Dimma's post-game presser:
WATCH: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1291091/damien-hardwick-post-match-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Tigers survived a massive scare from the Crows to win their first game of the season.
They led by 45 points at halftime before the Crows narrowed the margin to a solitary point midway through the last quarter.
Asked about the confrontation against the Magpies, Hardwick said the club was fortunate it was able to play in these marquee games.
“Versus the Pies is always a big game,” he said. “There will be a big crowd and it is exciting, not only for the two clubs, but the game in general.
“We are seeing a great level of footy. Sides are trying to score, but defensively it is relatively strong, so the game is in a pretty good spot.”
Hardwick said the Tigers should celebrate three terrific quarters, but work was needed on the third quarter.
“We had three outstanding quarters, and one really poor quarter,” Hardwick said.
Noting the Crows added five goals, five behinds in the third term, Hardwick said his side could not get its hands on the ball when the Tigers’ contested work and clearances were poor.
“They smacked us in every facet of the game in the third quarter and we just couldn’t do anything to quell it,” he said.
“Credit where it is due, they rolled the dice and got the game on their terms. The vast majority of their score came in one quarter and we could not stop it.
“There are some good learnings. What I was really pleased with was our fourth quarter. We got back to a Richmond game and that was the important thing. We were pretty happy with that.”
The long-term, off-season addition of prized recruits Hopper and Tim Taranto has transformed Richmond’s on-ball muscle, virtually overnight.
“I thought Hopper was huge and Taranto grew into the game as well,” Hardwick said. “Dion [Prestia] is just a wonderful player and I thought [ruckman] Toby [Nankervis] was terrific.
“We sort of haven’t had those bigger-bodied mids. If you look at the size of Tim [188cm, 87kg] and Jacob [187cm, 88kg], they’re big, strong boys. It’s something that’s been a little bit foreign to us but we’re getting better at it.”
Sources: AFL,
Age &
HeraldSun websites.
