Tigers await real rival
5:33:28 PM Tue 3 May, 2005
Jennifer Witham
Sportal for afl.com.au
Richmond coach Terry Wallace is eagerly anticipating the club's clash with Carlton on Saturday, given the Tiger's history with the Blues.
A game probably more worthy of being played in 'Rivalry Round' than the Tigers' scheduled clash with the Bulldogs, a huge crowd is expected at the MCG to witness two middle-range teams go head-to-head.
"We've even got the reserves on before the game, we've got Carlton's reserves and our reserves playing here at Punt Road prior to the main game," Wallace said on Tuesday.
"So it is like a kick-back to the old times of the rivalries of Carlton and Richmond, which will be just fantastic from our perspective to be able to go into one of those games."
Wallace touched on the rivalry built up between the two clubs, and speculated that while the Blues have other existing rivals, this was as large as it gets for Richmond.
"The rivalry between Richmond and Carlton is as big a rivalry as the Richmond Football Club has," he said.
"I know Carlton and Collingwood have their own special rivalry as well, but certainly from our aspect the build up of all those finals over a period of time, and the manner in which those games were played as well.
"It's a really healthy rivalry, most rivalries are built from respect, and I think there is a real healthy respect, and a love/hate relationship between the two clubs is based on respect."
Wallace also reflected on the Tigers' season to date, and while Richmond are currently enjoying success that was not exactly predicted coming off the bottom of the 2004 ladder, there is still one area troubling the coach in his debut year with the club.
Richmond has knocked off clubs such as Hawthorn, the Bulldogs, Fremantle, and most recently and spectacularly, Port Adelaide - but are yet to travel interstate - and have lost to Geelong and St Kilda in front of huge supporter bases.
And what is concerning Wallace the most is the fact that the Tigers seem to be unable to deliver on the 'big stage' - against powerful clubs in front of these blockbuster crowds.
"The thing I've been the most disappointed with probably from a supporter base more than anything else, is we've won the games when we've had 20,000 - 25,000 people and we've lost the games when we've had 50,000," he said.
"It's been the big stage, and everyone has been there, and the expectation is up, we really haven't come to the party and played well at all in those types of games."
But, the Tigers will get their chance to redeem themselves this week when they take on the Blues - and on a positive note for the club, skipper Kane Johnson continues on his path to recovery.
Johnson will line up for the Tigers for approximately half of the game as he did last week, the skipper approaching the end of his battle with a foot injury.
"He's coming back slowly from what was a reasonable injury," Wallace said.
"He missed three weeks, certainly we eased him into the game last week, he played 50 per-cent, almost to the minute, and I wouldn't expect him to play 100 per cent of game time this week."
Johnson was sidelined with stress fractures in his foot - and injury that requires a gradual build up to a full game of football, so not to aggravate the fine cracks.
"He got through 50 per cent with no problems, he'll train all week, and I would see that as a natural progression over two weeks, getting back to 100.
"I thought he was a really nice, solid contributor without being a star in the game last week."
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