Tigers ready: Wallace
11:27:21 PM Fri 18 March, 2005
Jennifer Witham
Sportal for afl.com.au
Richmond has celebrated the conclusion of the pre-season with its annual Family Day, held at Punt Road on Friday afternoon.
The highlight of the afternoon was no doubt the intra-club match, where senior coach Terry Wallace opted to mix up opposing teams, to ensure an even contest.
The result was irrelevant, and Wallace was aiming to have his players retain the impetus which they gained throughout the Wizard Home Loans Cup series.
"We had most of our guys up and going, and most of them have had momentum right through the Wizard Cup series, so my thoughts were to keep that momentum up on the weekend off," Wallace said.
"It was probably the best way to go."
Richmond escaped the hit out with only minor injuries to young gun Richard Tambling and Ray Hall, but both are expected to be available for Round One selection.
"The most important thing was not getting any injuries, and we reckon we've got out of the game alright," Wallace said.
"Richard Tambling has a sore big toe, which he had from last week."
"We thought he would be ok, he got out there and he was just still a bit sore on it, we just have to monitor him during the week, it's just bruising so we expect it to be ok."
"Ray Hall got a bit of a knock at the end of the game, but was fine, no problems at all.
The most notable absentee from the Tiger lineups was former skipper Wayne Campbell, and Wallace was quick to reassure the midfielder's fitness for the season proper.
"He was just a little bit tight in the hammy, we haven't risked him," Wallace said.
"He's a player who comes to hand quickly, so we thought we were better off leaving him out. He'll train all week, there won't be any doubt for next weekend's game."
Wallace was pleased with the match, played in front of an abundance of yellow-and-black supporters who flocked to Punt Road to see their club in their last major public appearance before meeting the Cats on March 27.
"It was just pleasing to get a reasonably solid hit out, it was a reasonably even sort of match," Wallace said.
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