Stand up, Wallace tells senior Tigers
Martin Boulton | August 5, 2007 | The Age
Wallace wants experienced players to lift
Brandon Cohen | 4/08/2007 8:14:10 PM | Sportal
RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace has called on his senior players to stand up and set a better example for the youngsters as the club battles through a horror season.
The Tigers have lost their past six matches by an average of 48 points and Wallace laid the blame squarely at his senior players' feet.
While refusing to name names, it is clear that the likes of skipper Kane Johnson - who had only six possessions in the first half but finished with 21 - Troy Simmonds, Kayne Pettifer and Graham Polak are in the coach's sights.
After a second heavy loss to Geelong this year — though mercifully short of the record-breaking 157-point loss the Cats handed out in round six — Wallace said too many senior players appeared unwilling to lift their standards.
"What I'm looking for more than anything else is for our senior players to take control of the footy club and to really set the tone and set the standards," Wallace said.
"I came away from the game today and most of my positives are with my younger players and we just really need a lift out of our senior players.
"That's not trying to put the acid on them or anything like that, but last year our best players were our senior players and (were) in our best and fairest.
"We just haven't had the same high standards from our senior players so far this year. We need them in the latter part of the season to stand up and give us what they've got. If you reckon it's hard on the younger boys, they can't do it without the senior guys standing up and doing their bit."
"Purely and simply we need our key players to play good footy."
He said players such as debutant Angus Graham needed to have older players around them.
"If you reckon it's hard on the younger boys … they can't do it without the senior guys standing up and doing their bit.
"Look at the sides that have improved this year. The Kangaroos have got a quantum leap out of some of their younger players, but every week you pick up the paper and it's (Brent) Harvey, (Adam) Simpson, the same guys, Shannon Grant, playing really nice footy.
"Have a look at Hawthorn and it's (Sam) Mitchell and (Luke) Hodge and (Shane) Crawford and those sort of guys standing up, playing the best footy that allows the younger boys to do their job. We've got to have the same from our senior group, that's what you expect and demand."
Wallace said he was not suggesting "blokes are playing for their careers", but said some senior players needed to "take control of the group and take control of their performances collectively, not individually", over the next four rounds.
Wallace admitted Saturday's performance was 'a little bit like men against the boys', but said he was pleased with the efforts of youngsters Nathan Foley (35 disposals), second-gamer Daniel Connors (25) and Shane Edwards (15).
"The opposition wouldn't have more than four players who haven't been in that side for more than five years. And that's the difference. And it's a massive difference," Wallace said.
Richmond has another tough assignment next Friday night against Collingwood, before taking on the West Coast Eagles in Perth the following week.
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