Richmond Coach Terry Wallace leaves the three quarter time huddle during the AFL Round 04 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Melbourne Demons at the MCG. Slattery Images
According to Craig Hutchison on last night’s Victorian Footy Show, the drama at Richmond Football Club this week owed as much to player power than anything.
Hutchison said a tirade by Richmond coach Terry Wallace – aimed in particular at forward Mitch Morton – had made such a poor impression on a number of the Tigers players that captain Chris Newman was compelled to approach his coach and ask for a resignation.
Wallace had allegedly told Morton that he had “cost him his job.”
Subsequent meetings between players, the club hierarchy and Wallace ended with the former Bulldog coach keeping his job at the Tigers.
But Hutchison’s revelation that a select part of the playing group – led by an eight-game captain – approached Wallace and requested he resign is simply amazing.
Is it a case of player power going too far? The move ultimately failed, unsurprisingly. Many a club board across all sports would readily take into account the feelings of its players, but few would allow the club’s future to be directly dictated by it in such a manner.
A look through history throws up a number of similar cases of players attempting to get their way, but with mixed results.
As recent as January this year, English cricket star Kevin Pietersen attempted to use his powers as captain to oust then-national team coach Peter Moores.
Pietersen got his wish, as Moores was sacked by the English Cricket Board. But Pietersen also suffered, despite perhaps believing his status as the side’s best player made him invulnerable.
He was wrong, and lost his job as captain the same day Moores lost his.
Not long after, and closer to home, Western Force’s coach John Mitchell was reportedly the victim of increased player power at the Super 14 club.
Allegedly, an overwhelming majority of players and staff signed a petition of complaint against Mitchell.
Mitchell is still there, perhaps lucky his lucrative contract had meant paying him out was simply not an option for the Force purse men.
So does player power work?
History shows us it occasionally does. But it also demonstrates that the bloodletting is not always limited to the intended target.
The hierarchy of the Richmond Football Club has not always proved to be the coolest under pressure and intense media scrutiny.
But it must be said that it handled the tumult earlier this week impeccably.
The players put on a united face following the meetings on Tuesday, though it remains to be seen if they are wholly appeased by the final result.
The failed mutiny – at this stage – has been bloodless. Only time will tell if it remains so.
Redb
Roar Guru
Some very ordinary body language on display on the weekend between the coach and players. I agree the whole Wallace saga must end immediately for the sake of the club and its fans. Tim Watson suggested Kevin Sheedy this morning on SEN in a caretaker coaching role at the very minimum. I'm not convinced this makes the search for Wallace's replacement any easier as the last thing a new coach would like is a well meaning but interfering presence like Sheeds lookingt voer his shoulder. I don't think Sheedy will take up the offer and is better suited to an ambassador type role for the club. Promote one of the assistants to the caretaker coach role (ala Paul Roos) see how they go for the rest of season and then assess. Redb
Wug
Guest
I think the board at Richmond should put the players, the supporters and the coach himself out of their misery and make a decision for the year once and for all. This constant scrutiny is doing nobody any good.
Chris Brunt
Guest
I am still amazed at how good Hutchy's hearing is to have heard all of these conversations and to be able to report all the facts firsthand... Seriously, does everyone believe 100% that this is exactly what happened? Because if it is true, then the relationship between Coach and (some) players is surely untenable? How much of this is a media beat up? And how much of this is the workings of a club that couldn't run a piss-up in a brewery?
BIGfootBALLS
Guest
Just this morning there were rumours circulating amongst the press about Wallace quitting.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
A coach telling a player he cost him his job - now I ain't heard that one before! Player power is like these endless management fads that come and grow - we can take it all with a pinch of salt. I'm sure Fergie allows a bit of player power on the field - but at the same time - there's only one boss!
maddog
Guest
This is an incredidble incident and will be interesting how it will pan out. How can Newman expect to stay on as captian after this? Surely his and Terry's relationship would be awkard at best now. Obviously Newman being an 8 game captain was simply naive to do what he did and no doubt he felt pressured from a few fellow players (Johnson especially) that he had to say something. Silly move! And where does Jake King get off with his involvement in this, he cant even scrape in for a senior game, yet he as the ordacity to tell Terry to move on, absolute joke.
benicio
Guest
As discussed on the Footy Show last night, it is absolutely amazing that a comment made in the 'inner sanctum' - the coaches room - after the game was ever able to get out to the media. Clearly all is not well at Richmond and there needs to be a clean out from top to bottom. You can't turnover a whole list in a year, however, maybe the Tigers can take Freo's lead and free up 14 spots on their list this year around draft time. Off the field, however, the CEO, Steven Wright must be the first one to go. If you haven't heard of him - don't be alarmed. He has been largely anonymous in all of this Richmonod drama since Round 1 this season...