Dimma's post-match media conference / We got out of jail: Hardwick

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Dimma's post-match presser:

VIDEO: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2016-03-24/round-1-hardwick-postmatch

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'We played pretty poorly': Hardwick on Tigers' great escape

AFL.com.au
March 25, 2016

RICHMOND "got out of jail" against Carlton on Thursday night and has a lot of work to do to improve this season, according to coach Damien Hardwick.

The Tigers fell behind three times in a gripping season opener at the MCG and looked destined for a horror loss before the wasteful Blues left the door ajar in the last quarter with costly missed shots on goal.   

Hardwick said his players hadn't handled the Blues' onslaught of pressure and were fortunate not to be starting the season with a loss against the 2015 wooden spooners.

"I think we got out of jail really," the coach said. 

"We were probably lucky we were good enough at the end to win the game. We played pretty poorly, it'd be fair to say.

"All credit to Carlton. They came in with a plan and they did a pretty good job. They're probably just not at the level where they could finish us off.

"It's good to tick off the four points, but we've certainly got a lot of work to do."

Hardwick singled out midfielder Kane Lambert for "nearly singlehandedly" getting the Tigers over the line with 12 possessions, three important clearances and two inside 50s in the final term.

He paid tribute to the Blues, who were on the right path under their new coach.

"They got back to that freewheeling footy of a couple of years ago," Hardwick said. 

"'Bolts' is a really good coach and he'll get them playing some really good footy pretty quickly, I reckon.

"I think the media people have jumped off them too quickly. They're going to win a lot of games going forward."

Prized draftee Daniel Rioli made a low-key debut with seven disposals and 0.2, but the small forward showed enough to encourage Hardwick, including a chase-down tackle early in the second quarter.

"I certainly thought it was an OK game and he'll build on it," the coach said.

"Every game he's played he's got better and better; we'd just like him to hit the scoreboard a little bit more.

"There's no doubt he's incredibly quick. He's keen to learn also."

The Tigers face Collingwood at the MCG next Friday night and still expect to be without vice-captain Brett Deledio, who is "doubtful at this stage" as he battles a quadriceps problem.

Hardwick was hopeful midfielder Shaun Grigg would return from a thumb injury, while Ben Lennon pushed his case with four goals in a VFL practice match on Thursday. 

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-25/we-played-pretty-poorly-hardwick-on-tigers-great-escape

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We were lucky: Hardwick

Herald-Sun
March 25, 2016

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick admits his side got out of jail, fending off a dogged Carlton.

Hardwick said the Tigers butchered the ball in the forward half and were saved in the last term by Kane Lambert.

The Tigers trailed by 10 points early in the last term but were “lucky” to pinch a nine-point win on the back of two Sam Lloyd snaps, Hardwick said.

“We were probably lucky that we were good enough at the end to win the game, we played pretty poorly fair to say,” Hardwick said.

“All credit to Carlton, they came with a plan and did a pretty good job of it, just probably not quite at the level to finish us off, really.

“But I’ve never seen our side give up so many centre forward turnovers, we were just giving the ball back to the opposition.

“It was probably testament to their pressure, which was very good, but we were probably lucky we had a couple of stand out performances late in the game.

“Kane Lambert’s last quarter was outstanding, he nearly single handily got us over the line.”

Hardwick said his side must improve to topple Collingwood next Friday night, with two extra days break than the Pies before the MCG blockbuster.

He said Brett Deledio remained in doubt to return from a quad injury, while Shaun Grigg (thumb) and Ivan Maric (back) are also in a race against time to be fit.

“(Deledio’s) Running fine, he’s just got to pass (the) kicking (test)” Hardwick said.

“He has had a quad issue, but that (kicking) is the big test for him. It’s pretty important to kick the ball at some stage, so he’s probably doubtful at this stage, but we will see.”

Hardwick said he liked the stricter out of bounds interpretation that went against Carlton big man Matthew Kreuzer at a crucial period in the third term.

Carlton could have gone 15 points up when wayward spearhead Levi Casboult butchered a 25m set shot straight in front early in the last term.

It was his second costly miss for the game after spraying a tight-angled checkside punt out on the full as the Blues ran hot in the third term.
Sam Lloyd takes a strong mark ahead of Sam Docherty.

Hardwick was full of praise for the new-look Blues under first-year coach Brendon Bolton.

“They sort of got back to that free-wheeling footy that they used to do under Ratts (Brett Ratten),” he said.

“We always knew it was going to be an arm wrestle and I think people have jumped off them too quickly. I think they’re going to win games.

“The way they play is probably the style we know.”

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/damien-hardwick-says-richmond-pretty-lucky-to-beat-carlton-in-afl-season-opener/news-story/1847ea5919d9453d00135f2aa9db21ba