The Tigers led the premiers by better than three goals when Shane Edwards kicked truly after 10 minutes of the second term, but then the Cat machine awoke -- kicking 10 of the next 11 goals before the Tigers kicked four of the final six to go down by a neat five goals.
Wallace said there were pleasing aspects to come out of the match.
"I would have thought 15 minutes into the second quarter we were fairly satisfied with the way the guys were going about their footy," he said.
"I would have thought, for the game, probably 70 minutes of good football, probably 45 minutes of stuff that we were disappointed with, and a lot of that goes to what the opposition allow you to do.
"To be 20 points in front of what's been the best side in the land for the last 18 months, I thought there were some really good signs there."
Another high point was the debut of Trent Cotchin, who was taken with the Tigers' first pick (no.2 overall) in the 2007 NAB AFL National Draft, but who missed the entire preseason as he battle a variety of injuries. Cotchin was an emergency, but was brought in to replace ruckman Adam Pattison due to the weather.
"He had 16 possessions, two goals – should have been three – but 16 possessions and two goals in a losing side, in pretty tough conditions ... is a pretty admirable first-up performance.
"He's been down on a bit of run and carry, just because he hasn't done a pre-season. But the things that he's done well at the lower level is his stoppage-work has been good, and his ball-use and decision-making is good. So with the wet conditions, that was always going to take the run-and-carry out of the game and bring him into his own forte.
"We decided this morning [to bring him in]. Just that continuous rain -– we played in a game three weeks ago where it was meant to rain and it didn't, so you just don't know in this day and age – so we just waited and when it just continually kept coming down we thought we'd make the move.
"I'm pleased."
