Tigers give thumbs up to Wallace
Jake Niall | The Age | April 30, 2008
RICHMOND'S hierarchy will stick with Terry Wallace as senior coach at least until his contract expires in 2009, unless there is a dramatic collapse in the team's much-improved form.
Richmond president Gary March said last night that Wallace would coach the club in 2009 — the final year of his five-year contract — unless "something went completely pear-shaped", which the club is confident will not happen.
"As far as I'm concerned, he's going to be there to coach until the end of 2009," March said.
"Unless something went completely pear-shaped, in which case … I think all of us — it wouldn't just be Terry Wallace — the entire club would come under serious scrutiny because we wouldn't have performed for two seasons in a row.
"But, you know, we've never envisaged that happening. So for me, I can't see any reason why we would even be discussing Terry Wallace being the coach of the Richmond Football Club next year because as far as I'm concerned, that's what he's contracted to do and that's what he'll be."
Wallace began the year arguably under more pressure than any other AFL coach, given that the Tigers finished last with three wins in his third season and are yet to play finals during his tenure.
The improving Tigers have since won 2½ games and have been competitive in five of their six matches, despite widespread predictions that they would again finish on the bottom of the ladder.
March said making the eight in 2008 was "never" a benchmark to measure whether Wallace should retain his job next year.
"It never was. If we haven't made the eight by the end of 2009, that might be a different thing," March said.
"We'll cross that next year. It was about where our list would be at and whether we thought we redeveloped a list that had a long-term future, rather than in the eight one year, you know, what Melbourne have done over the years."
March said Wallace would be given 100% support to fulfil his contract, so long as he stuck to the club's long-term vision for team success.
"He would have my unequivocal support to see through that plan, as long we stayed true to that plan. He's never deviated with me."
March said Wallace was being judged on the development of the list and whether a team was being built with youngsters rather than playing finals. "That's what we're judging him on — has he been able to develop those players to being regular first-18 players that can hold their own against the better sides in the competition?"
March said Wallace had coached "very well" in all but one game — the defeat by North Melbourne — this year, adding that he would sit down to discuss the future with Wallace "when the time's right for both of us".
"The time's not been right," March said. "All I wanted Terry to do this year was focus on coaching the side and not worry about all the other crap and get on with what I reckon he's good at, which is tactics and strategies and looking to improve our game style."
Richmond's game style has changed to involve more run and carry from defence, but with a greater emphasis on defensive pressure on the opposition — a big shortcoming last year.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/tigers-give-thumbs-up-to-wallace/2008/04/29/1209234865163.html
