No revelling in breakthrough win: Hardwickrichmondfc.com.au
By James Bartold
6:45 PM Sat 29 May, 2010RICHMOND finally ended its 13-game losing streak but won't be permitted to enjoy the win for long.
Coach Damien Hardwick said players could take 10 minutes to revel in breaking their drought against Port Adelaide on Saturday, before refocusing on next week's clash with St Kilda.
“It will galvanize the playing group but we still understand we are 1-9 and have a long way to go,” Hardwick said after the match.
In torrential rain, the Tigers held the Power to 3.2 - the lowest score in the club’s history - with relentless defensive pressure and a record 140 tackles.
Shane Tuck (31 possessions and nine clearances) was unstoppable for the Tigers, as were the leadership group of Chris Newman (23 possessions and six tackles), Brett Deledio and Trent Cotchin.
“It’s the sort of thing you expect from your leader to stand up in a game like today," Hardwick said of Newman. "That is a real test of his and our football club's character.”
The Tigers coach felt the wet weather was a boost for his side against a tired-looking Port Adelaide.
“You look at the players like Cotchin, [Dustin] Martin, [Shane] Tuck, they are strong body players who suit the conditions,” he said.
Richmond dominated the stoppages, thrashing Port Adelaide 53 to 36 in clearances, with young gun Martin collecting 11 in that stat.
“He could quite easily have been guilty of assault a couple of times, he was that hard at the contest,” Hardwick said.
The Richmond coach said the wave of exciting new stars emerging from the club should keep Tigers supporters positive about the future.
“For our supporter base to see [Ben] Griffiths, [David] Astbury, [Ben] Nason and Martin, all of sudden they start to think we are actually on the right track.”
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