Terry Wallace’s next job

By ASHLEY BROWNE

A bit like The Apprentice, Terry Wallace got to audition for a new job on Monday with TV and radio stations as well as a few websites streaming his every word across the country and around the world. About the only person missing from the packed media conference was the Donald himself.

Wisely, Wallace confirmed that his coaching days were pretty much done. But football management, that’s another story.

Wallace expressed the hope that there may be a football administration role somewhere for him in clubland, following the footsteps of Chris Connolly, Peter Rohde, Donald McDonald, Greg Hutchison, Chris Bond and Neale Daniher, all of whom have stepped from the coaches box to the front office, as they say in the United States.

So what chance is there of Wallace becoming a football manager in the next six months?

Let’s look at each club.

Adelaide: John Reid retires at the end of the season, but this is a club that loves its native sons. Can’t see Neil Craig and Terry Wallace working together.

Brisbane Lions: Wallace isn’t averse to a bit of sunshine, but Gubby Allan seems to have the job for life.

Carlton: Stephen Icke is on a big contract and has done a sound job.

Collingwood: Geoff Walsh is one of the best in the business.

Essendon: Paul Hamilton has been there for about five minutes.

Fremantle: Chris Bond has the job, but might be a contender to replace Wallace at Richmond, where he once played. Unlikely.

Geelong: Richmond would love to have Neil Balme back, but in the unlikely event that happened, Wallace would be too high-profile for the low-key Cats.

Hawthorn: Wallace’s departure 23 years ago still rankles.

Melbourne: Chris Connolly can see the light at the end of the tunnel. His name is Jack Watts.

North Melbourne: Donald McDonald is comfortable in the job, but if Dean Laidley moves on as coach, who knows?

Port Adelaide: Another to watch if the coach, as seems likely, moves on at the end of the year.

Richmond: No

St Kilda: Very steady at Moorabbin. Matthew Drain is low-key and the Saints like it that way.

Sydney: Andrew Ireland is also one of the best. Not sure Wallace would want to go where he was allegedly jilted back in ‘02.

West Coast: Neale Daniher has barely unpacked his bags.

Western Bulldogs: ha-ha.

Gold Coast: A possibility. Scott Clayton was his recruiting manager at the Bulldogs, so may put in a word for his former colleague. What the Coasters need is a salesman and an innovator and Wallace ticks those boxes.

So we’re not ruling out a backroom role for Wallace in 2009, a return to the media surely beckons, where he is an excellent performer.

It could be: out Buckley and in Wallace.