Dimma's post-game presser:
Watch here: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1100121/round-4-hardwick-post-match-------------------------------------------------------
Summary:* Our pressure's been good. It's been growing. Saw it for stages last week against the Saints but weren't able to sustain it. Thought our guys got to work around the contest where it's got to won against the Bulldogs. Our ability to either win or halve the contest by stepping in was really important. Thought our guys put their hand up after the disappointing last quarter last week and showed what Richmond footy looks like.
* Hard to put a finger on it but we've played two bad quarters all year. Those quarters were really bad where bad is an understatement. Other than that we've been very competitive in all quarters and won the vast majority. The challenge for us is understanding what makes us a good footy team and continue to build on it and continue to invest in it to build the foundation moving forward. We've been inconsistent this year so we've got to make sure we iron out those inconsistencies.
* People talk about this, that and the other [re: dynasties being over or not] but we don't listen to the media. We just invest in what we're doing and the process that goes into it. The reality is we've got a vastly different side now [to the ones we had previously]. We're really excited about some of the guys we've unearthed. Hugo Ralphsmith was wonderful again tonight, Josh Gibcus continues to grow, Ben Miller is becoming very reliable down back, so we've found some pieces of the puzzle that we think are going to be long-termers for us. And we're looking at the same in our VFL squad. Our recruiting and list management team did a wonderful job of stacking the draft last year and rewarding us with some valuable pieces moving forward, but we've got some players right here, right now who are becoming very good players for us.
* No doubt the older players get a gig up from seeing the young blokes. It's an injection of enthusiasm. Nothing better than watching a young player come through and take big steps in a game. It's exciting seeing Noah Balta up forward provide a big target and do some pretty special things. He's only going to get better for the run again. It's amazing how Tom Lynch feeds off that as does Jack Riewoldt. We've been pleased with what those guys have brought and we need to make sure they bring it week in week out.
* Hope people realise what a special player Prestia is. Not only to us but to the AFL in general. He's wonderful at what he does. We missed him and there's another bloke who played a half in the VFL today - Kane Lambert - who we've missed as well. So we look forward to those guys playing. It's good to see Dion and hopefully Kane makes his way back at some stage.
* Vlastuin - available to play next week and Dimma said if it's his call it will be at AFL level. He's a pretty good player but he has missed some footy so we'll go through all that. Probable at this stage but he needs to get through training first. He's important to us.
