Despite winning just one game from six games, Wallace said there was still time for Richmond to make a finals push.
“We’re still looking to play finals footy, and the competition is very, very even. We’ve just got to get to a stage when we get all our blokes available,” Wallace said after the loss to the Swans.
Wallace pointed to the impending return of Ben Cousins, Trent Cotchin and Nathan Brown as those who can inject some quality into his young side.
“I thought when the contest was there today just at times we just didn’t have enough polish and poise to just put the finishing touches.
“If we can get a few of those (players) back and if you can get on a roll and win, say, five games in a row, you make up ground quickly. That’s still our aim and ambition.”
The Tigers coach added that the game was won in the first quarter with the Swans’ trademark intensity and hardness at the ball.
“It was bitterly disappointing,” he said.
“But from that point onwards, our guys worked manfully around the stoppages and we really got ourselves back into the game.”
Wallace conceded his side lacked experience pointing to over 14 opposition players who had at least 100 games under their belt.
“And we had five (in our 22) so we’re still young. People want you to be where the Swans are now but we showed we’re not far off them, but we’ve still got some young boys who are still learning the game.
“The old bulls (the Swans) were still able to butt its head strong enough to get the result.”
Wallace described Swan Marty Mattner’s desperate tackle in the final quarter on Jack Riewoldt as a game-changer.
“It was inspirational from their point of view ... The ball transfers in the next couple of actions and goes to the other end, and from being level and all the momentum going our way suddenly we’re two goals behind again.
“It was probably enough to inspire their team to get over the line.”
Wallace said key forward Matthew Richardson suffered a hamstring tendon injury in the first few minutes of the contest.
The player went off the SCG briefly during the second quarter for attention to the injury and battled on for the rest of the game.
