Why Terry Wallace needs his 'sugar' fix
14 July 2006 Herald-Sun
Wayne Schwass
RICHMOND went to AAMI Stadium last week having never won there against Port Adelaide in eight attempts.
It was a danger game for the young Richmond side after an emphatic win against Collingwood the week before. But, as he has shown on more than one occasion this year, coach Terry Wallace can devise a winning game plan that his players embrace and execute.
Richmond had seven players with fewer than 25 games of AFL experience. Dean Polo, Nathan Foley, Richard Tambling, Andrew Raines, Matthew White, Adam Pattison and Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls are kids playing in their first or second years of AFL football.
Kids need leadership and there was plenty of that against Port. Troy Simmonds, enjoying his best year, dominated around the ground; Matthew Richardson played a supporting role, which is a great sign for Richmond; Nathan Brown is slowly finding his rightful place again as one of the game's elite; and it's obvious the Bowden boys, Joel and Patrick, love playing in the same side.
But it was Kane Johnson's job on Shaun Burgoyne that best typified the spirit, commitment and enthusiasm resonating out of Punt Rd.
Wallace would have settled for a 15-20 possession game from Burgoyne but his captain kept the Power ace to three touches.
Consider that Burgoyne averages 21 disposals a game in 2006, and was coming off 34 and 28 touches the previous two weeks, and you begin to appreciate the significance of Johnson's performance.
The last time Burgoyne was kept to fewer than three disposals was in his first two games of AFL football: Rounds 3 and 4, 2002.
Burgoyne is quick, evasive and in line for All-Australian selection. Johnson is not quick. He plays within his limitations and goes about his job quietly. But his performance on Burgoyne was inspirational and oozed leadership.
``Sugar'' went to Burgoyne before the opening bounce. His intentions were clear. When Port had possession he focused on Burgoyne. When the ball was in dispute or there was a stoppage, he focused on Burgoyne. But when the Tigers won possession, he worked hard to present a target. And the Tigers did the right thing by honouring him whenever they could.
Johnson's positioning was first-class. He continually squeezed Burgoyne for space. Players such as Burgoyne don't need a lot of room to work, so Johnson took away that advantage early.
Burgoyne helped Johnson's performance. Robert Harvey, Nathan Buckley and Simon Goodwin are great players who are regularly tagged. They beat their opponents with run and they don't stop running until they've run their opponent into the ground. It's the best way of shaking a tag.
Burgoyne's refusal to push himself and his opponent meant Johnson had the upper hand. Burgoyne didn't push to the next contest, nor did he run hard to make position. He is quicker than Johnson and should have used that to his advantage.
His teammates didn't help. At every stoppage Burgoyne's teammates should have been protecting him by blocking or shepherding Johnson out of the contest. Give a player such as Burgoyne half a metre and he's away.
Port lacked a spark against the Tigers, and Wallace knew where that spark could come from: Shaun Burgoyne. But for some reason Port didn't seem to realise that.
Another option would have been to put Burgoyne deep inside the forward 50 and isolate him with Johnson. Burgoyne's pace and agility would have caused Johnson plenty of headaches, but this never eventuated. In fact, in the third quarter Johnson took Burgoyne deep in to the Tigers' forward 50.
Johnson's performance on Burgoyne was first-class. I'd go as far as to say it was his best game for Richmond, and it represented exactly the type of leadership Wallace wants from his captain. With so many young players in the side, Johnson's role and influence among the group is pivotal.
Johnson probably has the lowest profile of any captain in the competition. But that wouldn't bother him, or Wallace, in the slightest. In fact, his style is perfect for this emerging Richmond team.
He is the type of player coaches like to call ``set and forget'' _ set him a task then start worrying about someone else because you know he will do the job for you.
Johnson's ability to follow instructions is crucial under a coach who varies his game plan from week to week. And his total professionalism on the field and, from all reports, around the club, has raised the bar for the rest of Tigerland.
Against-the-odds wins, the evenness of the team, which no longer relies on one or two players, and the improvement of the kids and middle-tier players such as Chris Hyde and Kayne Pettifer are evidence others are now following Johnson's lead.
All leaders have different styles, and it's clear Johnson likes to let his actions do the talking. And his actions rang loud and clear last Saturday night. Johnson's discipline and commitment to the task of shutting down the opposition's best player from the opening bounce until the final siren set the standard for his younger teammates to follow, and follow they did.
Tonight the Tigers take on the in-form Demons, a side rich with talent and playing an exciting brand of attacking football. If Richmond is to win and consolidate its position in the eight, Johnson will have to lead from the front again. And, unlike many AFL captains, that won't mean kicking a bag of goals or picking up 35 disposals. If Johnson can do to Cameron Bruce, Brad Green or Travis Johnstone what he did to Burgoyne, Wallace will be rapt.
Melbourne doesn't rely on one player to spark the team the way Port relies on Burgoyne, but Wallace has shown this year he is capable of coming up with a plan to match any opposition. And Johnson is always a key part of that plan.
The underrated Tigers skipper will have his hands full tonight and he might find himself running with a number of different opponents. But one thing is for sure: Whoever he plays on will have to earn every possession.
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