Tigers prove a familiar point
01 August 2005
Herald Sun
Mark Robinson
THERE is much new about Richmond, but at the same time something familiar.
From a blazing 7-2, the Tigers have gone 2-7 and sit in 10th spot, a common enough theme in recent years.
Yesterday, as in most years in the new millennium, the Tigers were faced with a game they dearly had to win.
Tigers v Blues. Big crowd. Finals at stake. That they didn't is not really a surprise.
Indeed, the day they win one of these "must-win" games at the business end will be surprise enough. At least then we'll know for certain the Tigers can be judged as fair dinkum.
The last time these two teams met it was an emphatic 85-point win for the Tigers. Yesterday it was 35 to the Blues.
Despite Richo being KO'd, their best defender Darren Gaspar and best midfield stopper Mark Chaffey not playing, and Andrew Kellaway injured, this was not good enough.
With finals the lure, and the Blues having lost 11 in a row, the Tigers somehow lacked energy and mental willingness.
And this after coach Terry Wallace had written on the whiteboard before the game words to the effect of: DON'T LET THE CARLTON FOOTBALL CLUB STOP US FROM HAVING AN EXCITING MONTH.
He hammered the point. He spoke to every player in the meeting and told them they had a point to prove. From veterans trying to save their careers, to the kids proving they can cut it, to players with leadership aspirations.
By game's end, Wallace knew his team had blown an opportunity. Now Saturday night's match against Fremantle is virtually a season-decider.
Wallace said post-match he wasn't angry, but he was in the rooms before Brendan Fevola had kicked his goal after the siren.
The players were then marched back from whence they came two hours earlier, this time Wallace openly and honestly determining if, in fact, points were proved.
They were mixed. The kids were good again. Brett Deledio, Richard Tambling, Chris Hyde and Kelvin Moore presented, while Will Thursfield was accountable but was shown up by a red-hot Jarrad Waite.
Others were so-so, while others again continued to help design their own coffins.
Wallace played down the 20-minute review, but not his view on where his club stood.
"I went through each player and spoke about his performance in the game and I thought there was common thread and that was basically the younger boys did their job," Wallace said.
"It was some of the other boys in the side who didn't play at levels which they expect to.
"We are like every club in the competition; we've got guys there who are fighting for survival, fighting for their positions.
"As I said to them, I know we've got a few blokes out, but still we expect blokes to do their job."
Wallace's "long-haul" speech is monotonous, yet realistic.
The Tigers are better than last year, certainly better than their three previous years, but the list transition will continue.
Decisions will be made on Greg Tivendale and Greg Stafford, even Mark Graham, who has proved to be more than adequate after switching from Hawthorn.
Wallace also may lash at a trade – Ray Hall, Brent Hartigan perhaps – and in spite of his praising, surely not all the kids are up to it.
"We understand where we're at," he said. "We'll accept wherever we finish. If that's inside the eight that's fine; if we finish outside that's disappointing, but we are a developing team."
Developing team. There's that familiarity again.
One day the Tigers will surprise us. But after yesterday, it looks more than likely it's not going to be this year.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,16108272%255E19771,00.html
