Tigers right at home in Mildura
1:13:38 PM Wed 15 March, 2006
Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
From Terry Wallace's early days in league football, ploughing through the middle of the ground with Hawthorn, he was aware of the connection between the Richmond Football Club and its then country recruiting zone, Mildura.
But it wasn't until Wallace visited Mildura for the AFL's Community Camp, in his first year as Richmond's coach in 2005, that he fully appreciated the strength of the connection.
"Back then (the late 1970s-early 80s), it was the Dale Weightman/Mark Lee influence which stood out in my mind about Richmond and Mildura. Last year, however, when I went on the Club's Community Camp and saw first-hand the large number of Richmond supporters there, I realised how close the affinity between the Tigers and Mildura is," Wallace said.
"We received so much support during the Camp that we made a promise then to do everything in our power to return as soon as possible, to play a practice match or be involved in some way with the local community.
"As soon as we heard that Kevin (Sheedy) had contacted the AFL about playing a match in Mildura, to support the township in the aftermath of the recent terrible tragedy, we thought it would be fantastic for us to be involved."
Richmond will be taking a virtual full-strength squad to Mildura for Friday afternoon's NAB Cup Challenge match against Essendon at the Red Cliffs ground.
"Given that it's our final hit-out before the opening round clash with the Bulldogs, this will be a full dress rehearsal for us," Wallace said.
"We've done everything we can to bring up our very best side, so that all the name players, who the people of Mildura would want to come out and see play, will be involved in the game.
"Obviously, AFL football can play only a small part in trying to make the people of Mildura feel better for a short period of time, however, we just want to make the locals know that so many others throughout Australia are thinking of them."
* Please note that all general admission tickets to the game have been sold.
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