Tigers' 2013 pre-season starts with clash against EssendonBruce Matthews From: Herald Sun August 23, 2012 11:44AM
RICHMOND plans to bring in players to test them in different roles against Essendon at the MCG tomorrow night.Coach Damien Hardwick said today the inclusions are designed to start preparations for the 2013 AFL season.
And he promised a tougher summer for the Tigers in a bid to push into the top eight.
"You look at a lot of our indicators, we've certainly improved in a lot of facets of our game. We've just got to keep getting better in certain areas and we'll address those in the off-season,'' Hardwick said before the Tigers trained at Trevor Barker Oval at Sandringham.
"We'll certainly train our guys a hell of a lot harder in the pre-season and improve certain facets that we know need improving.
"We obviously had a couple of key retirements with (Kelvin) Moore and (Brad) Miller. But the majority of our list is under 26. We haven't got many older ones - Chris Newman, Jake King and Shane Tuck, are important to us, so they're going to be there next year.
"So the majority of players that we've been blooding have been there for two or three years. There's no more real emphasis on us to play more youth.''
Hardwick urged the Tigers faith to be patient as he works to formulate a team that can carry the club into premiership contention.
"I'd rather be close (to the top eight) than nowhere near it. We know it's a stepping stone, we've improved every year. We know we've got a hell of a long way to go, but as long as we're improving every year, that's what we're after,'' he said.
"For us, it's a matter of hanging tough. We've certainly had a long period of time where they haven't achieved their goals as a supporter, but also us as a footy club.
"We've been really happy how we've approached our trade period and brought those players to our club. So we'll have a few select targets and go from there.''
Hardwick said the focus of a showcase Friday night game was more about Richmond than disrupting Essendon's finals hopes."It's more of a chance to see how the guys perform. We certainly know we need to improve against those marquee-type teams. It's something we'll be looking to do on Friday night,'' he said.
"They're a better side than the way they're playing. They got some important players back last week that will be certainly better for the run. So we're under no illusions that the game will be flat out and a very good test for us.
"We've certainly got an opportunity to show that we can play better than last week. I think the scoreboard flattered us last week, we were disappointed at the way we carried out our instructions and the way we played the game.
"It's a chance for our boys to bounce back and play a good brand of footy against a side that's still clinging to a top -eight spot.
"It's always a big motivating factor playing against another proud Victorian club.
But it's more about us, we've got to get our game back on track. We were disappointed with the intensity. Granted the conditions were warm, but we certainly should've played a hell of a lot better.'
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/tigers-2013-pre-season-starts-with-clash-against-essendon/story-e6frf9jf-1226456525396?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HeraldSunAfl+%28Herald+Sun+%7C+AFL%29Cue in the rack. Tiges to 'experiment'.
