Richmond on track: Wallace
11:58 PM Sat 30 June, 2007
By Ben Casanelia
for richmondfc.com.au
DESPITE posting just one win from 13 matches this season Richmond coach Terry Wallace believes the club is "miles" ahead of where it was 18 months ago.
After watching the young Tigers fall away after a spirited three-quarters against a resurgent St Kilda, Wallace said he liked what he was seeing.
Ten of the 22 that tackled the Saints had played less than 50 games.
"We're still very, very young and that catches up with you at the end of the day," he said.
"I like what I'm seeing. The side that we played tonight has given us some beltings, absolute beltings in my time at the footy club with a lot more senior experienced teams for us out on the ground.
"We are a lot younger now and being able to compete better against the opposition.
"From where I'm sitting I think we are miles in front of where we were perhaps 18 months ago.
"I know the ladder position doesn't say it but against the better sides, and I rate St Kilda as a very good side, we are playing better footy. I have no doubt about that."
The Tigers trailed by four points heading into the final quarter but stumbled at the final hurdle as the Saints powered away with six goals in 17 minutes to start the final term.
Wallace said maturity above all else lost his side the game.
"It was hard running, free flowing and very competitive and I think probably when it came down to the crux of it they are probably a little bit more mature than what we are at this stage," he said.
"That showed out in the end."
While offering a lack of maturity as a legitimate reason for the loss, the third-year Tiger coach said the playing group was still hurting.
"It's bitterly disappointing to lose any game, but particularly when you are in it up to your ears," Wallace said.
"At three-quarter time we genuinely thought we had a real opportunity to cap off a good a win but to their credit they are a pretty good side and I think they've got a fair bit to play in the competition in the run home."
In a bold move Wallace gave the job of minding Saint star Nick Riewoldt to the much smaller Andrew Raines. The 184cm Raines conceded 12cm and 15kg to Riewoldt and despite having four kicked on him, drew praise from the coach.
"I thought he did a pretty fair job," he said.
"Riewoldt's kicked the soccer goal of the century as one of his four (goals) and I would have thought got a dubious decision to kick the second one of his four.
"So, when they've got it in (inside 50) nearly 60 times I though Rainesy performed pretty well.
"Never once in the game I was I looking for a (Joel) Bowden or a (Graham) Polak to go on to him."
He also had nothing but praise for emerging midfield star Nathan Foley. The 21-year-old Tiger, who, along with recruit Graham Polak, has been the stand player of season 2007 for the Tigers, gathered 21 possessions and was among the best again for his team.
On two occasions Foley burst out of the centre and kicked running goals from 50 metres that had more than a touch of Chris Judd about them.
"He's been very impressive hasn't he?," Wallace said.
"A couple of those clearance goals were outstanding. I haven't seen anyone who's worked as hard as him for a long, long time.
"I've had players who I've coached in the past who have got some rewards for their work and Nathan is starting to reap the rewards for doing that type of work."
Foley, along with young ruckman Adam Pattison, Daniel Jackson, Jake King, Will Thursfield, Shane Edwards and Cameron Howat represent the future for the Richmond Football Club.
It's a future Wallace sees as very bright.
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