Hardwick's aftermatch media conference [merged]

[one-eyed]

Riewoldt great but help required
richmondfc.com.au
By Mark Conway
11:00 PM Fri 04 June, 2010


RICHMOND coach Damian Hardwick has conceded the Tigers’ forward line is their achilles heel despite a stunning six-goal performance from Jack Riewoldt in Friday night’s 38-point loss to St Kilda.

The Tigers slumped to their 12th straight defeat at the hands of St Kilda but the final margin masked a gutsy performance from Hardwick’s men.

Despite failing to register a major until the 22-minute mark of the second term, the Tigers showed grit and determination to edge within 12 points during the third term before falling away in the final stanza.

With fellow forward Ben Griffiths a late withdrawal before the match, Riewoldt almost singlehandedly took the game up to one of the premiership favourites, one of only two goal kickers for his side.

While full of praise for the forward’s efforts, Hardwick was quick to point out the need to give the youngster adequate help in a developing side.

“Our forward line is going to be our achilles heel for the time being. Jack to his credit was outstanding and I thought he had some quality opposition,” Hardwick said.

“What we’ve got to do is develop that forward line so we can get him some help down there - it was an outstanding individual effort but he needs some help down there no doubt.”

Riewoldt was well aided by a midfield group that, like it has done so often this season, dominated the clearances throughout.

“I thought [Trent] Cotchin worked his way in and Dustin Martin competed really well and [Shane] Tuck was good also,” Hardwick said.

“We won the stoppages relatively easy but lost the turnovers. It was good from those guys’ point of view to generate some ball inside 50 but just not enough to get us over the line.”

However, despite the string of positives to draw from the match, Hardwick was under no illusions as to the areas it still desperately needed to improve on.

“We actually controlled the game and looked dominant in stages but we let ourselves down with some structure stuff that we’ll go through the tape and be able to eradicate,” he said.

“There was some really good signs but there’s some stuff we can clean up no doubt.”

Hardwick confirmed that Griffiths was likely to rejoin the side in next week’s match against West Coast while key midfielder Nathan Foley is also expected to come into the side.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/95730/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Saints outfox Jack in a box
Sam Edmund
Herald Sun
June 05, 2010

IT WAS a return to earth with a thud, but for Richmond the signs of hope are burning brighter than ever.

The record will show the Tigers lost their 10th game of the season by 38 points, but it was a contest against a top four-bound St Kilda littered with positives.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick praised the effort, but pointed the finger squarely at several glaring clangers for the defeat.

"I thought we fought our way back, but the turnovers killed us," he said.

"Against a quality side like St Kilda, you turn the ball over - especially across your forward arc - and they just take the ball out. They're such a strong-bodied side that capitalised on our mistakes.

"Look, there were some good signs. I thought we let ourselves down, though, in the end."

The Tigers didn't kick their first goal until 21 minutes into the second quarter, but kicked four straight goals in an exciting burst to start the second half to get within 12 points at the 17-minute mark of the third term.

Richmond dominated the clearances 41-26 and can take a glass half-full approach to its match review.

Jack Riewoldt kicked 6.3 and was irrepressible when found one-out opposed to Jason Blake and Sam Fisher.

Dustin Martin was brilliant despite being restricted by a heavy cork, Ben Cousins played with more zip, Jake King and Shane Tuck had the better of Nick Dal Santo and Lenny Hayes, while Jeromey Webberley was bright.

"I thought (Trent) Cotchin worked his way in ... Dustin Martin had another eight clearances and Tucky was good also," Hardwick said.

"We've said all along our forward line is going to be our achilles heel for the time being. Jack, to his credit, was outstanding. I thought he played on some quality opposition and he looked very very good."

Hardwick said he felt the six-goal margin was not an accurate reflection of the game after the Tigers faded in the final quarter.

"I think the 38 points, in the end, I don't know whether it reflected the game. It was a bit of a tight tussle there for a while," he said.

"We took the game on. We knew we had to because St Kilda play a really good structured defence that's really hard to penetrate and it actually came off.

"I thought we controlled the game for periods and you've got to understand that they are a top-four side. We started to get the ball through the corridor, which was good, but with great risk comes turnovers."s

"There were some really good signs, but there's some stuff there that we can clean up, no doubt, which will get us a lot closer."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-turn-over-old-leaf/story-e6frf9jf-1225875738445