Terry's Replacment

[Francois Jackson]

I'm starting to slide off the TW bandwagon and he will have to change his game plan quickly if he is to win me over before D-day. The zoning is just not working for our players and we do not have the skills or confidence to execute it. During every game this year teams have threaded their way through it nigh effortlessly.

The problem with emplying the zone this year is that it has lost its defensive impact because every team is expected it, have prepared for it and know how to break it down. Teams that are new to the strategy and/or lack the skills to utilize the zone during set ups are being made to look rediculous.

I said it at the start of the year that the Hawks would drop back because the rolling zone was no longer a 'new' or surprize defensive strategy which opposition teams are unprepared for. I wasn't predicting the injury concerns they are having but I feel my point remains the same for them, and more importantly, for us who have attempted to replicate the strategy.

Similiarly Richos move up the field was such a success not only because of his personal ability but also because teams were unprepared for the move. We were able to exploit defenders and midfielders who tried to nullify the big man. Now though teams are turning the tables and having players run off him.

TW needs to be original and adapt quickly. Man-on-man is no revolutionary strategy but it is the matchup that gave us the most success at the end of the last year and allowed us to see which players were good enough individually.

I want to see our players creating more space for one another. Evry team in the league will know know how to beat us - put plenty of players around the ball and pressure the ball, stick to your man and swamp carrier. We will then turn over the ball and game over.

We need to work for each other and while TW has been coach we have been weak in this area to say the least. We need to not only tackle but to shepherd and block. I just don't see enough enough of it particularly around stoppages and when our forwards are on the lead. If we can block the tagger so that Lids, Foley etc can run on to the ball then all of a sudden we will give our forwards half a chance.

Quick movement is the only way to beat the flooding/zoning that has washed over the competition lately and unless TW can change his strategies quickly, harden up the side, employ strategies to relieve the pressure and therefore improve our skills and instill confidence back into the side then he just taking up space to the end of the season IMHO.

Depending on how optomistically you wish to look at the senerio but if he turns things around I will be happy to see finals and if he fails I will be happy to get a series of high draft picks. Bringing in a new coach midseason would only cause problems fiancially and may win too many games  

Let TW see out the year but that game plan needs to change quickly!  

Stripes

on one hand there is no point keeping someone that wont be there next year but on the other hand can we really afford to start winning games with a new coach.

The blues didn't do it with ratts but they are a much smarter club than we are so who knows what needs to be done but all i know is i wont be seeing finals yet again.

all over for us for another year

[Ramps]

you are absolutely spot on WP I completely agree,

March should have the balls to keep wallace in charge.

Its the jackstars of this world and their influencee that have made us a rabble. If he sacks wallace it proves he is weak IMHO. Its round 4 FFS

Jason Dunstall was spot on when he said there was nothing to gain by sacking the coach. We should tank now, its the last chance to get a top 3 draft pick. Wallace should be instructed to play kids and retire the veterans, changes coaches and winning a few meaningless games is counter pructive at this stagge

Even Blaisee has seen reason. Theres no reason not to tank. We need the early picks 1 of the first 2 in the National Draft to get the Key Forward we need and another 2 inside 20. We also get a shot at the PSD where we need to pick up a decent player this time.

[Stripes]

Even Blaisee has seen reason. Theres no reason not to tank. We need the early picks 1 of the first 2 in the National Draft to get the Key Forward we need and another 2 inside 20. We also get a shot at the PSD where we need to pick up a decent player this time.

We are currently in limbo on many issues - Should we try and win or design to lose ???

Should we cut our loses now or stick it out?

Is our senior players time quickly drawing to the end or should we give them to the end of the season?

Should we try and build a winning culture with our young players or fail so we get good players in?


I don't want to give up all hope just yet but the time for decisions is fast approaching. If we decide to move TW on and 'play the youth' then players such as Brown, Johnson, Simmonds, Bowden and even Richo may have their careers ended very abruptly as well. You would hope that if TW is told that his contract will not be renewed that the 'Care-taker coach' will be directed to not only play the youth but to lose at all costs.

Our draw opens up considerably in the second half of the year and I feel if 'Tanking' is our aim then leaving TW to finish off his contract could be a mistake given his pride. TW will never conceed when winning is an option and would take great delight in miraculously making the finals if he was told to move on.

