Hardwick's post-match media conference/ We're going but not as well as we'd like

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Dimma's post-match presser:

VIDEO: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2017-07-29/round-19-hardwick-postmatch

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Makeshift forward line delivers without Jack

afl.com.au
30 July 2017

IT WAS a case of no Riewoldt, no worries, for Richmond in its 33-point victory over Gold Coast.

Star forward Jack Riewoldt has been a reliable presence inside 50 for the Tigers, and missed his first match in 87 games after suffering a scratched cornea at training.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick resisted the temptation to bring in Todd Elton as a tall replacement, instead relying on a makeshift forward line of ruckman Toby Nankervis, stocky forward Josh Caddy and many, many small forwards.

"It was challenging. Obviously when you have one of the elite forwards in the competition not playing, I've had this guy play for me for eight years and the team is really used to having a focal point up forward," Hardwick said.

"We slotted Josh Caddy into that role pretty well, he looked really lively at various stages, just didn't get the scoreboard result he was after.

"Nank [Nankervis], I thought, complemented him also. We look forward to welcoming [Riewoldt] back next week, should only be a one-week injury."

Nankervis kicked three goals, all in the second quarter, and was an effective key forward against an undermanned Suns defence missing co-captain Steven May.

"To get three goals out of Nank, if you had said to me at the start of the game you'd get that, you'd walk away pretty happy. He missed a soda from the goalsquare as well, but we'll take three goals. Thought he provided a good contest for our small players, too."

The mosquito fleet was up and firing, even if their aim was a little bit wayward. Jason Castagna was the main culprit, kicking three goals (including a spectacular banana from the boundary just before three-quarter time) but also had three behinds.

"He's [Castagna] a really smart player and just creates opportunities for himself and others. I'm glad he's started to get his kicking boots on because he butchered a couple of chances early," Hardwick said.

"He does generate a lot of shots on goal. We've been really pleased with how he's going, defensively he's really good as well."

Daniel Rioli got the ball rolling for the Tigers early, and Hardwick said it was good to see lively forward, who is sometimes missed by teammates, get on the scoreboard.

"I thought he was great. He kicked three first-quarter goals, then gave away another three [to teammates] throughout the course of the night. I wouldn't say it's a bag, but it's a small step forward for him, there's no doubt about that," he said.

The win consolidated Richmond's spot in the top four, and sets up an exciting clash against the in-form Hawthorn next Sunday. The Tigers have a good record over the Hawks, but Hardwick believes it will still be a big test.

"Are we playing our best footy? Nope, we've got a little way to go with that. But we're creating ourselves enough chances to get the results we're after," he said.

"But as I've said all along, our best footy, I feel, is still in front of us. We're going, but we're not going as well as we'd like."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-29/makeshift-forward-line-delivers-without-jack

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Richmond win 12th game but face tough test against Hawthorn, says Damien Hardwick

GREG DAVIS,
The Courier-Mail
30 July 2017

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers face a serious test of their top four credentials when they take on Hawthorn in a MCG blockbuster next Sunday.

Richmond did enough to put away an injury riddled Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night with a scrappy 33-point win for their 12th victory of 2017.

But Hardwick knows the Tigers will need to lift considerably against the resurgent Hawks who remained in finals contention after an impressive victory over Sydney on Friday night.

“We’ve got Hawthorn next week who are in cracking form, probably one of the form sides in the competition behind Sydney, who they just beat, so it’s going to be a big game,’’ he said.

“You’ve got a side trying to consolidate its space in finals and then you’ve got a side trying to make finals. We’ve certainly got a chance now, with a couple of results that went our way.

“Are we playing our best footy? No, we’ve got a little way to go with that. We’re creating enough chances to get the results we’re after, but as I’ve said all along our best footy is still in front of us.

“We’re going, but we’re not going as well as we’d like.’’

Hardwick said it was “challenging’’ without Jack Riewoldt (eye) in the forward line but was happy with the output of Daniel Rioli against the Suns.

“Obviously when you’ve got one of the elite forwards of the competition not playing (and) our team is really used to having a focal point up forward, it does take a little bit of getting used to,’’ he said.

“We slotted Josh Caddy into that role pretty well, he looked pretty lively at various stages without getting quite the scoreboard result he was after.

“We look forward to welcoming him back next week, it should only be a one-week injury, it’ll be pretty handy to get him back versus the Hawks.
Daniel Rioli ignited the Tigers with three goals. Picture: AAP

“I thought it (Rioli’s three goal haul) was great. He kicked three first-quarter goals and gave away another three for the rest of the night. I wouldn’t say it’s a bag, but it’s a small step forward for him. It was great that he hit the scoreboard.

“We challenged our small forwards, Daniel in particular, he only had one tackle in the first half, he finished with five.

“That’s the Daniel Rioli we know. That was really pleasing from my point of view, that I could challenge him and he raised the bar again, and to give off three score assists in the second half is the mark of a pretty good player.’’

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-secures-12th-win-but-must-raise-bar-against-hawthorn/news-story/d527efe551d8744b208a8deba8ae8351

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Richmond still need to improve, says Damien Hardwick

Andrew Stafford
The Age
30 July 2017

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick admitted his team "couldn't capitalise enough as we would have liked" after a 33-point win over the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium, in a game where the Suns finished with one fit player on the bench and others hobbling.

"It was a really brave effort by Gold Coast to be honest, down three players after half time. They hung tough, they gave us some trouble," Hardwick said.

"They're a formidable outfit up here, they're now four and five [at home] but they've beaten some really good sides, so we knew we were up for a challenge … Credit where credit's due, I thought they were terrific.

"We probably weren't quite at our best today, but still managed to get the job done, and good sides win when sometimes they're not playing their best."

Hardwick pointed out that his team had close to 30 shots on goal, and should have won by more. "We were disappointed with our finishing on goals today, probably butchered a couple of opportunities, but I thought overall our guys were trying to do the right thing and trying to bring their teammates into the game."

He said he had tried to compensate for the loss of spearhead Jack Riewoldt by using Josh Caddy up forward, but it was ruckman Toby Nankervis who provided the most viable target, kicking three goals and helping create opportunities at ground level.

But he said his side still needed to improve. "We've got Hawthorn next week who are in cracking form, probably one of the form sides in the competition behind Sydney, who they just beat, so it's going to be a big game.

"You've got a side trying to consolidate its space in finals and then you've got a side trying to make finals … Are we playing our best footy? No, we've got a little way to go with that. We're creating enough chances to get the results we're after, but as I've said all along our best footy is still in front of us."

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-still-need-to-improve-says-damien-hardwick-20170730-gxll9f.html