Improvement will show soon says HardwickSky News
Updated: 21:57,
Thursday April 26, 2012Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is hoping his side's competitive form is rewarded in the form of a win over ladder leaders West Coast on Sunday.
The Tigers were far from outclassed in losses to Carlton, Collingwood and Geelong so far this season.
And despite their tough draw, Hardwick feels Richmond have already demonstrated their marked progress in 2012.
'There is no doubt we've improved,' he said.
'We certainly had chances in that last quarter (against Geelong on Sunday), but that's the reality of the game, you make mistakes and learn ... we've just got to make sure we eradicate them and get better again.'
The draw for the fixture did no favours to Richmond, who were pitted against four of last year's top five in the opening rounds.
But rather than bemoan their bad luck, Hardwick claimed it was an opportunity to measure his young side's development.
'It's always a good way to start your program in a way,' he said.
'We were hoping we'd pinch a few games early, we've fallen short in a number of areas but we've been really happy with our form but overall.
'We're playing a better style of footy than last year, we've just got to make sure we get over the top of one of these sides.'
'The first five rounds of the fixture is probably as uneven as I've ever seen it, with really good sides playing other sides in one block, but I think the ladder will begin to steady itself out over the next four or five rounds and we'll see more where teams are really placed.'
The next test will be at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with pacesetters West Coast proving they have taken further strides in the early stages of this season.
'There is no more formidable opposition at the moment to trial ourselves against than West Coast this weekend, they're undefeated, they play an outstanding brand of football and one we'll look to challenge ourselves against.'
Hardwick said he had not modified the Tigers' training program in response to claims the Eagles' midfield were lowering their bodies and ducking to milk frees for in-the-back and head-high contact.
'Not so much this week, overall I think we were one of the sides that had the most frees against last year so it was certainly an area of focus for us across the pre-season to refine our technique and I think our technique overall this year has been good,' he said.
'The one thing the umpires did well yesterday (Anzac day clash) was there was a number of instances where players were leading with their heads that the umpires didn't pay (the free).'
Hardwick also dismissed the notion the Eagles would be any easier to play in Melbourne than on their home ground at Patersons Stadium.
'I don't know about easier, but the dimensions of the ground (Patersons) are actually more favourable in some way, it's an easier ground over there to defend somewhat because it's skinnier and longer,' he said.
'But overall they are such a formidable outfit, the quality of their midfield, their talls, they've got four quality key forwards, their defence led by Darren Glass is a formidable outfit, so I don't think it will make too much of a difference.'
Hardwick backed key forwards Tyrone Vickery and Jack Riewoldt in particular to return to form in the coming rounds after managing just nine goals between them so far.
The coach said their lack of goals was indicative of a general problem which key forwards across the competition were facing.
'They're (Riewoldt and Vickery) not playing to their potential at the moment, but the funny thing about the key forwards in general, I think the leading goal kicker is on 13 goals this year which is just over three goals a game, so overall the keys haven't been kicking big bags of goals,' he said.
'(West Coast's Josh) Kennedy kicked a bag of seven but is on 11 for the season.
'It certainly helps if they are (playing well) but I think overall our scoring capacity is there, they've got a work a little bit harder, but also we have to deliver the ball a little bit better.'
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