It saddens me to think that the hard work, planning and development that has been invested in our list could have all been for nought. I refuse to believe that our list does not have a chance of becoming a strong team which regular finals appearances are not out of the question with. 

I find it difficult to believe that we need to start again and feel that we are just underperforming. Perhaps we need a new coach to reinvigorate us and give the list the hardness that we lack under TW game plan. In saying this I will always appreciate the work TW has done for the club. He is one of the very few Tigers coaches who has even attempted to grow our own talent and start from scratch. Others have rehashed but TW rebuilt and you have to give him credit for having the balls to try.

I hope in years to come the lists talent is final realised but I think it is becoming increasingly likely if this does occur it will be under the leadership of someone other than TW.

Stripes

[blaisee]

you are absolutely spot on WP I completely agree,

March should have the balls to keep wallace in charge.

Its the jackstars of this world and their influencee that have made us a rabble. If he sacks wallace it proves he is weak IMHO. Its round 4 FFS

Jason Dunstall was spot on when he said there was nothing to gain by sacking the coach. We should tank now, its the last chance to get a top 3 draft pick. Wallace should be instructed to play kids and retire the veterans, changes coaches and winning a few meaningless games is counter pructive at this stagge

You have no idea.

yea, Jason Dunstall has no idea either, I mean he is probably the best administrator in the afl, he brought hawthorn from second last to a premiership in 4 years but hey what would he know

[cub]

True I don't believe in this sacking a coach for the sake of it.
For whoever is coach for the rest of this year be it Wallace or anyone else they must be seen to be coaching for the future. That means giving people a role, finding out if people have some hope of making it  "JON" or moving them on and giving the team some semblance of structure and work from there.

If it means we start again ala Hawthorn well we start again because after another 5 years we have as of the first 4 rounds this year gone nowhere.

You know how sick it makes me us treading water while the rest of the league BAR Freo go up and down, Now Carlton look like they are going to get their opportunity in the years to follow and we will be, well where we allways seem to be, in the twilight zone.

[the wasp]

What do people think of Andy Collins as a potential head coach?  I know people were disappointed to see him leave for West Adelaide.

[mightytiges]

What do people think of Andy Collins as a potential head coach?  I know people were disappointed to see him leave for West Adelaide.

He'll need to get a position as an assistant coach at the AFL club first. He's coached his own team which is handy experience but he's been out of the AFL system. He also hasn't had much success as coach. Coburg got to a GF under him but moving to West Adelaide meant he's coaching the bottom side of the SANFL. Clarkson for instance won a flag coaching Central Districts and then joined Mark Williams at Port as an assistant (flag in 2004) before getting the Hawthorn gig. I guess one knock on Hardwick is to my knowledge he hasn't coached his own team despite ticking all the boxes (experience under Sheeds, Williams and Clarkson as player or assistant coach). Cambo also hasn't coached his own team and is the least experienced of the potential candidates.

[one-eyed]

Today's Age mentioned Leon Cameron and Chris Bond as coaching options as well as the already mentioned names ......

Wallace situation raises coaching scenarios for Richmond
Michael Gleeson | April 21, 2009

RICHMOND has held to one line through this year and that is that Terry Wallace is contracted until the end of this season. Which is different to saying he will be coaching in round 22 this year.

One thing is certain and it is that, barring a minor miracle, he won't be coaching Richmond in round one next year.

Wallace may not be sacked during the year but he will be told, as his predecessor Danny Frawley was, that his contract will not renewed.

Frawley stayed on in a job he knew he would not take into the next season, but it was for coach and club an uncomfortable situation. It remains to be seen whether Wallace would do as Frawley did.

It is also doubtful if Richmond would wish him to. Club president Gary March admitted on radio yesterday that the club had — as any club in this situation would — a contingency for what might transpire with the coach during the next three-to-six months. He did not elaborate, save to say that Kevin Sheedy would not be coaching Richmond as a caretaker or the next senior coach.

If and when Richmond gets to the point of having the conversation with Wallace about next season it will be at a time when this season is sunk. Bearing in mind that six other clubs have coaches coming out of contract at season's end (admittedly not all of them likely to change the coach) the Tigers would likely want to steal a march on the opposition to find the best replacement.

