Dimma's post-match presser:
WATCH: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1302936/round-4-hardwick-post-match----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As for the defeat, Hardwick rued his side's work around clearances, which the Dogs won 41-26, along with 16-8 at centre clearances.
"There's some things we liked but there's some things we're disappointed with," Hardwick said.
"You've got to beat the Dogs in clearance, that's their one wood. Today we were disappointing in that facet of the game.
"Centre clearance is so important on a wet day, we go down 8-16. It summarises the game really. You're attacking from the back half."
Hardwick was in a combative mood after the Tigers blew a 14-point half-time lead to lose by five points against the Western Bulldogs on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the MCG.
The result left the Tigers with only one win from their opening four games, while they have some fresh concerns with Jack Graham injuring his left hamstring, while Lynch spent time off the ground too.
Hardwick admitted Lynch may have [a] concern on the injury front, having sat out almost 10 minutes in the second quarter before playing the game out, stating he was uncertain if he'd be available next week.
The Tigers coach also clarified utilising former skipper Trent Cotchin as the sub was always their plan, having been listed in the Thursday teams out of their 22 due to being "managed".
Hardwick lamented the League's requirements for teams to submit their final 22s, rather than the 23-man squad including the sub, which he claimed made the Cotchin decision seem a bigger deal than it was.
"We've got to name people out of the 23 for god knows what reason," Hardwick said. "It'd be nice if the AFL could do something about that so it doesn't create a big story, if that makes sense.
"I think it's ridiculous that we've got to do it and we need to get it fixed. It's farcical that we've got to do it."
Hardwick said Richmond had been in touch with the AFL for the past two years to complain about the requirement which he called "baffling".
The Tigers coach also rested veteran forward Jack Riewoldt, admitting Geelong was a blueprint for player management in 2022 when it managed older players like Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood before winning the flag.
"It's a copycat league, with the way they did it," Hardwick said. "Some of our players are getting that way inclined with their age.
"We've got guys that are mid-30s so they're not going to be able to play every game. The players have got a good understanding of that.
"It's one thing our industry hasn't got their head around. We want to keep the good players going for longer, so it means they're not going to play 22 games. The game is as hard as it's ever been.
"We can sit there and keep trying to do it and we can keep getting injuries or we can try manage those guys and get them right for hopefully the point end of the season."
https://www.afl.com.au/news/898719/dimma-slams-farcical-selection-rule-defends-big-forward-s-bump
