Damien Hardwick press conference April 9 / Knights close to Richmond selection

[one-eyed]

Dimma's press conference today:

VIDEO: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2015-04-09/hardwick-press-conference-april-9th

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Damien Hardwick says Chris Knights close to Richmond selection after two years on the outer

Bruce Matthews
Herald-Sun
April 09, 2015 11:14AM



RICHMOND forward Chris Knights is on the verge of an AFL comeback at the MCG on Saturday.

Knights will be named in the Tigers’ 25 on Thursday to prepare to play the Western Bulldogs.

The former Crow hasn’t played since early 2013 after a frustrating spate of injuries, but he impressed in a VFL practice match last weekend following an eye-catching NAB Challenge opening game, also against the Dogs.

“He was impressive on the weekend, he had 28 touches. He’s a guy who can deliver offensively and defensively he had a couple of things that we needed to fix up and he’s working on those, so he’ll be thereabouts this week,’’ coach Damien Hardwick said.

Hardwick said elevated rookie Kane Lambert, an emergency in the opening round, Matt McDonough and Ricky Petterd were also in the mix to replace suspended Brett Deledio.

“We’ve got options, it’s just a matter of finding the best piece of the puzzle to come in,’’ Hardwick said.

The Tigers coach admitted Deledio would have struggled to play against the Bulldogs anyway with an ongoing calf muscle complaint.

“Credit to the guy for putting his hand up to play, the round 1 importance. He probably got through three quarters and then started to get a bit sore,’’ he said.

“After the initial report, it took him a little time to regain his composure. I thought he was really important in the second and third quarters to manage to get the game on our terms. So from that point of view, he helped us get the win.

Hardwick is supportive of the new tribunal system that allowed Deledio to accept a one-game suspension for his high bump on Carlton’s Simon White in the opening minute last Thursday night.

“The great thing about it is we’re not seeing players miss for minor indiscretions. We love to see the good players playing the game,’’ he said.

“The Stevie J (Johnson) one was a great example, there’s wasn’t a great deal in it. From my point of view, I’d prefer to see him playing.

“Brett to his credit has really improved the contested side of his game. It was disappointing to lose him, but there were two guys and you have a split second to make a decision whether to dive under to take out the legs and give away a free kick or bump. We probably wish he had made the other decision, but he didn’t.

“We’re losing a good player this week, so we’re disappointed he was reported, but his overall vigour and attack on the ball, we’ve been impressed over the past 12 to 18 months.’’

Hardwick watched the Bulldogs’ wins in the last NAB Challenge game against Collingwood and then last weekend’s first round against West Coast.

“Their pressure has been outstanding, their forward 50s tackling, I think they had 23 or 24 tackles inside the forward 50 and a lot of stoppages in that area,’’ he said.

“Even last year, their ability to win the contested ball, to tackle, to pressure the opposition, it has gone up a notch again. They have some fantastic young talent.

“We’re a good contested side, also. It’s a matter of absorbing that pressure and getting the ball on the outside. It’s easier said than done against a side that comes in waves of defensive pressure.’’

Richmond players have the advantage of an extra three days rest and Hardwick said he expects a better contribution from several senior players, like Dustin Martin, who were limited by the Blues attention.

“Credit to Carlton, they nailed a few guys and put them away. Probably 12 months ago, I don’t think we would’ve had the depth to cover that,’’ Hardwick said.

“For us to take the next step, we need the next tier of players to step up and we saw that. Granted, it’s only one game, but we’re looking for that to continue.

“The MCG was incredibly hard. It was a fantastic surface to look at, but it was probably a little bit hard from the World Cup five or six days earlier.

“Our boys have pulled up really well. Obviously, the longer recovery has been beneficial, so they will be up and going.’’

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/damien-hardwick-says-chris-knights-close-to-richmond-selection-after-two-years-on-the-outer/story-fndv8t7m-1227296722539

[one-eyed]

Tiger 'managing the pain' but wants in after stingray sting

Travis King 
afl.com.au
April 9, 2015 11:10 AM


RICHMOND defender David Astbury wants in after having a stingray barb removed from his foot, while the luckless Chris Knights could make his long-awaited comeback against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, Tigers coach Damien Hardwick says.
 
Astbury was left out of Richmond's 27-point season-opening win over Carlton after undergoing surgery for the freakish incident in Port Phillip Bay.
 
The 195cm backman still has stitches in his foot, although he played VFL last weekend and is available to take on the Dogs.

Hardwick said it would be a tough decision to change Richmond's key-position set-up, which helped restrict the Blues to 11 goals.
 
"David will be thereabouts. He played pretty well last week in our VFL side," he said.
 
"It's one of those ones with match-ups. They've obviously got not a tall forward line the Bulldogs, and all our keys (defenders) played pretty well. But he'll certainly put his hand up to play.
 
"It's been a really good recovery from the stingray sting. It will be a little bit of a problem for probably two-to-three weeks but he's managing the pain pretty well."
 
The Tigers will be forced to make at least one change after star midfielder Brett Deledio accepted a one-match ban for his bump on Carlton's Simon White.
 
Hardwick, who said Deledio (Achilles) would have struggled to be fit to take on the Dogs after he was substituted out of the Carlton win in the last quarter, confirmed former Crow Knights would be in the squad.
 
The 28-year-old forward has not played since a rough trot with injuries started when he ruptured his patella tendon – the same injury suffered by Gold Coast's Jaeger O'Meara last weekend – in May 2013.
 
"He will be within the 25 this week, I've got no doubt about that," Hardwick said.
 
"He was pretty impressive on the weekend. He had 28 touches, kicked one or two goals…he's a guy that has improved.
 
"Offensively we know what he can deliver. Defensively he had a couple of things he needed to fix up from a contested nature, but he's working on those, so he'll be thereabouts this week."

Hardwick said Deledio would do "everything possible" to be available against the Brisbane Lions in round three, although the coach is confident his side can perform without their vice-captain.

"Probably 12 months ago I don't think we would have had the depth to cover that loss, but the really impressive thing for us is our recruiting staff have done a great job bringing in talent," he said.

Against the Blues, ex-Cat Taylor Hunt and NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Kamdyn McIntosh led the win while prime movers Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Deledio were well held.

"It's a great sign, because it means we're not relying on those guys to get us over the line," Hardwick said. "For us to take the next step we need the next tier of players to step up."

Richmond will face a rising Bulldogs midfield brigade on Saturday, and Hardwick said he was impressed by the ferocity of Luke Beveridge's side in their 10-point win over West coast.

"They were incredible. Their forward 50 tackling – I think they had 23 or 24 tackles inside 50 last week and had a lot of stoppages in that area," he said.

"They probably showed even last year their ability to win contested ball, to tackle, to pressure the opposition. It's gone up a notch again.

"We're a good contested side also, so it's a matter of absorbing that pressure and getting the ball on the outside."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-04-09/stingray-sting-cant-stop-tiger