Statistics from 1996: (Mostly concerned with the lack of tackling and the 1% per centers Terry Wallace coached sides do in a season).
Tackling
1996: Sydney = Runners up Rated 1st in tackling Footscray: 16th
1997: Adelaide = Premiers 1st in tackling W.B 12th
1998: Adelaide = Premiers 1st W.B 11th
1999: Kangaroos = Premiers 4th W.B 10th
2000: Essendon = Premiers 2nd W.B 14th
(Note Essendon’s only loss in 2000 was to the Western Bulldogs in round 21. Western Bulldogs tackled more than Essendon that evening.
2001: Brisbane Lions = Premiers 4th in tackles W.B 15th
(Note in 2002 and 2003 Brisbane was rated no 1 in tackles in the competition).
2005: Sydney = Premiers 1st in tackling Richmond 15th
2006: Melbourne = ? 1st in tackling Richmond 11th
1 per centers (Smothers, Shepard’s, blocks,) e.t.c
2000: Essendon = Premiers 4th in 1 per centers W.B 16th
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004: Brisbane = Runners up and Premiers 3 straight years
No 1 in one per centers W.B in 2001 15th
2005: Sydney = Premiers 1st in one per centers Richmond 16th
2006: Melbourne = ? 1st in one per centers Richmond 15th
Note: Premiership teams in the history of the game have been good tackling sides. Tackling does many things in a game of football; it places pressure on the opposition and even places perceived pressure when you do it correctly. It obviously fatigues sides later in the contest also. In Finals games when there is a definite improvement in areas mentioned above, it has been proven that Terry Wallace coached teams do not tackle and apply physical pressure and 1%’s on the ball carrier, or in the game in general.
In Wallace’s best years in charge of a team 1997 and 1998 they were overrun and then smashed by the crows in both years. You could see Adelaide lift especially in 1997 because they were not being tackled, and therefore were not tired at games end. It gave them the ability to run the game out.
Wallace at the Bulldogs had one of the best tacklers the game has seen in Tony Liberatore. Even still it did not assist tackle numbers team wise. Romero, West, Dimma, and others were also productive tacklers or should have been.
Wallace allows teams with good foot skills too much time and space. In Richmond’s severe losses this year, the opposition has eased through the midfield with the mindset they would not be tackled. (Figures above prove this) Sydney, W.B and even Hawthorn were allowed too much time and space. If you give AFL footballer’s time and space they surely will cause havoc.
Wallace is successful in limiting contested marks, as well as hard ball gets to the opposition, although this may be a thing of the past. Most teams now play with an uncontested aspect to assist their running players. Teams with numerous forward options will often beat a Terry Wallace coached side. He likes to have a defender such as a Kellaway or a Bowden free at Richmond to zone off or be the 3rd man up at the contest. At the Bulldogs Craig Ellis or Todd Curley would do that role. If you are the opposition and you see this, you surely direct some football through Bowden to hurt them on the scoreboard.
(Re Luke Brennan) Sunday in Tasmania.
Wallace has struggled to beat coaches such as Mark Williams, Schwab (Hawthorn), Malthouse and Matthews because of either their success at uncontested style of football, their ability to tackle fiercely, or the fact they have had numerous options up forward.
Wallace would probably like to play 22 wingman if he could. A fast running side that does not tackle. The purchase of Tambling and Oakley-Nicholls may come off, although at present Richmond stand 16th at clearances. Either at stop plays or centre breaks. In and under footballers would stop this trend. Richmond have refused to draft Nathan Jones and Jordan Lewis who are excellent at the stoppages, rather they chose Danny Meyer and Tambling types.
The lack of an up and coming spine could spell disaster for Richmond. Thursfield is a very good footballer, but he may not recover from a serious knee injury. Shultz is untried really at senior level. Hughes will be a player but will take two or three years to fill out. Limbach will also be productive, but needs to put on weight. Gaspar seems out of favor, Kellaway and Ray Hall are only battlers (despite braveness) who struggle with disposal. Bowden does not play on a man and if he does can struggle to man up on most occasions. If you pressure Richmond’s defence they do not have the ability to hit targets going forward. At the Bulldogs Wallace did not have the spine to win in September.
With the draft picks at his disposal (at Richmond) he could have well and truly improved the position of Richmond’s talls. However he has decided to go with the Western Bulldogs style again which did not pay dividends the first time around.
Wallace is a very smart business operator, has excellent media skills which will benefit the club with members and sponsorship. However it remains to be seen whether he will take the Richmond side to sustained success. The lack of tackling, sustained pressure, one per centers and clearances
(with bigger bodies) need to be worked upon. Whether it will remains to be seen. As history and statistics show you need to be successful at tackling to win premierships. With Wallace at the helm it is highly doubtful.
Note: In Richmond’s best seasons in recent times: 1995 and 2001 they were a good tackling side.
1995: 1st in total tackles
2001: 3rd in total tackles.
