Hardwick's post-match press conference

[one-eyed]

* Still have certain things to work on but the match was more like a Richmond game.

* Previous games we were spending significant time in the forward half without hitting the scoreboard like we should've. Tonight we got that scoreboard reward.

[WilliamPowell]

Balta from the blue: Have the Tigers found their new Alex Rance?

By Michael Gleeson
July 29, 2020 — 10.44pm
Richmond found their game again, Jack Riewoldt was back and they took a step in unearthing their new Alex Rance in defender Noah Balta, coach Damien Hardwick said.

Dustin Martin starred and the key forwards Tom Lynch and Riewoldt hit the scoreboard as the Tigers finally played what "looked like a Richmond game", Hardwick said after his side beat the Western Bulldogs by 41 points on Wednesday night.

But the coach reserved praise for the athletic and enigmatic Balta who was among his side's best rebounding from half back.

"We think for us to be a really good side he has to play," Hardwick said of Balta.

"He is just going to grow into the role. I am loathed to say it but he does remind me of a young Alex Rance. Look at the way he plays the game and he does some things only players like him (Rance) can do and then make a mistake like only him and Alex can do.

"He is only going to get better as the season goes,. It is up to Noah how far he wants to go he has certainly got the talent and athletic traits to do it."

Hardwick praised his captain Trent Cotchin in his return game from a hamstring injury saying his physical presence around the ball was a noticeable difference.

He said Cotchin would miss a game either this week or the following week in the condensed season given his injury history. The decision on when he is rested would be made by the medical and fitness staff not the coaches.

Harwick welcomed Richmond's performance against the Bulldogs.

"There's been some areas of our game we have been dominant in but we haven't cashed in on the scoreboard. It looked like a Richmond game tonight but we finally got some scoreboard dividend," he said.

"Especially with our forward half turnover game - I think we kicked eight goals from forward half which is generally how we score. Weeks previous we have been a bit slow."

He was excited at Riewoldt's return to form.

"I looked at Jack's game tonight and I thought he was back. He just didn't quite get the looks that he needed sometimes, he had a great performance him and Tim really stood up for us," he said.

The Bulldogs will now likely drop out of the eight by the end of the round with a percentage of just 93.7. And they lost Matthew Suckling to a hamstring injury in the first quarter.

Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said the side had not been playing well even when they had won games and Wednesday night was a sobering experience.

"Tonight our first half was a little bit of a disaster unfortunately ... we over-used the ball a bit by hand and allowed them to get momentum. I was pleased we halved the second half but it was a sub-par performance from us even though I don't think we have been playing that well," Beveridge said.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/balta-from-the-blue-have-the-tigers-found-their-new-alex-rance-20200729-p55gr8.html

[WilliamPowell]

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick compares Noah Balta to a 'young Alex Rance' after dismantling Dogs
By Chris De Silva

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has admitted young defender Noah Balta reminded him of a "young Alex Rance" after his display in the Tigers' domination of the Bulldogs.

While Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin rightfully took most of the plaudits for his 26-disposal, three-goal performance, Balta made his veteran coach stand up and take notice.

The 20-year-old's statline looks modest on paper: 15 disposals and four marks, but Hardwick saw something that reminded him of the player the Tigers still miss the most.

"I thought he was terrific. He's been very good throughout the year," Hardwick said.

"We think for us to be a really good side, he has to play. He's just going to grow into the role. I'm loathe to say, but he does remind me of a young Alex Rance.

"I look at the way he plays the game and he does some things that only players like him can do, and then he'll make a mistake like only him and Alex can do.

"He's a prodigious talent and we're really excited about what he's got to offer.

"He's got a lot of work to go, but we think he's starting to progress nicely."

Hardwick admitted that Balta's play reminded him of Rance when he first arrived at the club as a youngster (AAP)
When questioned about whether it was unwise to compare a player who has played just 18 AFL matches to a five-time All-Australian, Hardwick doubled down.

"Noah's got the capacity to be that if he knuckles down and understands and works on his craft," he said.

"He's a guy that didn't really grow up with a lot of footy, so he's starting to learn, starting to understand and watching a lot of tape. I think he's only going to get better as the season goes on.

"It's up to Noah how far he wants to go. He's certainly got the talent and the athletic traits to do it.

"We'll just provide the environment that can hopefully get the best out of him and then Noah makes the call."

With Rance's money coming off the books, the Tigers have been linked with Collingwood defender Darcy Moore as a like-for-like replacement for the departed defender.

If Balta tracks like Hardwick is expecting him to, the Tigers may be able to look elsewhere.

Richmond's win catapults the reigning premiers into the top three, with a healthy percentage of 117.0 after an indifferent start to the season.

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/damien-hardwick-compares-noah-balta-to-alex-rance-after-richmond-defeat-western-bulldogs/498a54e6-26d2-4f42-a679-5a68c3c6aef3