Senior Coach’s Annual Report
Terry Wallace
November 29, 2007
When you finish the season in 16th position, there is no other way of saying it, other than that 2007 was a terribly disappointing year for the Richmond Football Club.
Clearly, we made ground through getting games into some of our younger, inexperienced players, and in the last month of the season the playing group showed they did have the capabilities. The time has now come, however, for the group to take some giant strides forward.
In the previous couple of years, we won games largely due to an experienced core of players that were still at the Club. But, in reality, some of these players were never going to be part of our next genuinely successful team. Tough decisions were required to open up opportunities for young players such as Thursfield, McGuane, Foley and King, etc., to develop their football.
With the likes of Gaspar, Kellaway, Stafford and Chaffey gone, plus no return at all from Hall, Knobel, Kingsley, Simmonds and P. Bowden, due to injuries, our side was left extremely light on for body size, strength and overall experience against most teams in the competition.
We have been able to witness through our VFL affiliate, Coburg, that our youngsters possess the natural ability to play very impressive football. But some of them need to realise that they now have to step up and make their mark at the elite AFL level.
When you look at the better performed teams throughout the 2007 season, most of them had a group of players taking a quantum leap in performance and playing the best football of their lives. Geelong was the obvious improver, but teams such as the Kangaroos showed that if you can get 68 players taking a huge step forward, it allows you to match it with the competition's best.
The reality at Tigerland this year was that two of our smallest players, in Nathan Foley and Jacob King, were the only squad members who took massive strides forward... It also was great to see two young defenders, in Will Thursfield and Luke McGuane, show that they have what it takes to develop into quality players for the Club in the future. Overall, however, we simply did not have enough players perform at their very best in 2007.
One genuine positive about our playing structure is that in three years we have gone from virtually the slowest team in the competition, to a side with genuine speed and run. Our ability to get across the ground certainly caused some teams real problems late in the season. When we can combine a tough, physical, one-on-one game style, with this run and carry, it will be a damaging formula for us.
As senior coach, I have established for not only the playing group, but the entire Club, five key areas of focus in ZO08...
1. FAITH IN THE CLUB'S DIRECTION
Once again, through the trade period and National Draft, it is dearly evident the direction we are heading. Our aim has always been to get as many young players together as possible, to formulate a team capable of regularly playing finals football. I realise supporters can become impatient, but the development of our own players will hold us in good stead for a decade or more...
2. DEVELOP OUR OWN STARS
The selection of players through the trade period and National Draft is one part, but we need to fasttrack and develop our own players as well. The importance of getting the very best out of what we bring to the Club is a critical component for success. We have shown through the fast-tracking of rookies such as Foley and King that we have coaches, who can get the very best out of players. This development work needs to continue across the entire Club.
3. TEAM-ORIENTED GAME STYLE
The best teams in the competition have a game structure not based on individual brilliance. They are structured in such a way that any player can come in and fill a given role at any point of time during the season. The manner in which we intend to play was certainly on display late in the season and our coaching staff, along with the playing group, will continue to work to hone this, so that every player has a clear understanding of precisely what's required. From now on, our players competing at VFL level with Coburg, will also be coached exactly the way we want them to play at AFL level with Richmond.
4. MENTAL TOUGHNESS
This year we played in eight games where the final margin was less than 25 points, yet we could salvage only a draw out of these eight matches. Obviously, our players' growing maturity will help their bodies develop physically, but we also need to work on some tools over the summer months to enhance their mental toughness. Game day is more a confidence issue. When you are confident that you have the tools to deal with tough situations, you handle them far more maturely and competently. This is the players' challenge over summer.
5. TEAM ATTITUDE
I still believe in my first three years at the Club, we have not yet achieved a completely selfless approach within our playing group. We need our senior players and team leaders to show the way and play with a team-first approach. As senior coach, I will be demanding this from all our players.
On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone at the Club for their support in what was a particularly tough season. The current playing group know, and understand, that they have a huge responsibility to turn around this Club's fortunes. We all genuinely believe, however, that we are absolutely heading down the right track. Sometimes, when you seem to be taking a step backwards, you are actually going forwards at a rapid rate. This is evident to those within the Club, but it is now time for us to show the football world that the Tigers will once again be a force to be reckoned with...
Terry Wallace
Senior Coach
