Hardwick's post-match presser / "We just lacked polish" - Dimma

[one-eyed]

Dimma's post-match presser:

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1283544/damien-hardwick-post-match

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Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was also pleased with aspects of his side's performance, coming from behind in the final 17 seconds via a Tom Lynch mark and goal, rather than coughing up a draw.
 
"The scoreboard dictates the outcome, but I thought it looked like a Richmond game. I thought we had them pinned in the front half for the vast majority, but the reality is, we just lacked polish," Hardwick said.
 
"We had seven missed shots on goal, we had four on the full, we had a few sodas (missed) from in front – I'll look at how the game looked overall, but the polish I think is the one thing we can take out that we can certainly improve.
 
"What we were really happy with tonight was our system and our defence, we kept them to a really manageable score, we just couldn't capitalise when we wanted to."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/882738/-at-least-it-didn-t-hit-the-post-glass-half-full-for-dimma-voss-despite-draw

[one-eyed]

Hardwick, though, was positive about the fact that the Tigers had the game played in their attacking territory.

“We had 37 front-half turnovers, so our system was strong. Our pressure number was 1.88, which is elite. We were really happy with that part of our game. It was the fundamentals of the polish inside 50 that probably let us down.”

Hardwick was also upbeat about the Richmond debuts of Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto, the ex-Giants who crossed to Punt Road in the trade period.

“I thought they were both really good for us. Tim is different, obviously more of a transitional-type mid, so I think he had a huge impact tonight,” he said.

“‘Hopps’ is probably a little like Cripps. It was a high-stoppage game, but the stoppages were at the book-ends, not necessarily through the arcs.

“I thought he found the ball well – probably his execution [was lacking]; he was one of those guys who we’ll expect to get better along the way. He’s going to get better and better, as we know.

“Generally against Carlton, we get done in clearances. It was pretty much 50-50 from our point of view. We were really happy with that aspect of our game.”

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/a-lost-opportunity-but-voss-hardwick-find-positives-in-season-opening-draw-20230316-p5csw7.html

[TigerLand]

Arcs vs bookends? Aren't they the same thing?

[Gracie]

It is the simple stupid errors that are holding us back. Happened last year and happened again last night. So yes lacked polish

Need to clean up that aspect of the game if we want to be top 4

[Stripes]

I think its more than 'cleaning up our game'. I think it has more to do with our forward-line balance. We have so many quality midfielders that we are trying to fit them all into the team to the detriment of our F50 balance. It's resting midfielders down there which means we have fewer targets and reduced crumbers at the drop of the ball.

I know we need pressure players down there to lock the ball in, which I feel we achieved last night, but we're lacking natural forward players. I would much rather have only one of Bolton/Dusty forward at any one time and have Cumberland at the drop of the ball rather than a resting (and likely exhausted mid). I don't think Mansell offered a lot last night either, but perhaps I just missed his role.

Anyway, there's lots to like about last night, but I think we need to correct our forward line. It's under-performing considering we were number one in the league for scoring last year. What's changed, I wonder?! 

[the claw]

I think its more than 'cleaning up our game'. I think it has more to do with our forward-line balance. We have so many quality midfielders that we are trying to fit them all into the team to the detriment of our F50 balance. It's resting midfielders down there which means we have fewer targets and reduced crumbers at the drop of the ball.

I know we need pressure players down there to lock the ball in, which I feel we achieved last night, but we're lacking natural forward players. I would much rather have only one of Bolton/Dusty forward at any one time and have Cumberland at the drop of the ball rather than a resting (and likely exhausted mid). I don't think Mansell offered a lot last night either, but perhaps I just missed his role.

Anyway, there's lots to like about last night, but I think we need to correct our forward line. It's under-performing considering we were number one in the league for scoring last year. What's changed, I wonder?! 

Exactly this i also think if we play Ryan as a third tall fwd by mid year he will become a genuine target for us.

Cumberland, Ryan and Sonsie  need to be played instead we continue to try and find games for blokes like Short Graham Cotchin and others.

The best players for given roles are not playing instead we continue to play mids in secondary roles.

To kick so few goals from so many f50 entries and to have it locked in for so long says something is wrong.

[Stripes]

I think its more than 'cleaning up our game'. I think it has more to do with our forward-line balance. We have so many quality midfielders that we are trying to fit them all into the team to the detriment of our F50 balance. It's resting midfielders down there which means we have fewer targets and reduced crumbers at the drop of the ball.

I know we need pressure players down there to lock the ball in, which I feel we achieved last night, but we're lacking natural forward players. I would much rather have only one of Bolton/Dusty forward at any one time and have Cumberland at the drop of the ball rather than a resting (and likely exhausted mid). I don't think Mansell offered a lot last night either, but perhaps I just missed his role.

Anyway, there's lots to like about last night, but I think we need to correct our forward line. It's under-performing considering we were number one in the league for scoring last year. What's changed, I wonder?! 

Exactly this i also think if we play Ryan as a third tall fwd by mid year he will become a genuine target for us.

Cumberland, Ryan and Sonsie  need to be played instead we continue to try and find games for blokes like Short Graham Cotchin and others.

The best players for given roles are not playing instead we continue to play mids in secondary roles.

To kick so few goals from so many f50 entries and to have it locked in for so long says something is wrong.

I agree 100%. Dimma needs to stop rewarding players for past deeds and look to what's best for the team for the now.

[Andyy]

Mansell for Cumberland.

Sonsie needs a VFL month for fitness I think.

Can't see Ryan playing with all of Lynch, Jack and Miller. Give Jack a rest at some stage and play Ryan for a few games.

[the claw]

Mansell for Cumberland.

Sonsie needs a VFL month for fitness I think.

Can't see Ryan playing with all of Lynch, Jack and Miller. Give Jack a rest at some stage and play Ryan for a few games.

I can if Tarrant is not available and Miller plays f/b.

Ryan is 206/104 and would be a handful for any defender as well as being more suited to the second ruck role.

Been banging on about it for years now but the need remains for us to have a permanent third tall option weather thats Miller Ryan Bradtke Balta or Bauer who cares it needs to be one of them.