Hardwick's press conference 14-6-17 / Rance & co. can stop rampant Buddy: Dimma

[one-eyed]

Dimma's presser today:

VIDEO: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2017-06-14/hardwick-previews-swans

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Rance and co. can stop rampant Buddy, says Dimma

Roger Vaughan,
AAP 
June 14, 2017 2:30 PM


WHEREVER Buddy roams, Richmond is ready.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick has the utmost confidence that his trio of key defenders can handle Sydney star Lance Franklin in Saturday's massive clash.

Franklin has kicked 35 goals this season and shares the Coleman Medal lead with Greater Western Sydney forward Jeremy Cameron.

While the media is pumping up a Franklin versus Alex Rance duel, Hardwick said it was more complicated than that.

"I will back any of our key defenders versus Buddy - Dave Astbury is in terrific form, as is Dylan Grimes," Hardwick said.

"All three of those guys are really putting their hands up to getting Buddy at any stage.

"The thing about Buddy is he plays deep, he can play up the ground, so we feel we have the match-ups to force their hand a little bit.

"But in saying that, if the supply comes in without pressure, they're going to kick some goals."

Franklin booted seven goals when the two sides clashed in round 23 last season and Hardwick noted that was ancient history.

Richmond was limping to the end of a disappointing season and Sydney was surging to a Grand Final berth.

Hardwick was also unsure who had enjoyed the better of the Franklin v Rance battles, given the Sydney star can play deep or have a more mobile role.

But if it came down to a one-on-one duel, the Tigers' coach was backing his man.

"What I do know is Alex is a fantastic player, in career-best form again, a three-time All-Australian," Hardwick said.

"I'm prepared to back in my guy every day of the week."

The last time Sydney played at the MCG was their lowest ebb of the season - a shock round-six loss to Carlton.

Since then, they have won four out of five games.

Richmond have also broken a four-game losing streak with two wins and are in the top four.

"They're a completely different side - personnel is a big one for that," Hardwick said of Sydney.

"They were on their knees for injury at the start of the year.

"You completely disregard the first six weeks of the season."

While Sydney and Richmond are in smoking-hot form, Hardwick's Wednesday media call was to spruik the anti-smoking message as part of the AFL Coaches + Chemist Warehouse Men's Health Week quit smoking campaign.

Asked when he last had a puff, Hardwick said "maybe the Middle Hotel, 1985".

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-14/rance-and-co-can-stop-rampant-buddy-says-dimma

[one-eyed]

'Just get off the ground': Hardwick on runners

afl.com.au
14 June 2017

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has joined the chorus of concern about the increasing on-ground presence of runners, saying he had noticed at least two instances this season where runners blocked play and weren't penalised.

Hardwick's comments come in the wake of the controversy surrounding the role Greater Western Sydney runner Nick Maxwell played in last Sunday's game against Carlton.

The Giants have emphatically denied commentators' suggestions Maxwell was strategically used to block space along the centre square at Carlton kick-ins, but the AFL has written to GWS to raise concerns Maxwell coached players on the ground during the game.

And former Western Bulldogs and Richmond coach Terry Wallace believes the runner role should be abolished, telling SEN clubs should be able to cope without them.

Hardwick told reporters on Wednesday he would not be "too stressed" if the AFL banned runners.

"Generally, our runner comes on and off and gives the message, or gets a player off from a rotational point of view. A lot of our messages go through players anyway these days, and for us from a coaching communication (perspective) it certainly helps, but for me it's not a big issue," Hardwick said.

"If they go, they go, if they stay, they stay. Just get off the ground."

Hardwick said some runners spent too much time on the field.

"There's two bits of vision we looked at from this year where they were in the way and we couldn't believe free kicks weren't awarded," the Tigers coach said.

"Once again, it will go through, the AFL will rectify it and put out a pretty stern warning. I think they'll get them on and off the ground a lot quicker.

"It's something we have to monitor all the time … but it's not too big a concern from my point of view.

"They'll make a tougher stance on it and it will be better again this week."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-14/just-get-off-the-ground-hardwick-on-runners

[(•))(©™]

Yeh look, I think the runners do a great job, running around, getting a job done.
I tell you what...I wouldn't wanna be a runner.