Richmond also has what would appear to be a softer draw in the second half of the season than the first. Granted, having just lost to lowly Melbourne nothing can be too safely presumed about soft draws but ladder positions would suggest the Tigers face easier games later in the year than they do early on.

That could prove embarrassing to a board if it had left a lame-duck coach in charge of a side that came home with four or five wins.

This presents a further complication to the choice of a caretaker. Wayne Campbell is a highly regarded figure at Richmond as a former champion player and respected potential future coach but there is a sense this might be coming too soon for him.

If he was put in charge as caretaker and won a bunch of games it could create an "Unleash the Giesch" momentum that might blur the thinking on the best decision. Equally it could be a Paul Roos in Sydney scenario and prove to be the best choice after all.

Concerns about Campbell's readiness might be satisfied by a scenario where a figure such as former premiership player Michael Malthouse — who notably said at the weekend that he expected to be coaching next year whether it was at Collingwood or elsewhere — came in as a mentor ostensibly to Campbell for a year or two.

Mark Williams has often said he would love to coach in Melbourne at some point and being out of contract at year's end that point may be soon. He, like Malthouse, would assume the position with a sufficient level of gravitas that he would determinedly change the culture.

Nathan Buckley is a standout candidate in untried coaches though he has yet to declare whether he has had a change of heart about taking a job without an assistant-coaching apprenticeship. He is the Michael Voss of this year — the one all clubs without a coach will want and most likely not give a damn about whether he had spent a year elsewhere.

Buckley would also be aware that when he does decide he wants to commit to senior coaching a job will be available somewhere so he will closely scrutinise any list before accepting. And Richmond's playing list is thin. Most coaches looking for new jobs don't have that luxury.

Damien Hardwick is the oft-touted senior-coach-in-waiting but that would not place him ahead of the likes of Leon Cameron and Chris Bond who have impeccable credentials and are "of the club".

http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/wallace-situation-raises-coaching-scenarios-for-richmond/2009/04/20/1240079605787.html

[one-eyed]

Pagan: I still want to coach
Caroline Wilson | April 21, 2009

DENIS Pagan last night threw a new twist into the situation of besieged Richmond coach Terry Wallace by declaring himself in a perfect position to take on a senior AFL coaching job.

Pagan coaches Wallace's son Brent in the TAC competition. He told Channel Seven last night that, "I think I'm in the best position of my life with all the experience I've had".

"I don't want this to sound like a job CV or dance on anyone else's grave but I'm still very keen to coach," Pagan said.

His comments came as massive speculation surrounded Wallace and his coaching future.

Wallace, whose short-term future has been guaranteed by Richmond, did not return calls from The Age last night but according to Tiger officials was stunned by Pagan's comments coming only 24 hours after Richmond's abysmal performance against Melbourne, which marked the club's fourth straight loss.

Brent Wallace, who is studying VCE, and has been touted as a 2010 AFL rookie selection was training last night for the Northern Knights when his coach's revelation went to air. The Knights had their first win under Pagan on Sunday as Wallace's Tigers lost against Melbourne.

Until yesterday Wallace had received unprecedented support from his fellow AFL coaches, partly due to a call to arms by coaches association boss Danny Frawley.

Although Pagan was not referring directly to the Richmond job, his comments were regarded as ill-timed and inflammatory by Richmond's inner sanctum and even more so given Pagan had worked unofficially with the Richmond coaching group over the pre-season.

Pagan has made no secret of his desire to return to a senior AFL coaching position and is working to push his cause by proving himself as a mentor to teenagers in the under-18 competition.

The Richmond board is not expected to make a call on Wallace's immediate future when it meets tonight. President Gary March was reportedly backing away from his comments on Melbourne radio earlier yesterday that his club had a "contingency plan" should Wallace fail to complete his contract, which expires at the end of this season.

March has said that all businesses have contingency plans but added that he was not referring to any plans to move on the coach.

Richmond football boss Craig Cameron said last night: "We're not giving up on the season at this point. No decisions have been made and 18 weeks is a long time."

Cameron said his meeting with Wallace early yesterday left him with the impression that the coach was "bearing up really well".

