We had stage fright, says Wallace
12:04 AM Sun 19 August, 2007
By Matt Brown,
richmondfc.com.au
TERRY Wallace has blamed a combination of “stage fright” and poor kicking for goal under pressure for Richmond’s 31-point loss to the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco.
Wallace said the Tigers were right in the game and could have pulled off a huge upset if they had taken full advantage of their opportunities in front of goal.
The Tigers got within nine points of the home side late in the third quarter before wasting numerous scoring chances in the final quarter to let the Eagles off the hook.
Wallace was left to lament what might have been had his forwards converted their chances.
“I thought definitely the score didn’t really reflect the game. I though that it was a more even game than what the final scoreline had it,” he said.
“They kicked 9.1 in the second half; they made absolutely the most of their opportunities and we didn’t do the same.
“It was 6.8 for us … and with a couple of shanked kicks as well which you could add into that. So we had plenty of opportunities but just didn’t make the most of our chances.”
Wallace pinpointed the Tigers’ inability to handle pressure as the key factor.
“I’ve always said that when you’re playing on the opposition’s home ground you’ve really got to ride those chances home and we didn’t do that,” he said.
“So it’s lots of pressure. There’s pressure on the ball carriers, there’s pressure to chase and tackle.
“And there’s also pressure to kick goals when you need them to be kicked and that was the pressure we failed in tonight.”
One of the main culprits was Matthew Richardson who marred an otherwise sensational game with several missed shots, including two vital set shots in the final quarter when the Tigers had the Eagles under the pump.
“You would give him absolutely an A-plus for work ethic, commitment to the side, ability to play on a real class player and take them on but we just didn’t get as much cream out of it,” Wallace said.
But he acknowledged that Richardson was not alone and suggested some of the younger Tigers had suffered from stage fright against the fancied Eagles.
“I think we had culprits all over the ground who had opportunities,” Wallace said.
“I think a few of our young boys really looked like they had a bit of stage fright early in the game and didn’t handle the occasion early.
“In the first half I thought it was turnover goals that the West Coast were kicking. I think we were up to something like five or six goals they actually got from turnovers in the first half. We’ve got to get better at that.”
Wallace said he was pleased with the way the younger players had settled down to their task after the Eagles had threatened a blow-out with five unanswered goals early in the second quarter.
“As the game went on and all of a sudden it’s just another game of football that you’ve got to play, I think they got better as the game went on,” he said.
“I think we’ve got a few guys who it’s their first trip to WA, let alone Subiaco and the West Coast Eagles.
“It’s experience for some of our players as well. I think we had 12 players tonight who were 21 years of age or younger.
“And that’s not an excuse but them playing on a hostile ground in a hostile environment, they learn – they learn to keep composed and use the ball better.”
Wallace now must prepare his side for an emotion-charged clash against Kevin Sheedy’s Essendon at the MCG next Sunday.
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