Dimma's aftermatch media conference / God conspired against us: Hardwick

[one-eyed]

God conspired against us: Hardwick
By AAP
9:40 PM Sat 14 Jul, 2012


IT WAS supposedly a Richmond home game, but coach Damien Hardwick doubts even God was barracking for his team.

"It was like God was conspiring against us having Karmichael take that mark," a clearly devastated Hardwick said after watching Gold Coast's Karmichael Hunt kick the post-siren winner in Saturday night's AFL clash in Cairns.

Divine influence aside, the Tigers coach was not sparing his players any blame for a 13.12 (90) to 13.10 (88) defeat he acknowledged was their most disappointing this season.

Hardwick said the Tigers did not work hard enough as they fell 36 points down in the second quarter.

Then, after fighting back to gain an 18-point lead late in the game, he blamed dropped marks, poor decision-making and incorrect positioning at the final centre bounce for allowing the Suns three late goals to snatch victory.

Having lost Ivan Maric (groin) and Ben Griffiths (calf) pre-game, the Tigers were missing a host of first-choice players and also lost Jake Batchelor (leg) and Chris Newman (head) during the match.

But Hardwick said that was no excuse.

"If we had Ivan it certainly would have been possibly a better result, but the reality is he didn't play, he's injured, so we move on," he said.

"We find out a little bit about our depth.

"Other sides have got the same issue as us and we've got to get better."

It was the second game in Richmond's three-year deal to host a match per year in Cairns.

The two so far have delivered costly losses, but Hardwick said the venue was irrelevant.

"It's got nothing to do with the venue, we just haven't played well up here," he said.

"The venue is (not) an excuse. At the end of the day Gold Coast played better than us."

Star forward Jack Riewoldt said too many players simply didn't do their jobs.

"Unfortunately blokes just went out of their roles and what we expect of them as players," Riewoldt said.

"It just shows if you do that with any team in the AFL on any ground in the AFL it comes back to bite you on the bum.

"We were 10-20 per cent off our game, probably more than that."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/141449/default.aspx

[Hellenic Tiger]

Weak response Damien.

Blame yourselves and point the fingers at some. Name names.

Do not blame God. That's weak.

Name the duds on the list who have failed this club over and over and over again and the malaise and lack of intencity they play with.

[Chuck17]

I would be happy if he just never played them again

[TigerLand]

I would be happy if he just never played them again

Agree.

What do you say though?

Said enough for me, we found about our depth. Well I hope to God you saw it too and that they aren't playing next week.

Dunno what good it would have done naming them it was fairly obvious who couldn't play.

[Lozza]

During the Pies game tonight it was mentioned by the commentators how all the young players coming into the team have all played their role. Do our replacements have a role, to me they simply have the deer in headlights look. It has to be our player development that is killing our team, beyond a small core of naturally gifted players we just dont seem to see sustained improvement across the squad. Its obviously not possible but it would be good to have a "sliding doors" type situation and see some of our not so household names and how they would have faired within the Pies system, i am certain there would be a difference. Either we are recruiting the wrong players or the wrong development coaches.

[bojangles17]

gee 18p up with 2-3 minutes to go against a side that hasnt won a game for 12 months...wasnt Gods fault ...looked like we were clueless in that last 60sec...that said the three fellas suspended ought to be strung up...they cost us...we had to replace them with players that really levelled the contest...im still in a fit of rage 

[Mr Magic]

Doesn't matter what he says about this.

Words not enough.

[10 FLAGS]

agree with tucker. a poor response to the defeat IMHO.

[Jackstar is back again]

gee 18p up with 2-3 minutes to go against a side that hasnt won a game for 12 months...wasnt Gods fault ...looked like we were clueless in that last 60sec...that said the three fellas suspended ought to be strung up...they cost us...we had to replace them with players that really levelled the contest...im still in a fit of rage 

Love this post!

[rfctigers05]

Oh we played the GOD Coast Suns
Well done DimSim another logical reason for your lack of awareness and tactical nous in a pressure situation
Why didn't you play miller you played every other dud???

[Judge Roughneck]

Yeah it was god 

[Dubstep Dookie]

Who's the religious Guy on this site again?

He's got a lot to answer to 

Time for confession sonny

[Francois Jackson]

I've heard a lot over the years but to hear God as some sort of lame excuse is the most stuffed thing I've heard come out of his mouth

Hardwick name players you softie

Blame yourselves

Yeah it was God.....LMAO

[Ruanaidh]

If......and it's a big if, they even have 'structures' when games get tight - I haven't seen them in any of our losses. Whilst the sides that defeated us certainly did, even under pressure. Even lowly Melbourne and GC stuck to their 'structures' under pressure. If he has them the players are not listening. Something is wrong, once again, with the Coaching at Tigerland.

[Ruanaidh]

For the second time today I am 'double-posting'. I promise this is the last but it is more appropriate for this thread:


Alternative Dimma Presser:

" I'd like to state quite clearly that losses like this when so much is at stake are unacceptable. There are no excuses. Injuries and suspensions affect every Club in every game and whilst there are RFC listed players on the ground we expect them to play according to team rules and personal accountability. If they cant we do not want them at the club. I would also like to say that I must get better at making our players understand my match day instructions and to react immediately to my requests. That didn't happen today and in that respect I take responsibility for today's loss as much as any player who took the field. By the way, any mention that luck or divine intervention played any part in today's loss is a superstitious cop-out"

"I also apologise for not having our customary player representative at this Press Conference. The bottom line is that as the Head Coach I must ultimately be the person that shoulders the blame for this loss"

Dimma then walks off without fielding questions and accepts the resultant AFL fine.........