Hardwick's post-match media conference/ 'It felt like a 100-point loss': Dimma

[one-eyed]

Dimma's post-match presser ...

VIDEO: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2015-08-07/round-19-hardwick-postmatch

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'It felt like a 100-point loss': Hardwick's lament after Tigers cop hiding

Tom Wilson 
afl.com.au
August 8, 2015

THE FINAL margin was six goals but Richmond's loss to Adelaide felt like a 100-point belting, according to coach Damien Hardwick.

Hardwick also rejected suggestions the Tigers were suffering a comedown from the high of last week's stunning win over reigning premier Hawthorn.

Adelaide dominated Richmond in just about every aspect of the game and if it hadn't been for the Crows' inaccurate goalkicking – 11 goals, 22 behinds – the result would have been an absolute hiding.

"To be honest, it felt like a hundred-point loss in the coach's box and our players felt the same thing," Hardwick said.

"We got obliterated in contest ball (151-118), tackles (73-55) and clearances (50-27).

"We were never in the game.

"On form tonight they were as good a side as we've played this year."

Brett Deledio's late withdrawal through illness was a major blow, given the Tigers' dismal record without the star midfielder. Richmond has now lost seven of its past nine games without him.'

"We prepared to play without him, he was pretty crook," Hardwick said.

"The fact of the matter is you bring another soldier in to replace him and it shouldn't result in a game like that."

The Tigers also lost the inside 50 count, 74 to 38, and only produced 12 shots at goal for the entire match.

"When you've got [Ben] Griffiths, Deledio and [Shane] Edwards out, your scoring power is always going to be a little bit diminished," Hardwick said.

"We still expect to kick a winning score but defensively we know we can keep a side to 10-12 goals and give ourselves a chance to win.

"It's an area of our game we have to improve."

Jack Riewoldt played under duress after copping a knee to his back in the second quarter while defender Dylan Grimes was subbed out with a knee injury.

"We have to wait on scans but they're precautionary at this stage," Hardwick said.

"[Grimes] has obviously had an injury history with us so we'll bide our time with that one."

Hardwick denied Richmond had bought into its own hype after defeating premiership favourites Hawthorn last week.

"Sides are going to lose games," Hardwick said.

"We've won 20 out of 27 games."

"There are not many sides that have won as many games as our boys and I'll back our side in to continue to win games."

"We'll review it, our players will take stock and they'll bounce back."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-08/it-felt-like-a-100point-loss-hardwicks-lament-after-tigers-cop-hiding

[one-eyed]

Damien Hardwick says Adelaide amongst best teams Richmond have played all year

Andrew Capel
Herald-Sun
August 08, 2015


RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick labelled Adelaide as “being as good a side as we’ve played this year’’ after its upset performance at Adelaide Oval.

“That was as good a performance as you’ll see from any side that has played us,’’ he said.

“They were outstanding, you’ve only got to look at the numbers for the opposition.’’

The Crows won by 36 points but Hardwick said the defeat felt “like a 100-point loss’’.

“I thought we were never in the game really,’’ he said.

“It felt like a 100-point loss in the coaches box and our players felt the same thing.

“We got absolutely obliterated in contested ball (151-118), tackles (73-55) and clearances (50-27).

“I thought they (the Crows) were outstanding, they came out and jumped hard and they played hard throughout.

“Obviously they had a bad loss last week (to Sydney) and they were out to rectify that and they certainly got the result they were after. They were terrific.’’

Adelaide remarkably had 21 more scoring shots (33 to 12) and 36 more inside 50s (74-38) than Richmond.

“We just couldn’t get our hands on the ball,’’ Hardwick lamented.

“We are normally a very good contested ball side but they absolutely smashed us in that area.’’

Hardwick described the games of Crows’ prime movers Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Thompson as “enormous’’ and he didn’t want to make excuses for the Tigers falling without their own playmaker Brett Deledio, who was a late withdrawal through illness.

“He is (an important player) but the fact of the matter is we bring in another soldier to replace him so it shouldn’t result in a performance like that,’’ he said.

Hardwick conceded his star key defender Alex Rance had been eclipsed by Adelaide captain Taylor Walker, who hauled in 10 marks and had 21 disposals.

“Alex was well beaten,’’ Hardwick said.

“He’s a pretty solid player and he’ll take it on board. Tex (Walker) played a great game but probably wasn’t helped by the ease they moved the ball out of congestion.

“If you are one on one for a period of time and if the ball use is good enough you are going to get hurt, so it was probably unfair on Alex asking him to compete in an unfair contest at various stages.’’

Hardwick said his own No. 1 forward Jack Riewoldt, who kicked just one goal and failed to take a mark, was hurt in the second quarter when he copped a knee in the back.

“He was limited from that but I thought (Daniel) Talia did a pretty good job on him before that anyway,’’ he said.

Hardwick said that while the loss hurt he backed his men, who upset flag favourite Hawthorn last week, to bounce back hard.

“You’ve got to lose at some stage,’’ he said.

“We’ve been up for a long period of time and while we’ve got some things to rectify from this game and I’ll back our blokes to win games.

“It’s what you do after a loss that counts most.’’

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/damien-hardwick-says-adelaide-amongst-best-teams-richmond-have-played-all-year/story-fndv8t7m-1227474993276

[Diocletian]

Oh look they're a bloody good side...

[Eat_em_Alive]

Oh look they're a bloody good side...