Momentum the key: Wallace
richmondfc.com.au
By Ben Broad
8:57 PM Sun 15 June, 2008
RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace says his side must string together consecutive wins to build momentum in the second half of the season.
Speaking after the Tigers’ 22-point win over Melbourne at Telstra Dome on Sunday – his side’s first win since round nine – Wallace said an improved draw would aid Richmond’s bid to improve a 4-1-7 record and make a late charge for finals action.
“We’ve now played five games against sides outside of the eight,” Wallace said.
“We’ve won four of those games … we’ve got another real challenge on our hands next week because we play Port Adelaide, who are outside of the eight but … I think most people believe that they’re the best side outside the eight.
“And we’re playing them on their home ground, so that’s another challenge for us.”
Wallace admitted his team would “love to get some momentum” after consistently finding itself matched against the AFL’s heavyweights in the first 12 rounds.
“We think that we had an extremely tough draw in the first half of the season, having played seven out of 11 games against top-eight teams,” he said.
Sunday’s 16.20 (116) to 14.10 (94) win might be just the shot in the arm the Tigers’ season needs.
The victory came on the back of a superb solo effort from the seemingly ageless Matthew Richardson, who the coach praised in the aftermath of a five-goal, 18-mark performance.
“He was fantastic,” Wallace said.
“Where do you play him? We played him up on the wing at times and he was saving the game back there.
“Sitting in the coach's box late in the game, a couple of times when they ran inside 50 and kicked, I sort of said ‘Oh. it looks like that’s going through’ and all of a sudden it’s Richo marking the ball on the goal line.”
Wallace said Richardson’s heroics at both ends might not have been needed had his side buried its opposition after a second quarter he labeled “just about the best footy” the Tigers had played.
But Melbourne refused to lie down and got to within eight points in the final term before the Tigers snuffed out the Demons’ challenge.
Wallace said he had expected a strong Melbourne effort after the club’s recent off-field issues, and he was proud his young side – minus the leadership of skipper Kane Johnson – had been able to weather the storm.
“With momentum their way … and a fair bit of momentum and a fair bit of emotion going their way, I think that’s a game that we probably would have lost last season,” he said.
“When the game needed to be won tonight I thought Richard Tambling was the bloke who really stood up in the last quarter and really helped us get over the line.
“There’s a number of those [younger] guys, you know, I’ve got no doubt they’re improving.”
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