Support For Wallace From Ex Players

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• FOUR former players have thrown their support behind Terry Wallace as he enters the final year of his contract as Richmond coach.

Former Western Bulldogs players Luke Darcy, Paul Dimattina and Steve Kretiuk and former Richmond defender Mark Graham said they could not understand why their former coach's future was the subject of such speculation.

"In terms of being an innovator, he was probably better than just about anyone," Darcy said. "His record is just fantastic."

Dimattina agreed: "I've always believed he is a bit of a genius. We were very close to winning Grand Finals in 1997 and '98 and they were probably the most enjoyable years I played in the game. Unfortunately we didn't get over the line, but they were the best years.
"But they would be mad not to (keep him for '09)."

Graham, who spent a decade at Hawthorn before playing a season under Wallace at Richmond in 2005, described him as "sensational", and pointed to the Tigers' inspirational victory over Hawthorn three weeks ago as evidence.

"Tactically, he is certainly switched on, as he showed against Hawthorn," Graham said.

Wallace's power has been diminished at Richmond in recent weeks, with president Garry March recently assessing the club's 2008 season as a five out of 10.

Kretiuk described Wallace's positive energy as his strong suit.
"He can instil belief in a person like few others," Kretiuk said. "I wasn't blessed with talent or speed, but one thing he did was he trusted me to play on the best forwards.

"He would never degrade you in any way and it was about getting you up each week."

Dimattina agreed: "He is a master tactician and he is great at getting the most out of the playing group and the best out of a negative situation. If you were down on form, he would just make you believe.

"He was a bit of a preacher in a way and you believed whatever he said."
Graham, who played 21 of a possible 22 games in his final season as an AFL player with the Tigers, said: "I know first hand the players at Richmond really respect him."

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Hope March and the board have read that as you would think players who Wallace has coached would be in the best position to give advice on what type of coach he is.​

 

[NQTIGER]

Hope March and the board have read that as you would think players who Wallace has coached would be in the best position to give advice on what type of coach he is. [/left]

You would hope there are some tigers in that

 

[Madtiger2006]

He's one of the best coaches in the afl, but he hasn't had alot to work with during 2006, 06 and 07. But now he has and we will become a force and Wallace will take us places. If March sacked him, I don't think he'll want to stay with the club much longer

 

[Ah Cheung]

All very welll and good that players who have played under Wallace are backing him.
They're not the ones playing now, its the players who are currently on the list that I would be worried about and whether they are playing for this coach and believe in him.

 

[Bojangles17]

TW is a very proud man and If I'm right is determined to prove a few of his detractors wrong and for the most part Im talking of those outside of Punt rd in the media et al. He wont walk away, he'll do all he possibly can to make 2009 a winner , we saw this year that he can most definately coach...with the cattle at his disposal, No excuses next year, I reckon he'll go alright

 

[Wallaby]

Gee, 3 ex-doggies and a Hawk who was given a 'charity' farewell season - there's a ringing endorsement.

"We were very close to winning Grand Finals in 1997 and '98" - you didn't even make the Grand Final - choked one prelim away, and didn't even turn up for the other.

Kretiuk said. "I wasn't blessed with talent or speed, but one thing he did was he trusted me to play on the best forwards. - And you got smashed because you weren't big, fast or talented enough.

Graham, who played 21 of a possible 22 games in his final season as an AFL player with the Tigers, said: "I know first hand the players at Richmond really respect him." Particularly those who get picked up from the scrapheap when no-one else will look at them.

"In terms of being an innovator, he was probably better than just about anyone," Darcy said. "His record is just fantastic." True - unfortunately, they don't give you the premiership for 'innovation' - you have to win a few games for that.

I'm not a Wallace-basher - but this is one of the most embarassing 'complimentary' articles I've seen.

 

[NQTIGER]

Gee, 3 ex-doggies and a Hawk who was given a 'charity' farewell season - there's a ringing endorsement.

"We were very close to winning Grand Finals in 1997 and '98" - you didn't even make the Grand Final - choked one prelim away, and didn't even turn up for the other.

Kretiuk said. "I wasn't blessed with talent or speed, but one thing he did was he trusted me to play on the best forwards. - And you got smashed because you weren't big, fast or talented enough.

Graham, who played 21 of a possible 22 games in his final season as an AFL player with the Tigers, said: "I know first hand the players at Richmond really respect him." Particularly those who get picked up from the scrapheap when no-one else will look at them.

"In terms of being an innovator, he was probably better than just about anyone," Darcy said. "His record is just fantastic." True - unfortunately, they don't give you the premiership for 'innovation' - you have to win a few games for that.

I'm not a Wallace-basher - but this is one of the most embarassing 'complimentary' articles I've seen.

Tottaly agree

 

[UpTheGuts]

Good that March and TW have apparenrly agreed just not to talk about it.

March said BEFORE the Hqwks game that he couldn't have been more transparent with respect to his support of Wallace into next year. TW agrees that in June-ish we will sit down and discuss. Fine by me. I dare say the Pies will do the same thing with Malthouse.

I just hope TW is kept on a leash during trade season. Mundy and Warnock tilts are fine, just no need to get silly about it.

Nothing to see here... move along

 

[Top_4_Tiger]

If Terry Wallace really does make players "believe", then I would say our rookie success should be partly credited to Terry for getting the most out of them.

Nathan Foley, Will Thursfield and Kelvin Moore were all very average players before Wallace helped get the best out of them. How much cred he takes, I don't know, but surely he was a factor.

You can only go so far getting the most out of players, for that reason we need to make sure our list is actually talented enough and doesn't rely on Terry motivating average players to win us games.

 

[Captain_Brown_7]

"Graham, who played 21 of a possible 22 games in his final season as an AFL player with the Tigers, said: "I know first hand the players at Richmond really respect him."

That there says it all. TW must stay on in 2009.

How anybody can even contemplate bringing in another coach is beyond me. TW has built this team from scratch and has got the respect of his players. For a new coach to come in and turn the place on its head would set us back another 28 years. Players morale would fall and i can almost guarantee that a few of our up and coming stars would ask to be drafted.

Look at Geelong...Bomber was on the chopping block a few seasons ago. Does anyone out there for 1 second think they'd be where they are now if he wasn't coaching?!?!

 

[richoatthedisco]

Nathan Foley, Will Thursfield and Kelvin Moore were all very average players before Wallace helped get the best out of them. How much cred he takes, I don't know, but surely he was a factor.

The other two Wallace can perhaps take some credit for but Thursfield was a player from day one, when he beat Micky O on debut. Other than that, I agree with Up The Guts and Wallaby.