Hardwick's press conference - July 4

[one-eyed]

From the AFL website
By Nick Bowen
Thursday, July 4, 2013

In Maric's absence, Hardwick said Richmond would use former Cat Orren Stephenson and Tyrone Vickery to tag team the in-form Todd Goldstein on Saturday.
 
"Goldstein is an outstanding ruck, probably not having the same season he did last year, but he's still an outstanding player," Hardwick said.
 
"I think [North's] clearance numbers are No. 1 in the AFL, at ball-ups they're elite, in their defensive 50 they're elite, so… we'll probably double team him (Goldstein) at various stages because he's so dominant in that area."
 
Richmond sits sixth on the ladder with a 9-4 record heading into Saturday's clash, while the Roos are 5-8 and lie 12th.
 
But Hardwick said North was a better team than its 2013 record suggested.
 
"They're a side that can score heavily and that's a thing that we went through today, the way they play they certainly can get their game up and going," he said.
 
"A lot of the KPI areas they're up where they need to belong, so we certainly have a big game ahead of us.
 
"They're a good side, they just haven't had a couple of results go their way. I think they've lost four games by under a goal so they could quite easily be where we're sitting."
 
Hardwick said he expected Saturday's game to be a close contest, saying Richmond's ability to stick with the fast-starting Roos in the first quarter would be vital to their chances.

The coach also said emerging defender Nick Vlaustin (shin) was likely to return to the Tigers' team if he completed training on Thursday.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-04/groin-soreness-a-maric-curse

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Tigers know how Roos feel

    The Age
    July 5, 2013

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick knows how North Melbourne feels.

Having been on the receiving end of several narrow, heartbreaking losses last season, Hardwick is wary of what North is capable of - and conscious the Kangaroos are in many ways a 2013 version of the 2012 Tigers.

''I think we're both similar clubs which have followed the same path in a way,'' Hardwick said on Thursday.

''We started at a relatively similar time, me and Brad. Both teams have been going head-to-head and like-for-like and it's a contest we look forward to.''

North has lost four matches by less than a goal this season, and six by less than 16 points.

Its 5-8 win-loss record belies its quality, according to Hardwick, who spent much of Thursday addressing North's scoring power with his players ahead of their clash on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.

''They can score heavily and that's the thing we went through today - they can really get up and going,'' Hardwick said.

''They're a good side, they just haven't had a couple of results play their way. They could quite easily be where we're sitting.''

The Tigers are on the precipice of a top-four spot, having won four in a row on their way to a 9-4 record which puts them within sight of their first finals appearance since 2001.

Richmond's Shaun Grigg and Jake King will play their 100th AFL matches against the Kangaroos.

But Hardwick will again be without ruckman Ivan Maric, who will at least miss this week after a groin problem flared late last week to rule him out of the Tigers' big win over St Kilda.

''The big thing for him is just getting his body right - we're just going to have to keep strengthening that core area,'' Hardwick said.

''Every year around this time of year, he's going to need a couple of weeks off to get the remainder of his year up and going.

''He'll be fine - next week he should be available to play.''

It means the Tigers will use Orren Stephenson and Ty Vickery in tandem against North's ruck star Todd Goldstein.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-know-how-roos-feel-20130704-2pevw.html#ixzz2Y61NvE35

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Hardwick wary of Goldstein's quality

    by: COURTNEY WALSH
    From: The Australian
    July 05, 2013

AS rich a vein of form as Richmond has displayed this season, coach Damien Hardwick is wary the Tigers face a tall order against North Melbourne tomorrow.

While the Tigers will start favourite as they seek to continue their pursuit of a top-four finish, the absence of ruckman Ivan Maric with a groin problem for a second week in succession has heightened the concerns of the Tigers coach.

Richmond managed to cover the absence of Maric, who will be forced to manage the problem for the rest of his career, against St Kilda last week with its promoted rookie Orren Stephenson and Tyrone Vickery negating Saint Ben McEvoy.

That pair will be relied on to do the same against North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein who, like McEvoy, carries the bulk of rucking duties for the Kangaroos.

"Goldstein is an outstanding ruck. (He's) probably not having the same season he did last year, but he's still an outstanding player," Hardwick said.

"I think (North's) clearance numbers are number one in the AFL. At ball-ups they're elite. In their defensive 50 they're elite. We'll probably double team him (Goldstein) at various stages because he's so dominant in that area."

Vickery, who performed well against the Saints, told The Australian he and Stephenson needed to work Goldstein over to give Richmond's strong midfield an advantage.

"He sort of does what McEvoy does. He rucks large portions of the game and he is really good at it as well," Vickery said.

"We have to do our homework and really respect him and see if we can work him over. We have to get in there, go hard and try to run him around a bit, but he is a really good runner as well."

Like every side planning for North Melbourne this year, Hardwick yesterday stressed the importance of starting well. The Kangaroos have blown significant leads several times this year, though their record of winning third and fourth quarters sits just below 50 per cent.

Hardwick is bracing his side for a strong challenge given another loss would completely end the Kangaroos' hopes of reaching successive finals series.

"They're a side that can score heavily and that's a thing that we went through today, the way they play they certainly can get their game up and going," he said.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/hardwick-wary-of-goldsteins-quality/story-fnca0u4y-1226674541555