Tigers don't tank
Article from: AAP
By Adam Cooper
July 10, 2007 02:50pm
RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace believes any suggestion the Tigers tank AFL games to secure the prized No.1 draft pick is an insult to him and his players.
The bottom-placed Tigers are on track to finish last and thereby get first pick at the best young talent in this year's national draft, provided Carlton do not lose all their remaining games and get the top selection under the priority system.
Wallace admits there are some club administrators who would be happy to finish down the ladder to get higher picks, but found the suggestion of him derailing his own side hard to stomach.
"We've had it mentioned not to us but around the edges from media, that you go into games and you're not trying and suggesting you're playing blokes in positions where they shouldn't be playing,'' he said.
"To me that's an insult to us, trying to do our job.
"If I was going into games picking blokes in positions where I thought they wouldn't be best-served to the playing group, I would be letting the players down.
"Do officials in football clubs perhaps hope that they stay low so that they can get a high draft pick? I'm sure they do.
"But if you're talking about the playing group the coaching group that are working on a day-to-day basis to try to win each game, why would you be coming into work ... if you're not having a go, trying to get a result.''
Wallace understood the dilemma some lowly clubs faced when planning for the future and picking young players, as opposed to picking the best available.
He said he would always pick his best side and reward good form, otherwise there was no point in having Tigers play with Coburg in the VFL.
He noted the No.1 pick did not guarantee the best young player anyway, and used West Coast superstar Chris Judd - taken at No.3 in the 2001 draft - as a prime example.
Wallace said Richmond owed it to their supporters to put in their best effort every week to ensure they kept attending games.
"We want our supporters driving to the game thinking they're going to be a chance each time they go to the footy, not driving to the game wondering whether the Tiges are having a dip or whether they're going to get belted,'' he said.
Richmond at least can be of some influence in 2007, as their remaining eight opponents are all currently vying to play in the finals, starting with Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday.
"We would like to have sides who are playing us in the last part of the season to be (thinking) `This is not going to be a pushover, this game, and this could have a major impact on where we stand ourselves','' Wallace said.
"But if you're looking for only that as external motivation, I think you're going down the wrong path.
"We've got to look at what we're doing ourselves and how we're playing our game and the natural improvement.''
Wallace said he would take little note of Hawthorn's 71-point loss to Adelaide.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22050762-5005401,00.html
