Polak knew it was time to go
06 February 2007 Herald-Sun
Bruce Matthews
RICHMOND sent an assistant coach to Fremantle as a double check on Graham Polak before it committed to the disgruntled Docker.
The mission to the west came after Polak had used a team trip to Melbourne for the Grand Final to pitch his case to the Tigers.
"I had a frustrating last two years with Fremantle and thought I needed a change. Richmond were keen and I was keen to come here," Polak said during the Tigers' camp at Phillip Island yesterday.
"Fremantle came over to Melbourne for the Grand Final and I met with Richmond at the time.
"We sat down to discuss where they saw me at and what I wanted to do. And I was very keen to come here."
Richmond coach Terry Wallace said he always held a high opinion of Polak's ability, but he wanted to make sure the mental approach matched the physical attributes after the meeting with himself and Tiger officials Greg Miller and Paul Armstrong at Punt Rd.
"I wanted to meet him to see where he was in his own head, what he wanted to achieve," Wallace said.
"We sent Brian Royal over to WA after that to spend some time with him to get to know the person. Once we'd had those secondary meetings, we decided that was the pathway."
Polak, a key forward with East Fremantle before being drafted into the AFL, has excelled during pre-season while being groomed for a key defence post.
"It's a fresh start, like the first day back at school," he said. "The pre-season has been uninterrupted, touch wood, and I can't wait to pull on the colours. My body is feeling good.
"I've been training down in the backline, but Plough (Wallace) said he may switch me around."
Wallace recalled, as then Western Bulldogs coach, watching longingly when Polak was snapped up at No. 4 behind Luke Hodge, Luke Ball and Chris Judd in the talent-laden 2001 national draft.
"His level at the under-18s was outstanding. We didn't have a pick that high when I was at the Bulldogs," the Tigers coach said.
"If you have been the best in the business at 18, given the right development, given the right opportunity, you ought to be able to be up there at 24 years of age.
"Our needs at this stage are more in our defensive area. But to have the flexibility . . . "
"I will say there will be times in games when we'll throw him the other way."
Polak, starting a three-year contract, is learning the Tigers' style during increased match-simulation work in the past month.
He will continue the adjustments in a practice match at Wonthaggi tomorrow.
"There has been a lot longer running at Richmond than at Fremantle, but my body is used to it now," he said.
"It was around the finals last year when I missed out that I realised it was probably time for a change."
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