Tiger players to sit in on match committee
14 March 2007 Herald-Sun
Mark Stevens
RICHMOND players will have a say on their peers this season under a plan that unlocks the usually secret world of match committee meetings.
Every week two players will be privy to preliminary team selection discussions and encouraged to give their opinions.
It is part of the latest innovation by Tigers coach Terry Wallace, keen for his players to shoulder more responsibility both before and after games.
Wallace yesterday confirmed two rostered players _ one experienced and one younger _ will sit in on Tuesday match committee meetings as part of a range of extra tasks.
"They need to be able to go in and say who they're happy to play alongside and who they've got doubts about,'' Wallace said.
The players would then leave midway through the meeting to allow Wallace and his assistants to make a totally honest appraisal.
"We've still got to be able to throw around comments on their teammates and be able to do that on an open and clear forum,'' Wallace said. "They don't need to hear everything said.''
Under Wallace's plan, players rostered on will also be required to:
HELP assistant coach David King start preparing the day after a game for the next match.
FRONT the media alongside Wallace in the regular "Tuesdays with Terry'' press conferences.
PLAY a role in the Wednesday opposition analysis meeting, addressing the group on the strengths and weaknesses of the approaching foe.
HAVE input into the Friday team meeting.
FACE the media again, alongside Wallace after the match _ win, lose or draw.
The plan is designed to bond the players and coaches and present a united front.
"It is on the back of having seen a few times over the last few years, particularly when I was out of coaching, an us versus them mentality between coaching and playing groups,'' Wallace said.
"We want one message and to have it as clear as possible is important. Players can be clearer in their own mind about why they're doing things and how things are structured up.
"They can have genuine input. I think they should have more ownership of tactics and things put into place.
"It allows us to expose some of our players to getting up and delivering things within the group.''
Wallace said the extra responsibility would add four to five hours to a player's week when his turn came up.
"They're around so regularly anyway,'' Wallace said.
"What it means is that the couple of hours they're usually sitting at a cafe in between sessions or going home to feed the dog, they're probably spending that with Kingy, myself or the match committee.
"If you were doing it weekly as a player, it could wear you down. If you're doing it every 10 weeks as a player, it shouldn't wear you down at all.
"I think most guys will actually look forward to their week.''
After closely studying US sport, Wallace has noticed players are far more accessible to media after losses.
Taking that into account, Wallace will make sure rostered players face the media heat, even if they have been suspended or involved in a controversial incident on match day.
"There will be tough questions on the Tuesday or Saturday ... there will be no shying away from things,'' he said.
"Most players have a microphone in front of them when they win or have had the ripping game. Not so often do they have the microphone in front of them if it hasn't gone the way they've wanted it to.
"You can't run and hide.''
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21377920%255E19742,00.html
