Hardwick's aftermatch media conference (video and summary)

[one-eyed]

Video of Dimma's aftermatch press conference

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/roar%20vision%20archive/tabid/11454/contentid/442573/default.aspx


From the AFL website
By Peter Ryan and AAP
Sun 22 Apr, 2012


For good reason Richmond felt that this was one that got away.

The Tigers drew level with the defending premiers with 12 minutes to go and were kicking with the aid of the breeze.

Ahead in the key statistics, they looked to have more run than their opponents. But once again when it mattered Richmond made costly mistakes and Geelong was able to scramble a 10-point win. 

Hardwick was disappointed to once again walk away from a game without the four points after such an effort.

"We had a couple of opportunities where we were out and (then) butchered the ball a little bit," he said.

"Good sides make you pay. It's disappointing for our playing group. They worked their backsides off I thought, and just did not quite get the reward we were after."

Richmond had more disposals (398 to 373), won more contested ball (158 to 147) and had as many scoring shots (20 apiece) but were unable to win. Their kicking efficiency was good in every area except when kicking for goal or thumping the ball inside 50.

Hardwick was left to rue a second quarter in which the team kicked five straight behinds with the wind, while Geelong kicked three goals against it.

"(We) didn't quite take our chances when they presented," he said.

Richmond began well kicking into the wind and was just a goal behind at quarter time. They had dropped two extra players behind the ball, including ruckman Ivan Maric, and were very effective with their tactic of running and sharing the ball by hand on the rebound.

But they could not find a winning forward who could capitalise on the midfield's ascendancy.

Jack Riewoldt, Ty Vickery and Brad Miller had just 27 possessions and kicked just two goals between them.

Hardwick however said the blustery conditions made it hard for tall forwards.

"I thought the backs of both sides were dominant but were always going to be in the conditions that presented today."

Riewoldt has kicked six goals in four games but Hardwick was not concerned about the key forward's effort. "The goals will come," Hardwick said.

"He's (Riewoldt) has just got to keep chasing, tackling and presenting at the ball. The scoreboard will come later."

Richmond faces West Coast next week as its tough start to the season continues. Hardwick said it was another challenge for a group that was in much better form than its three losses suggested.

"We feel we've let some games slip that we should have won," he said. "It is a steep learning curve this game, there is no doubt about it. We think we are a better side than what our record presents, but we have got to win ball games."

So another frustrating day for Richmond ended in tears but the signs of progress were evident. "There is no doubt we have improved as a side but the next step for us is to be able to transfer that performance into a win," Hardwick said.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/133758/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Roar talent not enough for Tigers
Peter Hanlon
The Age
April 23, 2012

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick believes his team can no longer draw comfort from performances like yesterday's, in which the Tigers pushed Geelong all the way before losing by 10 points at Simmonds Stadium, and challenged his players to show genuine improvement against ladder leader West Coast next weekend.

The Tigers drew level with the reigning premiers 10 minutes into the last quarter with a flukey breeze at their backs, prompting Geelong coach Chris Scott to say the visitors were ''in the box seat to win the game''. But crucial errors when seemingly in strong goal-scoring positions cost them.

''We've let some games slip that we should have won,'' Hardwick said, assessing that his players had ''worked their backsides off'' without getting reward. ''It's a steep learning curve, no doubt about it, but we've gone past that. We think we're a better side than our record presents, but you've got to win ball games, that's it in a nutshell.

''The playing group last year came into these games hoping to win, and now they come into every game believing they can win which is a massive step forward for our group. We're just yet to see the reward, which is the disappointing thing.''

Hardwick pointed to a 108-point loss to the Cats in 2010 as evidence of their improvement. ''But the next step for us is (finding) the ability to transfer that performance into a win, and that's something we're not quite getting yet.''

The coach highlighted two forward thrusts late in the game where the Tigers had a man ''out'' and in space but lost possession on the wing, with Cat veteran Jimmy Bartel the stumbling block both times. Hardwick said his contest win against Reece Conca exemplified where the Tigers needed to improve.

''Good sides, they force you to turn it over. That's the cut-throat nature of the game, we've still got to get that player better. Reece is going to be a very good player for us, but it's a lesson hard-learned.''

Scott admitted concern at the Cats losing the contested-possession count in all four games this season, while praising their effort and toughness, which he believed got them over the line. ''It does matter,'' he said of losing the contested ball.

''I think every coach would stand here and say they value those things above most others.

''The reality is … we can't stick our head in the sand … the reality is if that happens to us we'll lose more often than we'll win.

''The numbers don't lie. We need to get to the bottom of what it really is.''

He noted that the Tigers were playing a ''sustainable'' game style featuring plenty of pressure, and contributing to an increasing evenness in the competition. ''It's modern footy, isn't it - all the teams are pretty good. I reckon the gap between fifth to 15th has never been closer.''

Hardwick bemoaned Richmond not making use of the breeze in the second quarter, when the Tigers managed only five points, but called the anomaly of 11 goals being kicked into the wind and only nine with it ''bizarre''. Brett Deledio said it was ''ridiculously hard'' to kick goals from the Brownlow Stand wing, while Scott said the unpredictability of the conditions gave players an alibi for skill errors.

Hardwick predicted that Jack Riewoldt would soon see reward for effort after he managed only one goal on a tough day for forwards, to have just six from the opening four rounds.

''He competed really well. He's kicked double the amount of points, normally he's a very good kick at goal,'' he said of his full-forward. ''The goals will come, he's just got to keep chasing, tackling, presenting to the ball and the scoreboard will come later.''

Scott said ''relief'' was a fair summation of his feelings after sneaking out of a game that could have left the Cats with one win after four rounds. ''It would have been really difficult for us to be one-and-three. But we are still working into our best footy, and building towards something. I think the players and all of us understand that we've got to get there a bit quicker.''

The Cats have ruckman Trent West on report for rough conduct against Ty Vickery. Matthew Scarlett will return for next week's trip to Brisbane to meet the Lions, but Scott said midfielder James Kelly was still not 100 per cent and wouldn't play unless he reached full fitness.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/roar-talent-not-enough-for-tigers-20120422-1xf44.html#ixzz1smvNBucX