March 02, 2008
RICHMOND president Gary March has issued a challenge to the club's much-maligned playing group to prove the doomsayers wrong, declaring the time for excuses is over. With the Tigers coming off statistically their worst season in almost 50 years, and with a less than impressive NAB Cup opener against St Kilda, March acknowledged the pressure at Punt Rd this year was intense.
But he remained committed to the plan the club -- and coach Terry Wallace -- undertook in late 2004, and said the Tigers would not deviate.
"The pressure is on everyone right now . . . but the real pressure is on the players to show they are better than what some people think they are," March said yesterday.
"We've said all along we had to go through a rebuilding period and we've almost turned over the entire list.
"This is the fourth year of rebuilding. Terry has always said to us that he believes the fourth year is the breakout year for most young players.
"We have got a lot of boys at that stage, so you would hope that we would start to see some of the rewards."
March said the fact the club had invested considerably in its football department, and the injury list was not as extensive as last year, meant excuses would no longer be tolerated.
"In the past I felt maybe we had some excuses," he said.
"We were a little under-resourced and perhaps we didn't have enough money. But we can't use those excuses any more, and certainly the playing group couldn't use those excuses any more."
March dismissed suggestions he had "gagged" Wallace in the pre-season, saying everyone in the club wanted actions to speak louder than words in the 2008 lead-up.
"We need to let our performances do the talking," he said. "As a group, we have decided to keep our heads down, because we want a good start to the year. The players led the way on that, and we think it is the best policy for us."
March said Wallace had felt the need to be "a spruiker" early in his time at Richmond, when the club was struggling off the field as well as on it, but did not feel the need to do it now.
"Terry will fulfil his commitments, but he won't do as much as he has probably needed to do in the past," he said. "He will still do Tuesdays with Terry, but will do a little less media in the lead-up to games."
Well Gary, "excuses will no longer be tolerated".........................do your damn job, have some balls, and get rid of Wallace now!
RICHMOND president Gary March has issued a challenge to the club's much-maligned playing group to prove the doomsayers wrong, declaring the time for excuses is over. With the Tigers coming off statistically their worst season in almost 50 years, and with a less than impressive NAB Cup opener against St Kilda, March acknowledged the pressure at Punt Rd this year was intense.
But he remained committed to the plan the club -- and coach Terry Wallace -- undertook in late 2004, and said the Tigers would not deviate.
"The pressure is on everyone right now . . . but the real pressure is on the players to show they are better than what some people think they are," March said yesterday.
"We've said all along we had to go through a rebuilding period and we've almost turned over the entire list.
"This is the fourth year of rebuilding. Terry has always said to us that he believes the fourth year is the breakout year for most young players.
"We have got a lot of boys at that stage, so you would hope that we would start to see some of the rewards."
March said the fact the club had invested considerably in its football department, and the injury list was not as extensive as last year, meant excuses would no longer be tolerated.
"In the past I felt maybe we had some excuses," he said.
"We were a little under-resourced and perhaps we didn't have enough money. But we can't use those excuses any more, and certainly the playing group couldn't use those excuses any more."
March dismissed suggestions he had "gagged" Wallace in the pre-season, saying everyone in the club wanted actions to speak louder than words in the 2008 lead-up.
"We need to let our performances do the talking," he said. "As a group, we have decided to keep our heads down, because we want a good start to the year. The players led the way on that, and we think it is the best policy for us."
March said Wallace had felt the need to be "a spruiker" early in his time at Richmond, when the club was struggling off the field as well as on it, but did not feel the need to do it now.
"Terry will fulfil his commitments, but he won't do as much as he has probably needed to do in the past," he said. "He will still do Tuesdays with Terry, but will do a little less media in the lead-up to games."
Well Gary, "excuses will no longer be tolerated".........................do your damn job, have some balls, and get rid of Wallace now!
