March and Wallace rift ....... no more [merged]

[one-eyed]

Tiger rifts widen despite easy win
Jon Ralph | September 01, 2008

RICHMOND yesterday had the gloss stripped from its 80-point win over Melbourne by the fallout from continuing tensions between coach Terry Wallace and president Gary March.

The Tigers capped an impressive season by notching their eighth victory of the past 11 games, their record in that period eclipsed only by Geelong.

Wallace said yesterday the finish to the year showed the club was "locked and loaded" to challenge next year, despite finishing ninth again this season.

But March rated the club's season only a five out of 10 on Triple M pre-match, as he revealed the club had set a deadline of June next year to assess Wallace's future.

Wallace, who was shocked mid-year when football director Greg Miller was sacked by the Richmond board, described March's rating as "harsh".

Wallace was clearly upset with March's appraisal - he felt the season was worth was at least 6 1/2 - and the coach was also bemused by the lack of consultation over the appointment of a new director of football.

It came as he also implored the Richmond board to approve a bid for a big fish in trade week to help set up a tilt at the top eight.

In turn, March said all list-management decisions would be made by recruiting manager Craig Cameron, the implication being Wallace should not have much power in that process.

It was a messy end to a season full of progress for Richmond, so clinical and effective yesterday against Melbourne.

Only last year the club was in a similar position, but turned a 3 1/2-win, wooden-spoon year into 11 1/2 victories in Wallace's best season with the club.

Wallace remains bullish about Richmond's progress, especially as the improvement has come from the club's younger players.

"We will take ninth. Ninth is where we are at," he said.

"We believe that this time around it's a strong ninth. At times we have had a reasonable start and fallen away, and with a more senior side than this year. There are some pleasing signs."

March was not so confident: "(It was) probably a five out of 10, if we are being really honest with ourselves and where we are at. We beat everyone we should beat, but we didn't beat any of the sides above us, really, apart from Hawthorn, which was our best win of the year.

"We are pleased we have improved, but we still have a long way to go."

March said Wallace was comfortable with a June deadline to begin talks on whether the coach would be re-hired or fired.

"We will sit down in June next year, we will make a decision in July and we will make that in conjunction with Terry Wallace. We won't announce it before that," March said.

Wallace has said he will not trade for players simply because it could be his last year, but will consider it if a player is available in the right age bracket.

"Decisions have to be made there and they are not all my decisions," he said.

"I am just hopeful the club gives us an opportunity.

"We are now locked and loaded and ready to be able to really put in some form of challenge going into next year.

"Do we go into the marketplace? You would like it to be a footy decision, but that's not always the case."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24272461-19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Bizarre to keep Terry Wallace in dark
Mike Sheahan | September 01, 2008

ONLY at Richmond. What a bizarre turn of events before yesterday's Richmond-Melbourne game at the MCG.

During a pre-match interview on Triple M, Richmond president Gary March happily rated his team's 2008 return a five out of 10.

Effectively, he was rating coach Terry Wallace. Effectively, he was publicly declaring Wallace's future an issue.

Even with one season to run on his five-year contract.

When Wallace did the radio rounds before the game, he revealed he had been left out of all considerations for the appointment of the next head of football at Punt Rd.

You could tell he wasn't happy, even if he did choose to hold his tongue.

It is an absolute lack of faith in the coach to remove him from discussions about the man with whom he will work so closely next year.

Where's the president's credibility when he says: "It is really important the list management decisions stay with Craig (Cameron) and that group"?

What nonsense is that?

What happens if Cameron and others decide they want to use, say, Cleve Hughes as trade bait and Wallace and his assistants see Hughes as a 10-year player?

What if Cameron and Co decide to move on a player seen by the coaching staff as pivotal to team morale?

Can't work. Wouldn't even be contemplated at the more stable clubs.

The amazing thing is Richmond has produced its best season since 2001. Yes, another ninth, but 11 wins and a draw this time. Eight wins from the last 11 games, including Hawthorn's scalp.

We won't be tipping Richmond to win the flag next year, but we will be looking forward to watching Deledio, Foley, Cotchin, Moore, Morton and Riewoldt take the club to the next level.

It's amazing to think March has sparked this debate.

Even to the point of speculating about a possible change of coach come July.

Only at Richmond.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/1,9191,24272460-19742,00.html

[Francois Jackson]

Im beginning to like March more and more.

He is 100% correct. the season was no better than a 5/10. 9th spot is not finals and He is doing the right thing by keeping TW on his toes.

His time will come June next year. Perform or goodbye.

[Smokey]

Where's the president's credibility when he says: "It is really important the list management decisions stay with Craig (Cameron) and that group"?

What nonsense is that?

What happens if Cameron and others decide they want to use, say, Cleve Hughes as trade bait and Wallace and his assistants see Hughes as a 10-year player?

What if Cameron and Co decide to move on a player seen by the coaching staff as pivotal to team morale?

Can't work. Wouldn't even be contemplated at the more stable clubs.
............
It's amazing to think March has sparked this debate.

Even to the point of speculating about a possible change of coach come July.

