'Small things' the focus for Jack: Hardwick (RFC)

[one-eyed]

'Small things' the focus for Jack
richmondfc.com.au
By Adam McNicol
Sun 08 August, 2010


RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick wants Jack Riewoldt to work harder in the coming weeks after the star forward was held to only one goal in the Tigers’ 29-point loss to Melbourne on Sunday.

On a day when Richmond won the inside-50 count 58-47, Riewoldt was well beaten by Demons defender James Frawley and as a result his team struggled to kick a decent score.

“He’s probably not doing the small things well,” Hardwick admitted at his press conference after the game.

“A couple of ground-balls he could have picked up, but he’s probably trying to get out of the contest before he’s got the contest under control.

“He’s probably tired. He’s taken the majority of our inside-50 targets, so he just needs to do the small things better on a consistent basis.”

Hardwick stationed usual defender Luke McGuane next to Riewoldt in attack during the first half of the clash with the Demons, before another backman Will Thursfield was sent forward after the long break.

Shane Tuck also spent much of the afternoon floating across half-forward, although he had little impact on the contest.

“It was just something we thought we had to try,” Hardwick explained.

“Tucky was a bit off today and we were always going to try Luke McGuane and Will Thursfield at some stage swapping from full-back to full-forward just to see what we had.

“Will Thursfield took a couple of marks inside 50. Luke probably struggled a bit today, but we’ll continue to try things during the remaining three games and see what we can get out of it.

“We’ve got David Gourdis playing well at Coburg, who’ll probably come in at some stage to play full-back, which will release one of those blokes.

However, Hardwick acknowledged the Tigers needed to find players who can line up next to Riewoldt in the forward line on a regular basis.

“We’ve always sort of said our forward line will take some time,” the Richmond coach said.

“We’ve got some players we’re developing. Ben Griffiths goes out injured, Troy Taylor is a guy we can see playing that role, and we’re developing Jayden Post as well.

“We just need to use the ball a bit better going inside 50.

“I thought we were just poor today. I thought our endeavour was there but we just didn’t play well.”

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/99907/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Jack might be tiring: Richmond coach
ROGER VAUGHAN
August 8, 2010 - 7:39PM
AAP

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick concedes a big AFL season might be catching up with key forward Jack Riewoldt.

Melbourne defender James Frawley added to his growing reputation in Sunday's 29-point win over the Tigers with a best-afield effort on Riewoldt.

Frawley kept the league's leading goalkicker to 10 possessions, three marks and 1.2.

Advertisement: Story continues belowIt had a massive influence on the game's result, particularly given Richmond are still trying to develop other avenues of attack.

Asked if Riewoldt could be hitting the wall, Hardwick replied: "it would be fair to say.

"He is probably not doing the small things well either - I think there were a couple of ground balls he could have picked up today but he was probably trying to get out of the contest before he has got the contest under control.

"He is probably tired - he has taken the majority of our inside 50 targets for the season - it's not an excuse but he just needs to do the smaller things well on a more consistent basis." Hardwick noted that Richmond won the inside 50s by 11, but had less scoring shots - a sign of how they blew their chances in a game that was in the balance for three quarters.

Richmond kicked the first goal of the final term to level the scores, but Melbourne then broke clear with a four-goal surge.

"I think we will learn as a side out of that game - we made some blunders, didn't use the ball (anywhere) near well enough," Hardwick said.

But it was far from a black day for the Tigers, who have joined the Demons as the league's two emerging sides this season.

They were the two bottom sides last year and have made outstanding progress through the season.

As Richmond keep improving, their veteran midfielder Ben Cousins is playing for his future and did his chances no harm on Sunday with 26 possessions and two goals.

"Once again he was good - he kicked it more today which was positive and used the ball reasonably well," Hardwick said.

Young Tigers ruckman Andrew Browne added some comedy in the second term when the umpire signalled in the wrong direction for a free kick.

Browne took the umpire's lead and shaped to kick in the wrong direction.

"He is a guy who gives everything he has got - he is not overly blessed with ability, but he gives everything he has got and he puts his best foot forward every week," Hardwick said of Browne.

"He was very good and I thought our rucks broke even with (Mark) Jamar, who is close to All-Australian ruckman."

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/jack-might-be-tiring-richmond-coach-20100808-11q63.html