Hardwick's aftermatch press conference (video and summary)

[one-eyed]

Dimma interviewed on the ground after the game today:

VIDEO: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2013-03-16/preseason-4-hardwick-post-match

Summary

* It was a tough old match really. Conditions weren't great overall with the windy and the wet coming halfway through the second quarter. To walk away at the end of the NAB Cup campaign with a 4-1 record is a reasonable result for us.

* Dimma was asked about winning another close game? Dimma replied you just get a tough game. The Bulldogs last year were one or two for contested ball last year. It was a contested game today and a real scrap. It's the sort of thing you want going into round 1 - a tough hard game. That's what the Bulldogs give you and what we got today was no different. It was a good result. We are really pleased with what we got our of the game. It was hard, it was tough and we managed to get over the line which was good.

* Other positives? There was a number of things. From a game structural perspective the conditions weren't great; it's just one of those games you're just happy to get away with the win. A couple of guys did well - Petterd was good again; Lonergan when he came on was terrific; there were also reasonable signs from some of the .... Vlastuin was okay again so overall some good things.

* McGuane was good when he came on. Kicked a couple of goals. He does compete does Luke which is one of the things we love about him. He did away a couple of frees; not sure what they were for so we'll have to look at those but overall he gives a contest and that's what we love. He kicked two which is a good result.

* Under the knees rule - does conditions like these make it hard? Yeah ... look .... listen overall I think the rule is great; I really like it. 54 free kicks today though; that's a lot of free kicks. It's really hard for the umpires to administer - is it forceful contact or contact? They are in a tough predicament but overall I really enjoy the concept of the rule and it's been administered well. Wet conditions is tough so probably ask the umpires about that. It's very hard, very hard. Asked how do you get around that? You don't! Overall I think the overriding concept is really good. So it's just something they'll have to wait and see. Asked is it a technique thing? It is! I think the majority of players have dealt with it pretty well. There's just a couple though in the wet where players slide in to get the ball and a player falls over the top. They're probably the ones we'll have to wait and see but overall it was okay.

* Asked about the surface of Princes Park being sandy etc...?
Yeah it wasn't great to be honest. Very very sandy; shifted under players feet with guys losing their feet. So it probably wasn't ideal. Probably something to look at.

* Happy to come away with no injuries? 
Yeah that was a positive for us preseason wise. We've come through injury free; Grimes plays a half tomorrow as does Helbig. So we've only got Nathan Foley out until round 3 so it's a good result.

* You mentioned Ricky Petterd. Is he one that could come in off the rookie list?
We've been really happy so there is a chance. Sam Lonergan has done some good things at stages as has Orren Stephenson. So we'll make a decision during the week. I think we have to make a decision by Tuesday afternoon.

[tigs2011]

Heard Grimey say he's pumped to play tomorrow as he walked into the ground. Get around the big fella. 

[one-eyed]

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is confident ahead of the Tigers clash against Carlton

    Warwick Green
    From: Herald Sun
    March 17, 2013 12:00pm

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick came away from yesterday's nine-point win over the Western Bulldogs confident his team was in great shape for its Round 1 showdown against Carlton.

The Tigers have dropped only one game in the pre-season and have almost a full list to chose from for the season opener on Thursday week.

Against the Dogs they came from 18 points down in the third quarter to kick seven of the last nine goals in scrappy conditions at Visy Park, and did so with subdued performances from key players Trent Cotchin (18 disposals), Jack Riewoldt (one goal and six disposals), Dustin Martin and Chris Newman (10 possessions each).

''It was a tough old game really, and the conditions weren't really great, but to walk away at the end of the NAB Cup campaign with four wins and one loss was a reasonable result for us,'' Hardwick said.

Jake King and Daniel Jackson, who were rested yesterday, are both expected to be available for the Round 1 match against the Blues.

Chris Knights and Dylan Grimes, who have had injury-interrupted pre-seasons, are expected to get at least a half in Coburg's VFL match against Weribee on Sunday.

Nathan Foley remains at least a month away from playing.

The Tigers had six multiple goalkickers, led by ruckman Ivan Maric, with Luke McGuane (two goals) presenting as a third marking forward.

''He was good, kicked a couple of goals,'' Hardwick said. ''He does compete, Luke, that's the one thing we love about him.''