And I'm beginning to like March less and less.  His recent performance and handling in the media of some club issues has been very amateurish and ill-conceived, he has me genuinely fearful that he does not have the skillset to lead our club effectively.  Sheahan has got it absolutely right in these comments above and if March doesn't pull the whole team together very soon, then we will undo a large amount of good work and hard work that has already been done.  He needs to take a good dose of his own medicine and butt out of the day to day operations of the football department - letting the actions and results speak for themselves - and then, and ONLY then, reacting as appropriate.

[Fishfinger]

It's amazing to think March has sparked this debate.

What debate is that, Mike Sheahan? The one you and your media mates are sparking by putting your own spin on what was said?

I heard both TripleM interviews and I'm scratching my head as to how there was anything sinister in them.

The only part that raised an eyebrow from me was Wallace mentioning that he hasn't had any consultation about the new General Manager of football.
That can be fixed - no appointment has been made yet.

[wayne]

If 10/10 is a premiership, then 5/10 is a fair rating for the season.

We are a middle table team, if we had made finals it would have been 6 or 7 out of 10.

Don't forget that our first 11 games were shocking and we only had 3 wins and a draw.

[Francois Jackson]

If 10/10 is a premiership, then 5/10 is a fair rating for the season.

We are a middle table team, if we had made finals it would have been 6 or 7 out of 10.

Don't forget that our first 11 games were shocking and we only had 3 wins and a draw.

exactly!!!

[Tigermonk]

Let the club sort thier issues out behind closed doors, The season is over
Some of us have known there are ill feeling within the club & now its time for them officials & players to sort out the rot before next year

[Stripes]

Do you ever hear any of this sort of internal boardroom/administration rubbish coming out of another club?

March probably feels that TW had too much say in recruitments in the past with his close professional friendship with Miller and now wants take all recruiting decisions away from him especially given that this is his last year. I can see the logic in this but practically this just can not work.

The coaches need input into the players they will be coaching. They should have a say in who stays and who goes, what type of players they are in need of and what type they have an abundance of. As Sheahan rightly points out the coaches have a much better understanding of the dynamics of the group and the potential of players. Outsiders can not possibly have the same understanding of a playing group as those who work, analyse and develop each player on a daily basis.

I think March should pull his finger out and stop trying to play hardball. He needs to support what he has why it's there and if TW fails to meet expectations next year then cut him loose. Until then though he needs to have a say and March needs to have faith in him.

I'm just tired of our dirty laundry always being aired in public!

Stripes

[Ox]

Some of us have known there are ill feeling within the club

LMAO @ Some of us u wanker.

LMAOO@ More at your low level of education.

Ur sooo special Tigermonkey,as well as being so privileged to know so many things about our club,things that we dont

I'm still waiting to hear about how great a footballer and coach you "were"

March is acting like a classless moron,regardless of wether he is right or wrong.(no wonder u and ur girl Danielle like him)

There are professional ways to handle things and this isn't one of them.

It only refuels the imploding,sneako reputation ew have tried so hard to eliminate.

Ashame so many stuffwits follow the club - luckily they have no say whatsoever other than an internet forum

[Infamy]

If 10/10 is a premiership, then 5/10 is a fair rating for the season.

We are a middle table team, if we had made finals it would have been 6 or 7 out of 10.

Don't forget that our first 11 games were shocking and we only had 3 wins and a draw.

Perhaps you should look at other factors when giving your rating, such as the fact that half (11) of our 22 had played less that 2 full years of AFL (50 games) and this is the side that won 8 of 11 matches in the 2nd half of the year.

It's not the same old duds that we had 5 years ago, this is our kids stepping up and getting us to within one more game of the Top 8 and 1 1/2 games from the Top 4.

[Tigermonk]

Some of us have known there are ill feeling within the club

LMAO @ Some of us u wanker.

LMAOO@ More at your low level of education.

Ur sooo special Tigermonkey,as well as being so privileged to know so many things about our club,things that we dont

I'm still waiting to hear about how great a footballer and coach you "were"

March is acting like a classless moron,regardless of wether he is right or wrong.(no wonder u and ur girl Danielle like him)

There are professional ways to handle things and this isn't one of them.

It only refuels the imploding,sneako reputation ew have tried so hard to eliminate.

Ashame so many effwits follow the club - luckily they have no say whatsoever other than an internet forum

get a life stuffwit
stop bashing posters cause Bowden proved you wrong 

[the_boy_jake]

Whether March is right or wrong in his assessment is not really the point. This is another question mark over his PR abilities.

The coaching job will most likely be up for grabs end of 2009. What are the best applicants looking for:

* A young, competitive list - check
* A good football operations team - in progress
* Good training facilities - in progress
* A supportive, media savvy president - ????

[Stripes]

Whether March is right or wrong in his assessment is not really the point. This is another question mark over his PR abilities.

The coaching job will most likely be up for grabs end of 2009. What are the best applicants looking for:

* A young, competitive list - check
* A good football operations team - in progress
* Good training facilities - in progress
* A supportive, media savvy president - ????

Spot on jake!

Every coach needs support from the board and a say in matters that affect the playing list. At the moment March is letting the 'Footy World' know at Richmond you get neither.

Stripes

[Ramps]

Wallace may walk I reckon. And that may happen because if he leaves now he will always say that he left the club with a young list that had just won 11 1/2 games and a list that was on the up and that he was forced out, its a good way for him to keep his reputation in tact, i reckon theres a real chance he'll go now.