Dimma's aftermatch media conference

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Dimma in his aftermatch press conference:

* Asked if tonight was the best win we've had since he's been coach? Dimma replied every win is enjoyable. It's such a even comp.

* Playing West Coast in Perth is always tough. When you win it's one time you enjoy 3-4 hour plane trip back home.

* The boys gain the belief that if we play to our potential we are a good side.

* Won ugly before and so far this season we've only been a 6/10 but first time this year we took it to another level apart from the first 10 mins.

* He challenged the mids after poor game against Essendon and they delivered. Praised Cotch and Lids. Now we've got to back it up as good sides do.

* Listless last week so we asked the guys to step up and they did. We had 3 guys on the bench in the 3rd qtr so we went dead for period there but all up they stood up.

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Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says his side has a long way to go despite win over West Coast

    Braden Quartermaine
    From: PerthNow
    June 03, 2013 11:16PM


RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick denied a return to the finals was a formality despite a stunning upset win over West Coast at Patersons Stadium last night.

Hardwick accepted the 41-point triumph would be seen as the scalp the Tigers needed, but said more improvement was needed if finals were a realistic option.

"We're just scratching the surface I think," Hardwick said.

"We've still got some areas we're deficient in. So let's just make sure we win our games coming up and whatever will be will be."

Hardwick said the performance was a huge turnaround from last weekend's Dreamtime at the 'G loss to Essendon.

"We were disappointed with our game last week and for the guys to come out and fire like they did is a really pleasing result," he said. "Any time you play a quality side like West Coast it's a good win.

"The great thing for us is it gives our guys the belief that if they play to their potential they're a capable side.

"We've probably only played to a six out of 10 prior to this game. We've been winning ugly.

"This is probably the first time we've actually taken it to another level.

"The next challenge for us is to deliver that (form) on a consistent basis going forward. That's what good sides do and that's what we're trying to become.

"We asked our guys for an outstanding effort, and that's what they delivered for the majority of the night."

The Tigers spent several minutes celebrating with fans at the city end of the ground and belted out a rousing rendition of the club song in the rooms.

The upset win sends Richmond to its mid-season bye with a 6-4 win-loss record ahead of a clash with Adelaide at the MCG in Round 12.
 
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-coach-damien-hardwick-says-his-side-has-a-long-way-to-go-despite-win-over-west-coast/story-fndv8t7m-1226656555805

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After six ugly wins, Hardwick thrilled as Tigers get it together
By Sean Cowan
afl.com.au
11:15pm AEST Monday, June 3, 2013

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick said his side's victory over West Coast was the first time they hadn't won "ugly" this season.

Speaking after the Tigers had demolished the much-fancied Eagles outfit on the back of four quarters of midfield dominance, Hardwick said his team had wanted to atone for their loss to Essendon last week.

"I don't think there's a better feeling as a footy club to come away and win at a ground that is very, very hard to play at," he said.

"It's probably the one time you do enjoy a three-and-a-half, four-hour plane trip on the way home.

"The great thing for us is it gives our guys a belief that if they play to their potential they are a capable side.

"You know, we have probably only played to a six-out-of-ten prior to this game. We have been winning ugly.

"This is probably the first time that we took it to another level and played consistent footy, apart from that 10 minutes in the first quarter."

But Hardwick was quick to warn Tigers fans, who have only seen their side play finals twice in the past 30 years, not to get too excited.

"We're just scratching the surface, I think," he said.

"We've still got a lot of areas that we need to improve. We've got some players that are capable of coming back into this side, also, in Ellis, and Conca will be back after the break.

"But we've still got some areas we are deficient in that we need to improve, so let's just make sure we win our games coming up and whatever will be, will be."

Hardwick singled out the efforts of draftee Nick Vlastuin, captain Trent Cotchin and veteran Brett Deledio.

He said it was difficult to believe Vlastuin, who kicked three important goals, had only played five AFL games before lining up against West Coast.

Hardwick also said Shane Edwards, who kicked two goals before being substituted out of the game with an injury to his eye, was likely to travel back to Melbourne with the team.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-03/hardwick-post-match

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Hardwick says Tigers not at their best yet

    Brad Elborough, Perth
    The Age
    June 4, 2013


Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said after beating West Coast by 41 points at Patersons Stadium on Monday night that there was still better to come from the improving Tigers.

The Tigers outplayed the Eagles after the midway mark of the first term to record a convincing victory. They had led by 50 points at three-quarter-time.

It was an important win for Hardwick and his boys. Besides the round one victory over Carlton, this is the only other victory over a side in the eight.

"Every win is a good win, but I don't think there is a better feeling as a footy club to come away and win at a ground that is very hard to play at and it is probably the only time you do enjoy a three-and-a-half to four-hour plane trip home," Hardwick said.

"We've been winning ugly. This is probably the first time we took it to another level (and) played consistent footy, apart from the 10 minutes in the first quarter."

The victory also elevates Richmond to seventh spot on the ladder, with a bye this week, before a run of games that can see it claim enough wins to push for a spot in the final eight.

The Tigers host Adelaide in Melbourne, before playing the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, North Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Fremantle (who beat the Tigers by just one point in Perth in round five) then heads to the MCG in round 17 to meet Richmond.

Hardwick says the Tigers still have a lot of areas in which they can improve.

"We're just scratching the surface," he said. "We've still got a lot of areas we need to improve. We've got some players who are capable of coming back into the side also. (Brandon) Ellis and (Reece) Conca will be back after the break.

"We've still got some areas that we're deficient in that we need to improve. So let's just make sure we win our games coming up, and then whatever will be, will be."

After a slow start against the Eagles, the much-needed spark came from hard-running first-year player Nick Vlastuin.

The 19-year-old kicked two goals in the second term after the Eagles had led by six points at the break. He also provided some run through the midfield.

The number nine draft pick has already won nomination for the 2013 NAB Rising Star Award, in round seven, when he had 23 touches and took 11 marks in the Tigers' 41-point win over Port Adelaide.

The judges would certainly have been just as impressed with his performance against the Eagles, despite his statistics not being as good. His coach definitely was.

"He's a very good player," Hardwick said. "He only had 16 touches, but everything he does, he does to a very high level. It's hard to believe he's only played six AFL games.

"He's got some areas of his game we'd like him to improve, but we think he's going to be a very good player for us going forward."

Despite the convincing victory, Hardwick was reluctant to talk up his side's chances of playing finals.

"We don't worry too much about what's in the too distant future," he said carefully. "We just worry about our next opponent. We've got Adelaide (at the MCG in round 12). They're a very hard, tough footy side.

"We had a tough challenge against them last year (Adelaide beat Richmond by 19 points at AAMI Stadium in round 14). We are certainly looking forward to another challenge against them in 12 or 13 days time."

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/hardwick-says-tigers-not-at-their-best-yet-20130604-2nmle.html#ixzz2VAl8RAEL