Dimma's presser today:
VIDEO:
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2016-04-21/hardwick-press-conference-april-21------------------------------------------------------------------
The Age
Ronny Lerner
21 April 2016Richmond will be boosted by the return of their No.1 ruckman Ivan Maric for their crunch clash with Melbourne on Sunday night and might also regain the services of talisman Brett Deledio.
Coach Damien Hardwick confirmed Maric as a certain starter on Thursday morning after the veteran big man spent the past two weeks in the VFL.
It will be Maric's first game of the year since overcoming a back injury.
"He's got enough minutes into himself now so we're looking forward to having him back," Hardwick said of Maric.
"He's obviously an important player, a spiritual leader for our footy club also."
But Hardwick said the match committee would have to make a "risk assessment" on Deledio who is close to fully recovering from a quadriceps injury that has sidelined him for the first four rounds.
"He'll train today so then we'll just probably make a call in match committee," Hardwick said at Punt Road Oval.
"Obviously he's got to get through training and we'll see how that pans out. He's made some progress from this time last week which is positive."
Hardwick believes Deledio is "over the hump" in his rehab and made a breakthrough on the weekend when he started kicking regulation footballs for the first time since injuring himself.
Despite that, the Richmond boss admitted it would still be a "tough call" as the Tigers would like to make sure Deledio is fit and available for most of the season.
"From a fitness point of view he's probably as fit as he's ever been but the rigours of AFL footy just don't come with the running ... he's a really important player to us so it'll be a bit of a risk assessment and then we'll make the decision later on on Friday or Saturday," he said.
"We'd love to have him playing this week but we've also got a long season in front of us."
Hardwick ruled out the possibility of Deledio returning through the reserves.
Shaun Hampson (thigh) and David Astbury (ankle) will have to prove their fitness at training after injuring themselves against West Coast last week and failing to see out the game.
Meanwhile, Dylan Grimes (hamstring/knee) and Ben Griffiths (ankle) are both probably at least a week away from resuming but Anthony Miles will be available for selection after strong form in the VFL.
Hardwick admitted Richmond were "floundering a little bit", having lost their last three games to sit 13th on the ladder with a 1-3 record.
However, he remained confident that the Tigers' poor form would "flick over" sooner rather than later with the gradual reintroduction of first-choice players.
"It's funny, it might take one quarter and then all of a sudden you get things back on track," Hardwick said.
"I think back to last year when we were 2-4 and I think in the Collingwood game we were under the pump at quarter-time and then all of a sudden it just flicked, I think we won 13 of our next 16 games so this group is more than capable.
"I'm incredibly confident with our playing group, our coaching group, so we've all got great faith we'll get back to the footy we know we can play.
"The proof will be in the pudding this week."
Richmond's task of returning to the winners' list won't be an easy one against a Demons outfit that has beaten Collingwood and fallen short by a kick against North Melbourne in the past fortnight.
"The game last week against Collingwood, their first quarter was electrifying," Hardwick said of the Dees.
"They've got some really talented players that are playing some good football.
"We've always know they're capable, they've beaten us the last two times over the last two years."
For the second year in a row, the Melbourne-Richmond fixture will take place at the MCG on Anzac Day eve and Hardwick said it was a "privilege" to play a part in the nation's most solemn day.
"It's great to be part of the Anzac Day festivities, obviously it's a special time on the sporting calendar with the big game on Anzac Day and ourselves and Melbourne trying to forge that game going forward on Anzac eve," Hardwick said.
"So it becomes a celebration of a great part of Australian history.
"We often speak about how those young men, especially in the First World War, were thrown into battle at the age of 18 or 19.
"Whilst you try not to say it [footy] is similar to war, it's more the camaraderie and the mateship that comes with that so from that point of view we'll link that to our build-up this week."
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ivan-maric-set-to-return-for-richmond-tigers-brett-deledio-an-afl-chance-too-20160421-gobiw4.html
