Hardwick kicks in for RiewoldtBy Kim Hagdorn
Sports News First
8 March 2012RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has leapt to the defence of star forward Jack Riewoldt on the back of inconsistent goal-scoring last season ahead of an all new Tigers finals drive.
Riewoldt was the Tigers 2010 fairest-and-best winner, also won the Coleman medal as the AFL’s leading goal-kicker with 78 majors and was the All-Australian full-forward in his finest season by far since making a debut back in 2007.
But Hardwick has been moved to herald Riewoldt’s 2011 as more productive for the Tigers than his previous season despite the high-leaping star forward at times clearly frustrated with poor delivery from teammates up the field.
The Tigers boss even disclosed that his ace scoring force had up to five operations on niggling injuries that hampered Riewoldt’s 2011 season even though the star forward still managed to play all 22 games last year.
Hardwick, who is the only AFL coach in 2012 out of contract at the end of the season and continues to shun speculation on his own future, praised his prime scoring source for significantly increased involvements with other Tigers.
In an extensive interview with Fox Footy, the Tigers boss declared Riewoldt’s 2011 as more productive in a team perspective than an individual return.
Riewoldt booted 62 goals last season as the Tigers finished 12th with eight wins and a draw after winning six games and finishing 15th the year before.
“He had a great season in 2010, All-Australian,” said Hardwick.
“The pressure increased obviously in 2011, add to the fact that by the end of the season he had five surgeries and that wasn’t the ideal preparation throughout the year.
“The great thing about Jack is that he didn’t have anywhere near the expectations he puts on himself and he still kicked 60-plus goals.
“His goal assists were three times up as compared from the previous season.
“So from an overall perspective his season was probably a little bit better from the year before. Didn’t kick the bags of goals but was more consistent throughout the year.”
Hardwick, 39, launched what is set to become a party-line response from Tigers management on his contract talks.
"Like we have said previously, from myself and the club's point of view, we won't be be commenting or opening any dialogue on the contract status," Hardwick said.
He also declared that advancement on last season’s eight wins and a draw is on the cards as he builds experience and team system into his young Tigers.
Hardwick’s squad is the fourth youngest in the league and has an average games-played of just 45 for each Tiger.
He stopped short of declaring a finals berth is among his objectives for a season when his immediate coaching future will be decided.
“Anything is feasible,” Hardwick said relating to Richmond’s first finals engagements since 2001.
“We don’t want to put a ceiling on how far we can go.
“We think we’ve got enormous upside as a team.
“What we’ve got to do is get a side playing together for a sustained period of time.
“We’ve managed that in the previous two years to a degree.
“This year we’re looking to consolidate that and hopefully drive ourselves up the ladder.
“What was it eight and a half (wins) last year. Anything above that, we’re looking for improvement again and that’s a feasible option for us.”
http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/03/08/hardwick-kicks-in-for-riewoldt/
