Dimma's post-match presser:
Watch here: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/977320/round-17-hardwick-post-match---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A FIVE-DAY turnaround before a must-win game against Brisbane means there's no respite in sight for the injury-hit Richmond.
Integral ruckman Toby Nankervis was originally named in the squad of 26 to take on Collingwood, but was pulled out before the final team was named as he battles an on-going PCL injury.
Others on the sidelines include premiership stars Nick Vlastuin, Shane Edwards, Bachar Houli, Kane Lambert, Dion Prestia, Nathan Broad and Noah Balta.
"See my head? There's a dent in it from headbutting a brick wall at the moment," coach Damien Hardwick said.
"I'm not sure we'll get anyone back, they're all doubtful at this stage.
"We lick our wounds, we give guys another opportunity and we find some guys who are going to come up.
"We were hoping [Nankervis] would be closer. He's tough, Toby, but he's so important for us. It's a delicate injury, if he's not right and he hurts it again, he's gone for the year. We thought we might be able to push the envelope a bit. He still might get up, but it's looking doubtful at this point."
“We’ve just got to dig in and try to get some wins on the board.
“We’ve had injuries but the guys have come back. It’s been challenging.
“We’re all about the journey at our footy club. We’ve had an incredible journey over the last four or five years, but we’re still looking forward to the journey we’ve got ahead of us.”
Hardwick said injuries explained part of his team’s decline, but not all of the story.
“That’s part of it, we’d still like to be playing a little bit better,” he said.
Hardwick said there were some promising signs of improvement but bemoaned his side's inability to stick with Collingwood's senior players as they piled on seven goals in a last-quarter rout.
"It was tough. They effectively doubled their score in the last quarter, but when their cream rises to the top, they're tough to stop.
"Look at the influence of Grundy, Pendlebury, Adams and De Goey, that's the game right there.
"Their stars took hold of the game and we couldn't stop them. They kicked three goals from centre bounces, which is a little bit hard to swallow."
Hardwick maintained that the Tigers had not given up on their chances of making the finals for what would be the eighth time in nine seasons.
“Whilst there’s a pulse there’s always a chance, so we’ll just continue to build on our brand and invest in some generation next kids that are coming through and see how they go,” Hardwick said.
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