Hard man has hunger to get Richmond firing MATTHEW LLOYD
July 18, 2010 IF YOU were told before the season started that at round 15 your side would be sitting on five wins and 10 losses you would, almost certainly, be bitterly disappointed. Before the first bounce on Friday night, there were four clubs in that predicament: the Brisbane Lions, Essendon, Port Adelaide and Richmond.
The first three sides are under extreme pressure, with Mark Williams already stepping down as senior coach and Matthew Knights and Michael Voss enduring increasing criticism of their respective team's performance.
This is in stark contrast to Damien Hardwick and his Tigers, who have become almost everybody's second favourite team. The verve and passion that they have played with over the past six weeks has enabled them to win five matches, including the past four in a row. Richmond's turnaround in form has been quite remarkable, considering that after nine straight losses, this list was considered possibly as bad a playing group that has ever graced the AFL.
I was fortunate enough to be a premiership teammate of Damien's, spending seven years at Essendon with him. One thing is for sure: I never thought ''Dimma'', as he is affectionately known, would become an AFL senior coach. As a player, Dimma was one of the best wingers going around, and a couple of his biggest bugbears were thinking that stretching was overrated and believing that a good warm-up consisted of putting the seat warmers on in his car as he drove to the game. Like most players, he hated meetings.
When I first got to the club, Damien wasn't an automatic selection; he was working at the Commonwealth Bank and footy wasn't the be-all and end-all in life. Sheeds gave him an ultimatum after one poor performance: he was running out of chances and his career was on the line. From that point on, the beast had awoken.
Dimma became the cornerstone of a ruthless, uncompromising back line that terrorised rival teams. He also gave such great drive off half-back, at the same time tormenting his small forward opponent. I thought Damien was the most influential player on the ground in the 2004 grand final, when Port Adelaide won its first premiership. He then went on to play an integral role as an assistant coach to Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn in 2008 when the Hawks shocked the Cats in the big one.
Three clubs, three premierships, sensational credentials. Having said that, there is no tougher job in football than coaching the Tigers - as history would suggest. It's only early days, but what I love about Damien is that even with the huge responsibility he now carries, he hasn't changed. His demeanour is very consistent and even after nine straight losses, he never lost sight of what his vision was for the players. I've got no doubt he has questioned himself a number of times but he also has had the courage to make adjustments to the aspects of his game style that weren't working.
The Tigers weren't good enough to be zoning all over the ground like they were, and are now playing a one-on-one style of game that gives players the responsibility to beat an opponent. When they win possession of the ball, the Tigers have a forward structure in place that is exciting to watch, and very predictable for a young midfield bringing the ball forward. Damien has also encouraged Jack Riewoldt to play with confidence and flair, which has Jack on target for the Coleman Medal. The Tasmanian's meteoric rise has been one of the stories of the year.
One of the biggest criticisms of the Tigers for a long period of time has been their foot skills. In the past month, Richmond has improved dramatically, and I put this down to more than just repetition at training; it comes from the confidence the players have in the roles they are being asked to carry out, and the systems Damien has put in place for them.
The skipper Chris Newman has been the architect across half-back - he and Brett Deledio rarely waste a possession. Dustin Martin has been a revelation and he very much stands for the qualities that Richmond and Damien are looking for: greater efficiency by foot and a ruthless attack on the football.
Trent Cotchin and Martin will lead a prolific midfield at Richmond for the next decade, and along with Riewoldt at full-forward, they are players you can build a dynasty around.
I listened to Mark Harvey speak at the 10-year anniversary of the Essendon 2000 premiership last Sunday night, and one key point he made was this - you can have all the structures and team rules you like, but have if you don't have a fierce desire or a hunger for a brutal contest, structures mean absolutely nothing.
While Richmond has only won five games and will have its ups and downs from here until season's end, watching the players belt out the theme song after wins suggests that they are thriving under Damien Hardwick, and have the passion and hunger to succeed in the areas highlighted by Harvey.
This is exactly what Richmond fans have been crying out for over three long decades.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/hard-man-has-hunger-to-get-richmond-firing-20100717-10f8t.html
