky are the players to have gone up there at the same time as the annual dust storm hits?  Usually it’s either hot up there this time of the year, or just really hot.

Dust storm conditions are horrendous and it’s a bit of an eerie feeling seeing a sky that’s orange from the dust.  And trying to see what you’re doing when your eyes are stinging from the dust is not the easiest thing in the world to deal with.  It hurts to try and open your eyes, because as soon as you do, your eyes are filled with dust again.

You try and clear your eyes, are ready to open them again, only to be hit again.  Not a fun experience, especially if you have to spend a bit of time out in it.

Have to feel sorry for the poor ol’ farmers too, who cop it again.  Someone’s got their top soil, and it ain’t them.  It’s probably a few hundred kilometres up the road somewhere, no doubt.  Just as well they have a sense of humour about it.

[mightytiges]

We didn't get much of a choice this week. Dust-storms in Mildura or crappy mid-winter weather in Melbourne  .

Just back on the article. From the pic in the paper, isn't Simmonds a bloody big lad! 

[julzqld]

I've about this pic and am dying to see it.

[mightytiges]

I've about this pic and am dying to see it.

Here you go Julz and ladies

[julzqld]

 


ooohhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

oohhh myyyyy goodnessssssssss!!

Hubba, hubba!!

 

[cub]

Like the big boyz do we julz 

[julzqld]

You betcha!

[mightytiges]

A bucket of cold water up to Queensland please  .