Richmond coach Terry Wallace looks on during a Richmond training session at Punt Road Oval, Melbourne. Slattery Images
It’s a harsh spotlight that belongs to any high-profile sport. And it’s one that – once again – has been levelled at Richmond coach Terry Wallace this week.
Just over two weeks after leading his Tigers to their first win of the season, the blowtorch was again turned to Wallace by the media.
‘Richmond can’t go on like this’, the Herald Sun’s Mike Sheahan stated on Monday.
‘Tigers set to sack Wallace’, revealed The Age’s Caroline Wilson the following day.
But the most ignominious of them all had occurred earlier that morning.
Halfway through a review of the Tigers’ loss to Brisbane on Saturday, he was door-stopped outside the club by Channel 9 reporter Justin Rodski and asked if “he had lost the passion” for the job.
Wallace bit back angrily to the question, and later notified the AFL Coaches’ Association of his displeasure.
On Thursday, in an interview with 3AW’s Dwayne Russell, Gerard Healy and Sheahan, Wallace went in to face the storm head on.
Sheahan asked him if he thought the club’s best interests were by having Wallace stay on.
Unsurprisingly, Wallace said he did. Nor did he accept it was his last year as a coach when questioned by Healy. He also fended off questions over his draft selections and current squad.
The Tigers’ hierarchy are reportedly meeting next Tuesday to discuss Wallace’s future and that of the football department.
That the club is battling for four-quarter form goes without saying. But is the part the media seems to be playing in Wallace’s future at the club becoming obscene?
Some would argue that the interest of the public is there, and therefore the media must report. Others would counter that the media fuel the public’s interest.
It’s that old chicken-egg theory that can never be settled.
In the final question of the interview, Wallace was asked by Sheahan whether he thought he’d be coaching come Round 22.
“Yes, I do,” was his reply, adding that he would “do what’s right for Richmond” if he had lost the club or the playing group’s confidence.
Many would be surprised if Wallace did last the distance.
But if the Tigers are to dispose of their coach before season’s end, Wallace will at least depart with his dignity intact.
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