Hardwick on SEN (audio and summary)

[one-eyed]

Dimma was on SEN earlier tonight with Francis Leech and David Schwarz. Here's the audio:


Part 1:
http://www.sen.com.au/audioplayer/Audio/Damien-Hardwick-Richmond-Coach---Part-1/2238

Part 2:
http://www.sen.com.au/audioplayer/Audio/Damien-Hardwick---Richmond-Coach-Part-2/2237

[one-eyed]

Summary

* The side under the leadership of Newy is playing with great enthusiasm and ability to compete has been at a premium. We're are really happy with it.

* King - one of those players you love to have around at the footy club. All sides have them - guys who you make fun of say because they are short but they drive the place with their passion. Good clubs are made up of good people and he's one of them. The best part at the moment is he is playing a good brand of footy. Dermie said from when he was down at Punt Rd a couple of years ago he's been amazed at the transformation. If there were B&Fs for intensity Jake would be at the top. Dimma said King's workrate is fantastic.His skill level is surprisingly quite good; He wasn't aware of the quality player he could be. The knock on him before Dimma arrived was his decision making but with the way we play we give him the answers before he goes out there. He's one of the first picked each week and his tackling pressure which is so important in the modern game is second to none.

* Foley - he's still little bit off. His decision making is still a fraction off which is what they went through today. Denis Pagan once said it takes a while after missing a sustained period. If you miss 12 months it takes 6 months to find your old form. His improvement has been substancial over the first 6 weeks but in Dimma's mind he's still another 25% to go. He's getting ball and the decision making will improve in time and he'll be a very good player for us.

* Suspensions - are they instructed to be aggressive or just ill-disciplined?
Combo of two - McGuane, Jacko ones were ill-disciplined and reckless in nature which we don't accept Rance on Waite was incidental so we just accept the ruling. Jacko not only cost himself a game but cost the side dearly on the weekend as we had no match-up for Simon Black.

* Where do we need to improve to match the top sides?
Still too many scores against us. Sometimes have 4 teens in our backline who are only 1-2 years out of TAC Cup. In 2-3 seasons they will make better decisons and will bulk up and learn to use their bodies. We still need to make better decisions and show composure when we need to control the game. Improved from last year but we still need to take the next step again.

* When did you realise your best 25-26?
There were heaps of stages last year where we could have thrown numbers behind the ball but you don't learn from that so we let it go. From midpoint last year we started to understand the guys and implement the gameplan (defensive pressure etc). Pies took 5-6 years to get where they are now and we are only in year 2 of our learning. Guys are learning. Forward-half turnovers we are 3rd in the AFL but we still leak too many easy goals against us.

* Vickery - ruck forward or forward ruck?
Dimma can't make up my mind. Has a great ability to learn but Dimma said he threw him to the wolves a bit last year trying to get him to do the majority of ruck work which is unfair. This year settled him up forward and he's kicked 7 so far. If he can kick 30 goals and pinch hit in the ruck it'll be a pretty successful year for him. Francis said it seems Ty is starting to realise he can use his bigger body instinctively in contests. Dimma said Ty's still learning growing into himself and in his uncoordinated state he ran into the post on the weekend lol. Unlimited ability and important to our structure going forward. Just got to keep playing and getting games into him and watch his development over the next 2-3 years.

* Fremantle - they just get the job done which is very impressive. We watched Pavlich and Mundy today who are quality players and they've also got Ballantyne and now Bradley stepping up. They are a hard running side and use of the ball arguably the best in the AFL right now. They control the ball very well. We're are going to have to limit that on the weekend.

* Derickx - Dermie loves him and his marking above his head. Dimma said we won't seen Derickx at the moment as it's only his second game back from an injured heal. 3-4 weeks of match fitness to catch up. He's exciting - even at training he set the track alike. He's an exciting prospect and one with an enormous future.

