Dimma's aftermatch media conference / Enormous win: Hardwick

[one-eyed]

VIDEO: Hardwick, Foley Press Conference

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/136903/default.aspx#embedvideoplayer


Enormous win: Hardwick
By Jennifer Witham
afl.com.au
Sat 26 May, 2012


RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has heralded his team's "fantastic" win over Hawthorn and says it stemmed from the leadership of captain Chris Newman and his deputies.

The Tigers have had a few near misses this season with a 19-point loss to Essendon last week and 10-point defeats by Geelong and West Coast previously.

But Hardwick said the leaders of the club had ensured the players believed they were capable of taking the next step and securing wins, which was shown when they beat the Sydney Swans in round seven and on Saturday at the MCG.

"To beat Sydney three weeks ago, and Hawthorn today is enormous from our point of view," Hardwick said, after the 62-point win.

"It is always an area of concern, to put in those performances but come up short, but I think the belief of Chris Newman and his leadership group has really driven that hard, that 'listen, we know we're a good side, we've just got to wait for the chances and capitalise on those,' and I thought we did that today.

"It's a real testament to Chris and Nathan [Foley] and all these types of players that have been round the club for a while."

He also said he believed his players were mature enough not to get carried away with the recent wins over top eight fancies.

"We still mentioned that at the end of the game. We haven't achieved anything yet," he said.

"We're still well short of where we want to go, we're still behind the ledger.

"All we've got to worry about is what happens inside our four walls at Punt Road.

"People can talk it up as much as they like but it's one win and it's a long season, so we're still well short of where we need to be."

Still, Hardwick said he now knew they would "compete, be tough and be hard" each week.

"A lot of the responsibility has pushed back on to the players, they do all the things we require them to do, there's not as many of the mistakes," he said.

"They're still there but we probably make more in the coach's box than they do on the ground, which is pleasing."

The Tigers won the contested possessions 168 to 137 and the clearances by one (41 to 40).

Hardwick was pleased with the way the Tigers "hunted the ball" and won in such a convincing fashion, especially when the backline was hit by the late withdrawal of Jake Batchelor (rolled ankle).

With Dylan Grimes out, the loss of Batchelor with the one-week injury could have seen the Tigers unravel against the Hawks' forwards.

But Alex Rance stood tall against Lance Franklin, Steven Morris did a terrific job on Cyril Rioli, Matthew Dea was important and Ben Griffiths - in his 10th senior game - was impressive after starting on Jarryd Roughead.

"We were slightly concerned coming in. Griffiths, we think has the ability to play, he just hasn't played a lot of footy, but I thought he was fantastic and it's a starting point for him," Hardwick said.

"We're starting to build a nice little niche down there with the sort of players we want to play through that back end, which is great."

Jack Riewoldt broke through for six goals - the most he's kicked since round one last year - and took seven marks, two of which were contested.

Hardwick said it was pleasing to see Riewoldt "move around and get active", while Jake King said the performance would do the key forward the world of good.

"That's a massive boost for Jack. We had a chat and he needed to stand up as a leader and he did, and took a couple of contested marks when the ball was wet," King told AFL.com.au.

"We couldn't have asked for more from Jack today. His tackles were up, his chasing was really good and we're all really proud of the big fella."

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/136903/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Richmond back in finals chase

    Scott Gullan
    From: Sunday Herald Sun
    May 27, 2012

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has urged his players to keep the best win of his tenure, against premiership favourite Hawthorn, in perspective.

After dismantling the Hawks by 62-points on the back of an eight-goal last quarter that sent the Tiger army into a frenzy, Hardwick warned his players about keeping a lid on the celebrations.

"We mentioned that at the end of the game," he said.

"We haven't achieved anything yet, we are still well short of where we want to go, we are still behind the ledger and all we have to worry about is what happens inside our four walls at Punt Rd.

"People can talk it up as much as they like but it is one win in a long season so we're still well short of where we need to be."

The Tigers stay in touch with the final eight with a 4-5 record but the stunning fashion in which they destroyed Hawthorn suggests they are quickly becoming a genuine player in the race for September.

Hardwick admitted he now had faith in his players being able to handle the big stage.

"It is probably at the stage now where, years previous I probably came to the game thinking, 'Gee, I hope we go OK'. Now I know we are going to compete, we are going to be tough, we are going to be hard," he said.

"The players take over. A lot of the responsibility is pushed now back to the players, they do all the things that we require them to do. There are not as many mistakes, and while they are still there, we probably do more in coaches' box than they do on the ground which is pleasing.

"Today was a fantastic win, there is no doubt about that. I think we hunted the ball which was very impressive. The good thing is to beat quality footy clubs is certainly important for us, we had Sydney three weeks ago and to beat Hawthorn today is enormous for our point of view."

There were heroes everywhere for the Tigers, notably ruckman Ivan Maric and key defender Alex Rance, but none were more significant than full-forward Jack Riewoldt who had his breakout performance kicking six goals, including four in the final term.

"He (Riewoldt) was more active today there was no doubt about that, he has probably suffered a little bit with our ball movement as well which is a bit slower at times," Hardwick said.

"He probably got his jump back a little bit, which was good, as he has probably been denied that by opposition, so that was good to see him take a couple of high grabs."

Hardwick praised his defence which had lost Dylan Grimes during the week and then had to also deal with the late withdrawal of Jake Batchelor.

Rance played one of the best games of his career matched against Lance Franklin while Steven Morris was inspirational on Cyril Rioli and unheralded youngsters Ben Griffiths and Matt Dea also stood up.

"Rance, I thought, was enormous, a couple of one-on-one contests there were fantastic with Franklin while Matthew Dea is another guy who has played under 15 games and was important," Hardwick said.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/richmond-back-in-finals-chase/story-e6frf9jf-1226367918696