The Bulldogs were disappointed they could not finish off the march, but would be encouraged by knowing about a half a dozen new faces could come into the team that finished the 2012 season, with Brett Goodes, Jason Johannisen, Nick Lower and Tom Young among those with strong cases for inclusion.

Lower did exceptionally well nullifying Cotchin, restricting him to just six disposals in the first half and frustrating the Tigers skipper throughout.

Assistant coach Brett Montgomery was buoyed that experienced core played well, but several recruits had played well.

''At the selection table ... we've got plenty to choose from and there were at least 12 or 13 weeks last year where that wasn't the case and we were just putting whatever we had out there,'' Montgomery said.

Adam Cooney (24 touches) showed glimpses of the explosive best that was a feature of his glory days, Robert Murphy was damaging alternating between half forward and half back and Daniel Giansiracusa (two goals) was a constant threat.

Ryan Griffen collected 30 possessions and Dale Morris totally outplayed Riewoldt.

Montgomery said the club was hopeful Shaun Higgins, Easton Wood and possibly Tom Williams would be available for the Round 1 match against Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium, although the Dogs were conscious of not including several underdone players in the 22.

Higgins and Wood are likely to play at VFL level next weekend.

Hardwick also backed the AFL's new sliding rules after the match.

''Overall I think the rule is great, I really like it. 54 free kicks today is a lot of free kicks. It's really hard for the umpires to administer. Is it forceful contact or is it (just) contact .... wet conditions is tough. I think the overriding concept is good.

''There's a couple though on a wet day where a guy slides to get the ball and a player falls over the top. They're probably the ones where we have to wait and see (how the rule is interpreted).''

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-coach-damien-hardwick-is-confident-ahead-of-the-tigers-clash-against-carlton/story-e6freck3-1226599105416

[one-eyed]

No change in contact rule in the wet: Gieschen

    Adam Cooper
    The Age
    March 18, 2013

AFL umpires boss Jeff Gieschen says games played on wet surfaces will not alter the new rule penalising players who make forceful contact to an opponent's legs.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has questioned whether it will be tough for umpires to rule in games on slippery or shifting surfaces, such as the one the Tigers and Western Bulldogs encountered at Visy Park in Saturday's practice game.

Richmond players seemed to have trouble with the rule, as they gave away two free kicks - which led to Bulldogs goals - for making contact to their opponents' legs.

But Gieschen said the rule would not be interpreted any differently between dry and wet games and that it was up to players to adapt.

''It's contact below the knees [that is illegal],'' he said. ''During the NAB Cup we've had slippery and greasy games due to the humidity and dew on the grass, but the rule's pretty straightforward.

''It's contact below the knees and players need to adjust and stay on their feet.''

The new rule is designed to encourage players to stay on their feet rather than go to ground when attacking the ball, to prevent the risk of serious leg injury. Players can still make contact when trying to smother an opponent's kick.

Gieschen said players had adjusted well and did not expect there to be more free kicks awarded in games where rain made conditions slippery.

''Last year we had the sliding and knee and feet-first rule brought in after round five and it dried it up. We only had 10 or 11 free kicks after that for the rest of the year.''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/no-change-in-contact-rule-in-the-wet-gieschen-20130317-2g8vd.html#ixzz2No47As5n

[WilliamPowell]

AFL umpires boss Jeff Gieschen says games played on wet surfaces will not alter the new rule penalising players who make forceful contact to an opponent's legs.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/no-change-in-contact-rule-in-the-wet-gieschen-20130317-2g8vd.html#ixzz2No47As5n

Well Giesch just make sure your mob interept it as is written

"FORCEFUL CONTACT"

On the weekend they simply paid it when it was contactn not FORCEFUL but contact.

Actually they've been paying it when blokes not going for the ball just walk up to a contest and do nothing but walk into the blokes on the ground with the ball - don't think that's what the rule was bought in for but as always the powers that be didn't think of that   

For the last 2 years the heads been the untouchable, this rule has just thrown that out the proverbial window 

[Eat_em_Alive]

WP, perhaps you can call into SEN this morning to discuss with KB and represent the OER    , demand that KB gets the Geisch onto his show to defend the incostistency in the rule re: "contact". Then let the mob take care of the rest 

[tigs2011]

Don't think Giesch understand the rule. First he says forceful contact then says it's contact below the knees. What happens if I walk up and kick a guy in the head? Who gets the free then Giesch coz my bloody leg hurts and I might be injured.