Hardwick's post-match media conference/ Tigers' season starts now, says Dimma

[one-eyed]

Dimma's post-match presser:

VIDEO: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2019-06-30/round-15-hardwick-postmatch

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Richmond's season starts now, says Hardwick

AFL.com.au
Callum Twomey
July 1, 2019

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers' season starts now after jumping back into the top-eight with a win over St Kilda.

The Tigers' hard-fought 33-point win at Marvel Stadium catapulted them right back into finals contention and came as they welcomed back a host of stars from injury layoffs.

Hardwick admitted post-game that making seven changes to the line-up that lost to Adelaide in round 13, plus their 17-day break between games due to the bye, made for a scratchy start for his side against the Saints.

But with eight rounds remaining and his side finally starting to get over its injury worries, Hardwick said the Tigers are priming themselves for a big finish to the year.

"I was really proud of the way we hung tough under difficult circumstances. Us and a lot of other sides had gone through a similar [injury] run, but our season really does start now," he said.

"The competition's incredibly even. But we've got to make sure we build into the second part of the year.

"We got some players back this week, Jack [Riewoldt] is not too far away, [Toby] Nankervis is not too far away, which is exciting for us, and hopefully then we can start to gain some momentum.

"Have we been playing our best footy? No. But we know our best footy is probably in front of us."

Riewoldt has not played since round six but is back training at full speed and pushing for a recall next week against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.

"He's a slight chance. He's got me convinced, he's just got to convince the doctor, I think. He's training really, really well, which probably doesn't help my cause because you see him train and you think 'Gee, he looks a good player', which he is," Hardwick said.

"But our docs are very good at making these decisions for me, so I'll leave it completely up to them. So, Richmond fans, it won't be my decision it'll be the doctor's, so feel free to email him."

Hardwick praised young pair Sydney Stack (four goals) and Mabior Chol (three goals) for their contribution against the Saints in a make-shift Tigers forward line.

"That's the exuberance of youth the excitement they bring. Sydney's obviously been a really good player for us this year and Mabior we've hung on to because we see what he can do," Hardwick said.

"Today's certainly the best game he's played, and you can see why he's hung around our footy club. He's certainly got some talent, he's just got to learn to get the consistency of AFL. I think he can be a player for us."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-06-30/richmonds-season-starts-now-says-hardwick

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Tigers' season starts now, says Hardwick

Warwick Green
The Age
July 1, 2019

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick believes the Tigers are well placed to find cohesion and form heading into the business end of the season after their 33-point win over St Kilda lifted them into the top eight.

Richmond brought back several key players in making seven selection changes for the Saints match, and hopes to regain talismanic forward Jack Riewoldt (knee) and ruckman Toby Nankervis (adductor) in the coming weeks.

Hardwick said he was proud of the way the team had "hung tough in difficult circumstances'' as the Tigers battled injuries in the first half of the season, "but our season really does start now".

"We've got to make sure we build into the second half of the year,'' he said.

''We've got to play a lot better, there's no doubt about that. We're scratching the surface with what we can do, but we certainly know our best is good enough.

''Have we been playing our best footy? No, but we know our best footy's probably in front of us.''

Hardwick said Riewoldt was a  chance to return next Saturday against Gold Coast - "he needs to convince the doc'' - and that Nankervis was "not too far away''.

Skipper Trent Cotchin, key defender David Astbury and potential game-breaker Shane Edwards were among the seven inclusions against the Saints.

"To have seven changes at any time of the year is obviously not ideal but we thought we had to take the punt in a way to get those guys back into the team,'' Hardwick said.

"We didn't look as fluid as we would have liked with our offence and defence at various stages, but I thought towards the back end of the game we started to gel together a little bit more.  It will certainly be a work in progress.''

He said the 17-day break since the round-13 loss to the Crows had also contributed to the Tigers looking a bit rusty at stages. "That's a long time to get yourself back up and going. It was challenging.''

Hardwick was delighted with the contributions of rookie-listed players Sydney Stack and Mabior Chol, who contributed a combined seven of Richmond's 16 goals and made vital contributions when St Kilda threatened to pull away in the first half.

''That's the exuberance of youth, the excitement that they bring,'' Hardwick said.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-season-starts-now-says-hardwick-20190630-p522qy.html