WALLACE THROWS STONES AT OTTENS, CATS
B Jensen 21 March 2005

RICHMOND COACH Terry Wallace, who after breaking his contract with the Western Bulldogs to chase a higher paid position at the Sydney Swans paid his former club a six figure settlement, has cast the first stone in the clash with Geelong at the MCG this Easter Sunday.

Wallace claims Brad Ottens told him he wanted to stay with Richmond, before leaving for Geelong. Wallace seems to forget his club's recruited the likes of Nathan Brown, Troy Simmonds and . Of course it is true that Ottens left for a higher paycheque at Geelong, the first to do so for some time, he was certainly in need of a change of scenery, having stagnated at the Tigers.

Wallace not only potted Ottens, which is understandable as his club apparently desperately needs motivation to perform, as well as wanting a crowd, but he also had a dip at the Cats. "When we were down and out, sides were quite happy to pick over our carcass. When you have a look at (Brad) Ottens, the situation was there, our club was down and Geelong were very happy to jump in as quick as what they can and suggest to him that he would be better off playing in what might be a premiership side, rather than the wooden spooners".

One thing's for certain, football's back; both clubs keen to get their season off to a good start. Last season Richmond 'won' the wooden spoon, while the Cats finished fourth. Geelong also didn't win a game in the first three rounds, and want to wipe that start from the memory with an opening win against the Tigers.

With his new captain Steven King returning from injury, Ottens is expected to start off in the ruck, and regularly rotate with his skipper to the forward line, with King also expected to spend some time on the interchange bench. So far this season, Ottens and full forward Kent Kingsley haven't really gelled in the goalsquare. Hence the importance of Henry Playfair's expected inclusion in a revamped forward line, without departed champion Ben Graham.

LAST TIME

RICHMOND supporters could be forgiven for thinking they'd been transported back to the late eighties/early nineties; for they yet again had a Gary Ablett flaying their team. Best for Geelong were James Bartel, Steve Johnson, Cameron Ling and of course Matthew Scarlett.

GEELONG: 5.4 7.10 11.13 16.18 (114) DEFEATED
RICHMOND: 3.2 4.9 7.14 11.17 (83)

GOALS: GEELONG: S Johnson 4, Ablett 3, Chapman 3, Graham 2, King, Gardiner, Mooney, Ling
RICHMOND: Richardson 2, Brown 2, Fiora 2, Rodan 2, Bowden, Fleming, Krakouer

BEST: GEELONG: Bartel, Ling, Scarlett, S Johnson, Ablett, Koulouriotis
RICHMOND: Bowden, Brown, Zantuck, Hyde, Gaspar, Richardson