[lamington]

Rance has had Buddy's measure for ages now. Franklin kicked 7 because the entire team gave up and the ball went inside our D50 3245809713409563207968 times.

When there was still hope in the season and the team didn't check out yet in 2016 (the one where Lloyd kicked the goal after the siren) Rance easily had Franklin covered. Same in 2015 when Rance took on Tippett as well as Franklin

[mat073]

Rance has done well on Buddy in the past ....particularly against Hawthorn in 2013 / Sydney 2015

Buddy kicked 5 in the "Lloyd" victory last year and 7 later in the year when Richmond went on their post season holiday a week early.

[one-eyed]

More from Dimma:

Richmond’s rising reservoir of depth

afl media
15 June 2017

A boost in talent stocks has been a major factor in Richmond pushing up into fourth place on the league ladder at the midway mark of season 2017, according to coach Damien Hardwick.

While fully aware the pressure will increase throughout the second half of what’s regarded as the most even AFL season in years, Hardwick believes the Tigers are now better equipped to deal with whatever confronts them.

Be there as Saturday arvo footy returns to the ‘G this week when the Tigers host Sydney

“We’ve got some more pawns to play with, which is exciting for our footy club. And we’ve still got some players we think can come back and add to that . . . Nick Vlastuin’s probably another week away (recovering from a shoulder injury), but he can add to that mix,” Hardwick said.

“The addition of (Dion) Prestia and (Josh) Caddy and these types of players has helped, together with the improvement of players such as Dan Butler, Jason Castagna and Connor Menadue . . .

“We’ve added talent around that, but it’s certainly been developed from within as well.

“So we’re really excited about where we’re placed.

“We know our best footy’s in front of us. We’ve got a long way to go, but we know we’re relatively competitive most weeks . . .

“We put that 7-4 (win-loss ratio) in the bank and we move forward with the second part of the season.

“The game doesn’t know where you’re at. It just provides an opposition every week, and our job is to beat that upcoming opponent. And none tougher than an in-form Sydney side on the ‘G’ this week.

“We’re looking forward to our fans getting out there, providing the support we need, and if we play our best, we’ll get over the line.”

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2017-06-15/richmonds-rising-reservoir-of-depth

[one-eyed]

Hardwick backs Tigers' AFL midfield depth

By AAP
15 June 2017

Even if George Hewett can clamp down on Dustin Martin, Richmond are backing their midfield depth in the massive AFL clash against Sydney.

Hewett's shut down job on Western Bulldogs defender Jason Johannisen last week has prompted speculation he might go to Martin in Saturday's match of the round at the MCG.

It would be an even tougher assignment than stopping the run of last year's Norm Smith Medallist.

Martin, a Brownlow Medal favourite, is among only four players this season to have averaged 25 disposals and a goal per match, with a minimum of five games played.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick made it clear on Wednesday that he is not losing sleep about the prospect of Hewett going to Martin.

Apart from having great faith in Martin's ability to handle the tag, Hardwick is rapt with his team's midfield depth.

The recruiting of Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia has given Martin and captain Trent Cotchin the support they badly needed.

"Dusty has gone through all these ... things before," Hardwick said of a potential tag.

"The great thing about our footy club is we have Dusty with the flexibility (that) he can go forward, he can play midfield.

"But if Dusty has a relatively quiet day, which doesn't happen often, Cotchin, Caddy, Prestia, all come into their own.

"We're reasonably confident that if one of our good players does have a down day, we certainly have the depth to cover those players and move the pieces around.

"It's been a real strength of ours this year."

Before Prestia and Caddy arrived, midfield depth was an area of concern for Hardwick since the retirements of Shane Tuck (2013) and Dan Jackson (2014).

Richmond will feature Tuck, who played 173 games for the Tigers between 2004-13, as homecoming hero former player before Saturday's match.

http://wwos.nine.com.au/2017/06/15/03/35/hardwick-backs-tigers-afl-midfield-depth#0ed03DVAjy5tVbKT.99