Plough's aftermatch media conference / We'll ignore finals' hype: Wallace

[one-eyed]

We'll ignore finals' hype: Wallace
richmondfc.com.au
By Ben Broad
Sun 17 August, 2008

RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace says he won't get caught up on the hype his side's upset 29-point win over Hawthorn is bound to generate, instead focusing on finishing the 2008 season on a bright note.

Wallace feels there has been a lot of "negativity" towards his club in recent weeks and believes a strong finish to the season – regardless of the outcome of is side's finals bid – will give fans hope heading into 2009.

The Tigers kept their finals chances alive with a stirring 16.9 (105) to 10.16 (76) win, the victory achieved without stars Nathan Brown and Nathan Foley, both of whom missed because of injury.

Wallace was uncertain if either would return to tackle Fremantle next week but he won't spend too much time worrying about that.

On Sunday afternoon, the Richmond coach wasn't talking finals but was buoyed by his team's most consistent game of the season.

"Last week [against Adelaide] we said we needed to win that one [to stay alive]," Wallace said after the match.

He said Richmond felt that Adelaide, with so many missing players, was a more beatable opponent than Hawthorn,  "and it ends up flipping around the other way.

"I don't like looking at scoreboards and I don't like sitting here … having to stay awake at night trying to work out permutations and combinations [for the finals].

Wallace said one of the most pleasing aspects of Sunday's effort was the four-quarter effort.

"I thought it was probably our best, four quarter, disciplined, do the right things, nothing fancy, just get the job done, game that we've had," he said.

A week earlier Wallace had described his team's effort as shocking against Adelaide, but he said structurally Sunday's effort was as good as his team had been all season.

"It shows what you can do in a week in footy."

The Tigers were helped by some superb individual efforts, with veterans Matthew Richardson and Joel Bowden (21 marks each) leading the way.

Both men made life difficult at times for Hawthorn star Lance Franklin who, as ever, was the main focus for the Hawks when going forward.

Wallace said the Hawks may have been a little too Franklin-conscious at times – and pointed out Jarryd Roughhead had been dangerous against his side the past two times the teams had played – but could understand Hawthorn's eagerness to look for the most potent forward in the game.

"Yeah, I thought they put a few eggs in that basket today," Wallace replied when asked if he thought the Hawks had been Buddy-centric.

"But when a bloke's been as good as he's been over the period of time [and] when the bloke's nine goals off a hundred … I don't think they do it on purpose.

"I think players do it as a natural thing; that they want to see this bloke that's looked after them so much, they want to look after him and give them something back.

"Particularly when he kicks two goals in the first couple of minutes of the game [and] bangs one from the boundary line … why wouldn't you be trying to get the ball to him as often as you possibly could?"

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/6301/Default.aspx?newsId=65701

[one-eyed]

Buddy focus hurts Hawks
The Age
August 17, 2008 - 7:06PM

Richmond coach Terry Wallace believes Hawthorn might be getting "Buddy-centric" as superstar Lance Franklin approaches the 100-goal mark, but Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson is unperturbed.

Franklin went into Sunday's MCG clash with the Tigers on 91 goals and he briefly seemed on track for the nine-goal haul needed to become the first player in a decade to reach the ton in a home and away season.

He kicked two stunning goals in the first term, the first a left-foot banana kick which he rolled through from the right flank, the second a set shot from the intersection of the 50m arc and the boundary on the left flank.

But his goal-shooting became increasingly wayward and he finished the day with 3.6, as well as a shot out on the full, with another falling short from 40m.

Franklin's inaccuracy, combined with the Hawks' persistence in going to him, played into the Tigers' hands, as Hawthorn finished with 10.16 to botch their chances of a comeback.

Wallace was surprised that Jarryd Roughead, who has hurt the Tigers badly on previous occasions, was not used closer to goal, and no Hawk apart from Franklin had more than three shots.

The Tigers coach suggested Franklin's teammates desire to see him crack the 100 might have had a subtle effect.

"They put a few eggs in that basket today," Wallace said.

"The bloke's nine goals off 100, when the opposition know that they're in a finals campaign, I don't think they do it on purpose, I think players do it as a natural thing that they want to see this bloke who's looked after them so much, they want to look after him and give him something back."

But Clarkson doubted the speculation over whether Franklin would reach the milestone, or the focus on his erratic kicking, was having an effect.

"It's not a focus for us and I don't think it's too much of a focus for him either at the present time," Clarkson said.

"We just want to generate enough footy into our forward line to give ourselves a chance to kick a big enough score.

"If he's on the end of them, great, if he's not it doesn't concern us too much."

http://news.smh.com.au/sport/buddy-focus-hurts-hawks-20080817-3x0h.html