Dimma's presser today ...
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Richmond to name Shaun Hampson for return to partner Ivan Maric in the ruck against AdelaideBruce Matthews
Herald-Sun
August 06, 2015 2:55PMRICHMOND will bring back ruckman Shaun Hampson to help negate Adelaide’s big manpower at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
Hampson has been included to work with Ivan Maric against Crows’ ruck ace Sam Jacobs in the critical centre bounce duels.
And the Tigers may further interrupt the line-up that upset Hawthorn last round by recalling Steven Morris for a specific role on dangerous Crows forward Eddie Betts.
Hampson, back after two weeks out with an ankle injury, and Morris, dropped to the VFL last round, were the extra players who joined the Tigers’ group at Melbourne airport on Thursday.
“We thought Shaun was in really good form before he went out injured a couple of weeks ago. So, he’ll force his way back into the side,’’ coach Damien Hardwick said.
“Jacobs is an incredible ruckman and obviously a key to a strength of their game. So, we’ll bring Shaun back in to combat that ruck challenge.
“There’s a couple of situations we’ve got up our sleeve. We’ve got a decision to make who goes out of that side and that will come out later tonight.’’
On a possible Morris call-up, the coach said: “He has done an incredible job on Eddie Betts over a number of years, he’ll be putting his hand up to play.
“But our backline has been pretty settled over the last seven or eight weeks, so once again we have a selection dilemma and we’ll be able to make that decision tonight.’’
Hardwick said the ruck battles were vital with Adelaide’s clearance capacity and the Tigers must move on quickly from the euphoria of the Hawks’ victory.
“Once you review the game, that’s gone and the next challenge is upon us. The great thing about Friday night footy is that it’s there for all to see and at the forefront of our minds with Adelaide playing for a spot in the eight and we’ve got to continue to solidify our position,’’ he said.
“They play a really fast brand of footy, a very contested brand of footy as well. We’ve won four of five games, but you move on pretty quickly. Our biggest game is this week and the challenge of Adelaide in Adelaide. They were disappointing last week by their own admission, they’re an incredibly proud football club playing for a spot in the eight, so it’s going to be a fierce contest.
“Our biggest hurdle is winning that first quarter. We just worry about what’s in front of us. Each opposition provides a unique set of circumstances. What Adelaide do really well is move the ball quickly and their contested numbers are through the roof as well.
“So, it’s going to be a different challenge to the Hawthorn game, not so much a maintain-possession game. But our philosophy will stay the same, try to slow them down as much as we can because they do play an incredibly breakneck speed of footy.
“But the biggest one for us is their contested ball on the top of clearance dominance. So, for us it’s really important to get off to a good start at the centre bounce and then make sure that goes our way because if the ball gets inside 50 for the Crows, they can be really damaging.’’
Hardwick laughed at the suggestion in Adelaide that his Tigers were now being labelled the bully-boys of the AFL competition.
“If you ask the 17 other coaches, they would say the same thing. The part of the game we all love is the physicality,’’ he said.
“Most sides will have the same conversation before they run out onto the ground, hard, tough, Richmond-style footy and our players expect no less, the same as Adelaide this week.
“The physical aspect is something we’ve worked incredibly hard on. It’s one of the important factors of all premiership sides. You look at Hawthorn over the last couple of years, it’s all based on physicality. So, we’re no different to any other side trying to get to the top.’’
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-to-name-shaun-hampson-for-return-to-partner-ivan-maric-in-the-ruck-against-adelaide/story-fndv8t7m-1227472747547
