Thomas tells Tigers some home truths
07 August 2007 Herald Sun
Mark Robinson
FORMER St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has delivered a brutally honest assessment to Richmond's players and coaches.
The Tigers' desperate search for success and self respect led the club to ask Thomas to address the club before Saturday's match against Geelong.
The 45-minute address at Punt Rd on Wednesday included individual and group criticism.
It is believed Thomas accused some senior players of being selfish and playing for survival, and said the club had lost its identity and respect throughout the football world.
He tried to explain the reality that several players listening to him would not be at the club in 2008.
The agenda was for Thomas to speak of his experiences of being at a club that was low on the ladder and what steps were taken to improve that position.
Thomas took over at St Kilda from Malcolm Blight in 2001. They finished 15th. In 2002, the club again finished 15th.
Thomas last night declined to comment, as did Richmond coach Terry Wallace.
Tigers football director Greg Miller, however, last night confirmed Wallace had extended the invitation to Thomas.
"Grant was good, the players appreciated it. He was honest, that's the way he is, upfront, frank, honest, bang, this is the way it is boys," Miller said.
"This is what I went through and this is what you have to go through . . . and you either survive or you don't.
"It was good for everyone.
"It was brutal honesty, it was excellent.
"Grant was in an era at St Kilda when he got there where they were on the bottom of the ladder and they had a group of older players, a gap in the middle and (then) all these young kids started at once.
"His group was in a similar situation to what our group is now."
The speech, the first for Thomas at another AFL club, seemingly did not help the Tigers cause.
They lost to Geelong by 70 points and in the post-script, Wallace calmly criticised the senior playing group.
Miller said the club would continue to find ways to improve the team's performance in the final four rounds.
"We are getting games into players we believe can play the game," Miller said. "Daniel Connors was great at the weekend. He's only 18 still. Him and Edwards and Riewoldt are all from last year's draft and are all playing seniors and are all 18.
"And they are all good mates, they get along well."
The Tigers, floundering in 16th position with just one win and a draw from 18 games, say they can push Collingwood on Friday and Essendon in Round 21.
They play West Coast and St Kilda in their other two games.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22200914%255E20322,00.html
