Hardwick's post-game presser

[one-eyed]

Dimma's post-match presser:

WATCH: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1323823/round-8-hardwick-post-match

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Brief summary:

* We just couldn't generate chances inside 50 early on and the Eagles did. Blustery breeze to the Punt Rd end.

* After 1/4 time, we got the game looking like a Richmond game and assert ascendency inside 50.

* Credit to West Coast. Came out hard and tough. Battling unforeseen circumstances. They would've got something out of the game too.

* Our scoring profile is typically more inside 50s than the opposition. We got that today. We had 60 inside 50s to 40. We got 32 forward-half turnovers. We've just got to improve our F50 efficiency from those opportunities. Got better as the game progressed but it's always going to be a room for improvement for us. Signs today it got a little bit better.

* Had guys working in different roles today given our outs so it's going to look a bit clunky.

* Prestia being able to hit the scoreboard broke the game open.

* First time since early rounds we've had Dion, Taranto, Hopper, Bolton, Dusty and Short in the same side.

* When Bolton is playing well, we play well. Incredibly unselfish today which is great. Giving off the ball to teammates in better positions.

* Soldo - possible next week. Bigger guys take longer though. Young possibly back too. Gibcus and possibly Tarrant will play a half in the VFL next week. Looking forward to getting them back as we are missing our talls.

* Looking forward to playing the best side in the comp. We've had intense rivalries with Geelong in my [Dimma's] time as coach.

* Cumberland - wasn't his day. Had to play a different role given our outs. We've had 14 guys move through our F50. Noah got frustrated giving away 50.

* Cornes says things not because he believes in them but to gain clicks. We wouldn't get near where we need to be without Taranto and Hopper.

* Prestia's 200th next week. One of if not our best player during our successful period. Cornes also said Prestia wasn't worth pick 6.

[lamington]

Re: Bolton being unselfish. This needs to be the standard. No one is going to think he is less of a jet from doing the unselfish things. He will probably find he will kick more goals and showcase his brilliance more by elevating and setting up his team mates

[one-eyed]

‘He says it to get clicks’: Hardwick claps back at AFL analyst’s call as war of words erupts

Jono Baruch
Fox Sports
May 7th, 2023

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has taken a swipe at his premiership teammate Kane Cornes in his post-match press conference following the Tigers’ 46 point win over the Eagles at the MCG.

The war of words centred on Richmond recruit Tim Taranto who Cornes claimed “wouldn’t be in the top 150 players in the game right now”.

He also suggested Taranto “didn’t influence games” during a discussion on SEN Breakfast this week.

Earlier in the season Cornes questioned Richmond’s decision to recruit Taranto along with his ex-Giants teammate Jacob Hopper, calling the decision to hand both recruits seven year deals “a horrific deal”.

Taranto produced his best performance in his new colours on Saturday, recording a prolific 30 disposals, five tackles and kicked two goals, leading the way for the Tigers through midfield as they overpowered the undermanned West Coast outfit.

Hardwick took the opportunity at his post-match press conference to hit back at his former Power teammate.

“I know Kane really well and you guys know how the media work,” Hardwick said.

“He doesn’t generally believe that comment, but what he does is he says it to get clicks. That’s how the media works. Surprise.

“He (Taranto) is an outstanding player. Those two boys that we brought in (Jacob) Hopper and Taranto, we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we need to be – or more importantly we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we want to be – without those two boys. They’ve been wonderful for our footy club.

“They’re starting to learn what it is to be a Richmond person and starting to play like Richmond men, which is really important. So I thought those two boys were very, very good today and will continue to be for a long period of time.”

Hardwick doubled down on Cornes minutes later when he was asked about fellow midfielder Dion Prestia’s game and his importance to the club.

“Kane said he wasn’t worth Pick six” Hardwick said.

“He’s come out a three – time premiership player.

“Get better wig, come on”

Prestia was key in the Tigers getting their game going in a third-quarter surge with the midfielder kicking three goals in a five-minute patch. Hardwick was full of praise for Prestia, calling the three-time premiership player and best and fairest winner a “pretty special player”. and praising his toughness.

“He played really hurt at the start of the year and put his hand up to play because we really didn’t have a lot of magnets to promote opportunities” Hardwick said.

“For him to come back, re-asses… I thought he was pretty important today.

“The ability for him to hit the scoreboard when it mattered…. That broke the game open from there.“He’s a really important player to us as we know but it‘s good to see his season start to get up and going…”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2023-richmond-vs-west-coast-damien-hardwick-takes-swipe-at-kane-cornes-tim-taranto-what-did-he-say-video/news-story/aa56ce08e31660e2470e9606b3b23496

[Andyy]

Bit tired of some of the rhetoric.

Richmond games, Richmond men etc, because personally it sounds hollow now and I don't see 'it'.

But I'm glad he took a shot at Cornhead.