Axe to fall this week at Tigerland
5:54 PM Sun 15 July, 2007
By Jennifer Witham
for richmondfc.com.au
RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace lamented his side's persistent skill errors in the Tigers' 53-point loss to the Hawks on Sunday, and has consequently forecast selection changes for the club's next assignment against Port Adelaide.
Wallace said it was a ‘free-flowing game’ up until half time, before the match disintegrated into a decidedly one-sided affair where the Hawks kicked 10 goals to three.
He also said he was frustrated by the number of costly mistakes his players made throughout that two-quarter period.
"Every time we turned it over, they hurt us when it goes back the other way, and that was disappointing," he said after the loss.
"Even with as bad as it was getting towards the end, I think twice we had senior players who missed goal opportunities up one end, only to watch the ball go directly down to the other end and go sailing through the goals.
"Two-goal turnarounds … they hurt you in football. Probably the turnover rate was the most frustrating aspect."
Wallace said supporters can expect the coaching staff to wield the axe ahead of next week's game, owing to a strong showing by the club's VFL affiliate side, Coburg, on the weekend.
"We'll make changes. Our VFL side has won well today, so there are guys that will have to step out of the side and give others an opportunity," he said.
Wallace emphasised the importance of his side having a ‘vibrant finish to the season’, despite the difficult fixtures the club face, including two trips interstate and one to Geelong.
"The one thing I said to the blokes at the end is, there's still a long way to go in the season," he said.
"We want to be known as competitive, every time you go out there, and the hard work levels … and as I said, for an hour, I wouldn't question that for the first hour of the game … I wouldn't question it at all.
"Certainly in the second half of the game, it wasn't where we want to be."
After conceding the Hawks outran his players on Sunday, Wallace applauded the ability of the opposition and claimed Hawthorn does have the capacity to make a stand in September.
"Whether you talk premiership? Certainly they are as good a running side… and I think they are the most skilful foot-skills side in the competition going around at the moment, especially from the back end," he said.
"Their use of the ball is outstanding, and they hurt us all day from that area of the ground.
"Certainly skill-wise, I think they're up with any side in the competition, and where it goes from there, who knows?
“There's a long way to go still, isn't there?"
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