* Martin - a natural footballer. You wind him up and let him go as he knows the game. You give him simple instructions like "go get ball" lol and he does it. He is now a student of the game and goes to games to watch a lot of footy to soak up all the info. Got the hunger now to improve him game which is probably something he didn't have last year. Dermie said he's got such a beautiful kick that he can dictate to the forward (Jack) where to go. Usually only see that from 100 game rare players. Dimma agreed and he and Jack do that at training. His short kick is very good also. We have also used him for kick-ins as he use it too well. We want to have the ball in his hands. He does however have the tendancy to go that long kick down the middle to have a contest with himself to see how long he can kick it. He's a terrific decision maker so we want him to have the ball as much as possible.

* Tuck - he copped a funny one. Did damage to some rib cartilage. Going to miss a couple of weeks. Disappointing as we've had a couple of wins with him in the side. He's such a tough competitor so he'll back a.s.a.p.

[mightytiges]

If Axel can get through this year unscathed and get another preseason under his belt then he should be going at full cylinders in 2012.

We probably eventually want Vickery as a ruckman who can go forward from a structural point of view in 5 years time. Vickery in the ruck to start with Jack and Big Ben up forward before resting up forward as a third tall.

Going by what Dimma said in this interview it sounds as though he has made it clear to Jacko behind closed doors what he thinks about his brain fades that get him suspended. Not happy!

[one-eyed]

Jackson lucky to get one, says Hardwick
By Kim Hagdorn
Sports News First
3 May 2011 10:04AM EST


RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick considered rugged on-baller Daniel Jackson lucky to only get a one week suspension for his hit on North Melbourne’s Scott Thompson in AFL Round 5.

A refreshingly frank Hardwick labelled his important midfielder “undisciplined” for his suspension as the Tigers brace to be without another tough tagger and ball-winner Shane Tuck.

Tuck, 29, has cartilage damage in his ribs and will be sidelined for at least two weeks and will miss clashes with at least Fremantle at the MCG and Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium and possibly Essendon at the “G” in Round 9.   

Hardwick says Jackson’s absence left his midfield lacking an adequate direct match-up for Brisbane Lions champion Simon Black who rattled up 30 possessions against the Tigers at the MCG in Round 6.

Jackson resumes at a crucial time though with a possible match-up on dangerous Fremantle midfield play-makers David Mundy or even Dockers superstar Matthew Pavlich.

The Tigers have had three players suspended so far this season with defenders Alex Rance and Luke McGuane as well as Jackson spending time on the sidelines.

“Obviously we don’t like the undisciplined nature,” Hardwick said on Melbourne sports specialists radio station SEN.

“There’s going to be some that are just incidental, like the Rance one on (Jarrad) Waite and the McGuane one and Jackson were undisciplined acts.

“They’re the ones we frown upon.

“The Rance one where it was like incidental contact sort of thing and the letter of the law we get suspended, that’s the one we can probably live with.

“But it’s the ones that are reckless in nature and let’s be perfectly honest he was very, very lucky to get a week.

“He was very remorseful, but it’s happened too much and he’s cost us a number of games last year and we had no match up for Black on the weekend.

“He cost himself a game but he side dearly and they’re the ones we frown upon.”

Hardwick declared he has targeted needs for tighter defence in his back line and on the ball against the Dockers, who the Tigers boss says are the best users of the football in the competition.

Fremantle has burst into the new season with an impressive 4-1 start and sit fourth of the ladder coming off their first bye of the season last week over Round 6.

“They’re a good side. They just keep getting the job done which is very impressive,” Hardwick said.

“They’re a hard running side, they use the ball very, very well and probably the best in the AFL at the moment. I know that’s a big statement.

“But their ability to control the ball is very, very good.

“So’ we’ve got to limit that as much as we can and try and catch them out on the rebound.”

http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2011/05/03/jackson-lucky-to-get-one-says-hardwick/

[Tigeritis™©®]

I'm so impressed with everything dimma says. He is just so honest.
You can tell he's a team player that really wants the club to succeed unlike Wallet who was in it for his own glory.
I think he's building something really exciting and I have utmost faith in him to make us successful.

I think the players are playing for him too.