Dimma's aftermatch media conference / Discipline and injuries cost us: Hardwick

[one-eyed]

Discipline and injuries cost us: Hardwick
By Peter Ryan
afl.com.au
10:30pm AEST Saturday, May 4, 2013

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick reminded his players the retaliator always gets caught after a moment of ill-discipline from former captain Chris Newman allowed Geelong to deliver the knock-out blow on Saturday night at the MCG.

Hardwick said for Newman to give away that advantage during a significant period of the contest was disappointing.

"[For] that to come from Chris (Newman) was disappointing. He has got to be better than that and we know that."

However Hardwick knew it wasn't just that isolated incident that proved costly.

The loss of their two ruckmen to injury in two frenetic minutes early in the third quarter against Geelong was enough to throw the Tigers into disarray.

Ivan Maric left the ground with an injured leg and had barely crossed the boundary line when Tyrone Vickery was seeing stars in the centre circle after clashing heads with Steve Johnson.

Hardwick said they did not know whether either player would return – Vickery was eventually subbed off with concussion – and were making decisions at a rapid rate.

It saw them in the situation of having to rob Peter to pay Paul. 

"[It] just compounded problems all over the ground," Hardwick said. [We were] constantly trying to chase our tail."

The period has implications for next week with Hardwick uncertain about the availability of either ruckman to take on Port Adelaide in a must win game for the club at AAMI Park next week.

On the bright side, Hardwick said Nathan Foley was close to making a return. 

Hardwick also bemoaned some uncharacteristic errors in defence that cost the team goals.

"They are the sort of mistakes that the good sides make you make, but we have to eradicate," Hardwick said.

"[It's] probably unlike us for the majority of the year so we just have to make sure we iron those out, regroup and restock and get better."

Although disappointed with the result he said injuries led to the margin blowing out and the players would remain positive.

"We're three and three. We're in the pack. Those sides, particularly Geelong, have shown us the level we have got to play at," Hardwick said.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-05-04/hardwick-rich-v-geel

[Phil Mrakov]

Thanks for playing Tucky, Dimma.

[one-eyed]

Damien Hardwick rues a poor five minutes from Richmond

    Scott Gullan
    From: Herald Sun
    May 04, 2013 11:58PM

A FRUSTRATED Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was left to rue a disastrous five minutes early in the third quarter which changed the course of the match.

After a gallant first half the Tigers were hit by injuries to their two ruckmen, Ivan Maric and Tyrone Vickery, in the space of two minutes and then an undiscplined act by veteran Chris Newman handed Geelong a crucial goal and momentum.

From there it was all Geelong with an 11 goal to five second half burying the Tigers.

Newman gave away an off-the-ball free-kick to Taylor Hunt which saw the ball taken from his teammate Dustin Martin who was set to have a shot for goal from 20m out.

The Cats then received two 50m penalities resulting in Allen Christensen kicking the goal.

"It was disappointing," Hardwick said. "We spoke about it afterwards, the thing about it is the retaliator always gets caught.

"We take a mark in the goalsquare and it ends up a 12-point turnaround at the other end. For that to come from Chris was disappointing, he has got to be better than that.

"I think after that they got a centre bounce goal as well so it ended up being a huge knockout blow really."

Vickery had to be subbed out of the game after being concussed following a nasty head clash with Cats star Steve Johnson.

Maric, who had hobbled off a minute early, was forced to come back onto the ground but was clearly hampered by an ankle injury.

"When we lost Tyrone and Ivan straight away, our forward structure went out the window and it was tough," Hardwick said. "The scoreboard blew out in the end but I thought it was closer up until our injuries started to curtail us in the end.

"We are 3-3 and we are in the pack, those sides especially Geelong have shown the level you have to got to play at. We certainly felt we could have played better tonight but we have to re-group and get ready for Port Adelaide next week."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/teams/damien-hardwick-rues-a-poor-five-minutes-from-richmond/story-e6frf9mx-1226635315225

[tony_montana]

Meh those unforced errors are not unlike us, it is us and holds us back from being a very good side. We are a dumb decision making football side that continually shoots ourselves in the foot.

Last night Geelong 1st 6 goals came from direct turnovers/mistakes from us and the 7th came from. 2 on 1 contest on the boundary which allowed the Geelong one to win it vs our two. You don't win games of football against quality opposition by making it so easy for them. This happens every single week and won't be eradicated unless we change personel bc it's the cattle that is out there, they are dumb decision makers and not good enough under pressure.

[WA Tiger]

Honestly, discipline should not be costing us games at this stage of our development!!!!!!!

[Chuck17]

In the season of the no you know what's its inexcusable

[Ruanaidh]

We could easily be 1-5 ATM.....hey Dimma other sides can use excuses too . Malthouse/Sheedy would swing the axe on under-performers/butchers. It's time Dimma grew some balls. If not Benny will...let's hope...

On a side note: I think Cameron Ling would make a good coach one day

[Hank44]

Sorry, but this guy is in denial. Poor discipline, no composure, no plan B, no run from the back line, no movement from the front half, lack of desparation in the midfield... But, injuries cost us.

[Chuck17]

Sorry, but this guy is in denial. Poor discipline, no composure, no plan B, no run from the back line, no movement from the front half, lack of desparation in the midfield... But, injuries cost us.

What were you saying after the first three games of the season