RICHMOND coach Terry Wallacesays this weekend’s emotionally charged game with Essendon, which could beKevin Sheedy and James Hird’s last hurrah with the Bombers in Melbourne,will provide invaluable experience for Richmond’syounger players.

“There’s no other way to learn what big time pressure’sabout other than to go out there and be a part of it,” Wallace says.

“Keeping your cool, keeping your eye on the footy when it’sbuzzing around and the adrenalin’s rushing … we talk about it, but experiencingit is what’s important.

“It’s a great opportunity to be involved in that sort ofgame. We knew a long time ago that we weren’t going to be involved in finalsbut this game will have a finals type atmosphere about it and I think for a lotof our younger players, it’ll be a good experience for them.”

Wallace says regardless of the hype that surrounds theencounter, his charges have to concentrate on the task at hand.

“It’s going to be a very memorable occasion for them withregards to Sheeds and Hirdy. It’s maybe their last game at the ‘G, it may notbe there last game at the ‘G, who knows … we’ve got to worry about ourselves.

“We’ll honour them at the end of the game and be a part ofanything that’s happening, but we’ve got a game of footy to play and a coupleof hours to entertain our own footy supporters.”

The Tigers’ coach used the analogy of basketball minnows theWashington Generals when referring to the public’s perception of his team andtheir chances of claiming a victory.

“The Washington Generals used to play against the HarlemGlobetrotters and were just there as part of the show.

“They weren’t allowed to win, weren’t expected to win, butwe don’t see ourselves as the Washington Generals, we see ourselves as goinginto the game to have a real crack.”

In fact Wallace is confident that it will be a close battle.

“Our games over the past couple of years have beenmagnificent games. They’ve been neck and neck… so we’re playing to win -we’renot the Washington Generals.”