"He was flat last night as you would expect but at the match review and the meeting with the players he was fine," he said.

Cameron was quoted after Sunday's loss as saying he was reasonably confident Wallace would coach the Tigers against North Melbourne in round five but he said yesterday: "Of course he'll coach this week. It's just my language."

While Wallace looks likely to be gone from Richmond by the end of the season, the club has not turned its thoughts to any replacements and still appears unwilling to make a move on Wallace in the coming weeks.

Yesterday's meeting with the players was reportedly a highly emotional one. After delivering a heated half-time spray to his players at the MCG, Wallace did not talk to his group after the game and yesterday placed the ball firmly in their court.

While Cameron refused to elaborate on the discussions, he said: "The players were prepared to take responsibility for their actions and they knew that their execution and contested efforts were poor."

Encouraging news for Richmond yesterday was that Ben Cousins, Trent Cotchin and Andrew Raines will return from injury in Richmond's VFL affiliate Coburg this weekend.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/pagan-im-ready/2009/04/20/1240079605784.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

[Infamy]

Damien Hardwick is the oft-touted senior-coach-in-waiting but that would not place him ahead of the likes of Leon Cameron and Chris Bond who have impeccable credentials and are "of the club".

God I wish this club would get off the whole "Best Richmond Person" thing, we've been crap for 27 years, so unless it's Malthouse or Sheedy get someone who knows what success actually looks like. I think the most obvious thing this club needs to break it out of it's rut is someone who hasn't caught the Richmond Cancer.

[Francois Jackson]

Damien Hardwick is the oft-touted senior-coach-in-waiting but that would not place him ahead of the likes of Leon Cameron and Chris Bond who have impeccable credentials and are "of the club".

God I wish this club would get off the whole "Best Richmond Person" thing, we've been crap for 27 years, so unless it's Malthouse or Sheedy get someone who knows what success actually looks like. I think the most obvious thing this club needs to break it out of it's rut is someone who hasn't caught the Richmond Cancer.

FFS it has got to be Hardwick or Malthouse. I couldnt care less that Mick played for the tigers i just love his ruthless attitude.

We dont need Cameron or Bond. I mean they have been assistant coaches for what 7 years so it must mean something why they still haven't been selected as senior coaches.

Not interested.

[Tigermonk]

maybe because they have been in the system long enough & have not what it takes to be a AFL coach
Not all people put in coaching positions have what it takes. Thats why they remain assistant coaches & go from club to club
They are interviewed & processed on what they have to offer. The applicants presentation is what gets them the job.
Its no walk in & Campbell will be a scapegoat. That is why he was brought to the club if things go wrong he will be the plan till next year in case Wallace walked.
Sheedy will be coach of Richmond & it will be next year.  Campbell will learn under the him but that dont mean he will advance in the future. Its a long process to be a coach & Richmonds plan is to have Richmond people in place. 

[Con65]

It is not just Wallace's position that must be reviewed.

One must also review the whole recruiting team/football department.  It is no good just changing the person who sits in the coaches chair if we dont have a better recruiting division.  Only in recent times has the club been able to afford more than just FJ.  This whole division needs expanding.  Realistically the coach (Wallace or whoever) doesnt go and watch every TAC cup game and every SANFL or WAFL game to see the talent out there...the coach is relying on the recruiters to do their job. 

More money needs to be spent in the recruiting division as well....

[WilliamPowell]

More money needs to be spent in the recruiting division as well....

I think you will find that's where the extra footy dept spend in 2009 is actually going Con65

They actually have more than one person recruiting. There's Francis Jackson and I think another 2 in Melb, plus scounts interstate now...

We didn't have that before

[Stripes]

More money needs to be spent in the recruiting division as well....

I think you will find that's where the extra footy dept spend in 2009 is actually going Con65

They actually have more than one person recruiting. There's Francis Jackson and I think another 2 in Melb, plus scounts interstate now...

We didn't have that before

Hard to believe we were that far behind. This basically says to me that only the most recent drafts have been made using educated and thoroughly researched decisions. No wonder in '04 out of the 5 we chose only 2 of them seem worth a pinch of salt.

But of course this is all TW fault now isn't it....

Stripes