Wallace Article from 2006 - a good read

[sfan]

Hats off to Sydney stranglers | Herald Sun

Tsunami is my pet name for a stoppage tactic in which at first a wave of players go surging out then it comes crashing back with devastating effect.

I thought a good analysis. It is interesting it today and see who he talks about.

[ernie koala]

That's all very interesting. But what's more interesting is how he still has a job. In 4 seasons, littered with high draft picks, he has taken the toothless ones from bad to worse. What is he "rebuilding" down at tigerland.?....the taj mahal..

[SimonH]

Wallace has taken on a club with a losing culture, little discipline and not enough pride in the jumper... and only barely improved them.

You can have all of the young stars like Deledio, Foley and Tambling you want, and for that matter all of the quality forwards like Richo and Brown, but if you don't have the team game that holds up under pressure, you've got nothing. The problem with 'young and full of potential' teams like Richmond and Carlton is they start off with a flurry of enthusiastic wins to get their supporters all excited about the future, but as the season wears on, they just get ground down-- they can't take the incessant pressure from hardened professional teams who are in it for the long haul.

To be fair, I haven't seen much of Richmond this year and apparently they've put in some performances in 2008 against quality opposition that showed much more spine and structure. But based on Sunday's performance, they're back to square one, and staring at the risk of a long run of losses in the back half of the year.

All of that said, probably the best article I've ever read on Sydney's style. It also explains why the theory 'Sydney's style is old, and other teams have worked it out now' hasn't really helped the 6 teams we've beaten this year. Good coaches know almost-exactly what Sydney will try to do against them. But understanding a game-plan, and defeating it, are two very different things.

[AnnieH]

To be fair to Wallace ... he DID pick that we'd be grand finalists AGAIN in 2006 in JUNE - he does have some nouse - pity it's not directed at his own team.

[reigning premier]

Wallace has taken on a club with a losing culture, little discipline and not enough pride in the jumper... and only barely improved them.

You can have all of the young stars like Deledio, Foley and Tambling you want, and for that matter all of the quality forwards like Richo and Brown, but if you don't have the team game that holds up under pressure, you've got nothing. The problem with 'young and full of potential' teams like Richmond and Carlton is they start off with a flurry of enthusiastic wins to get their supporters all excited about the future, but as the season wears on, they just get ground down-- they can't take the incessant pressure from hardened professional teams who are in it for the long haul.

To be fair, I haven't seen much of Richmond this year and apparently they've put in some performances in 2008 against quality opposition that showed much more spine and structure. But based on Sunday's performance, they're back to square one, and staring at the risk of a long run of losses in the back half of the year.

All of that said, probably the best article I've ever read on Sydney's style. It also explains why the theory 'Sydney's style is old, and other teams have worked it out now' hasn't really helped the 6 teams we've beaten this year. Good coaches know almost-exactly what Sydney will try to do against them. But understanding a game-plan, and defeating it, are two very different things.

Wonder if he's still thinking he made the right decision letting Rodan go?

[Claret]

I remember where I was when I read this article . . . was much more interesting than work.

[Bob Neil]

I remember where I was when I read this article . . . was much more interesting than work.

Thanks for your insight.