Midfield depth the key to success: HardwickNathan Schmook
afl.com.au
12:29pm AEST Friday, April 19, 2013RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has forecast some important head-to-head match-ups when his growing band of midfielders is tested against Collingwood's stars at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Depth in the midfield has become a strength of the Tigers' this season, with Reece Conca, Brandon Ellis, Shaun Grigg and Daniel Jackson all playing valuable roles in the team's on-ball rotations.
Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin were all in blistering form against the Western Bulldogs last Sunday and were voted the best three players on the ground by the coaches.
Hardwick said he would look at sending run-with opponents to star Magpies Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury, but the long list of damaging midfielders at both clubs meant the head-to-head battles would be crucial.
"You look at Swan and Pendlebury and (Dale) Thomas and (Steele) Sidebottom, they're probably a bit like us in a way with the depth that's come through that midfield," Hardwick said on Friday.
"We've been really pleased with the form of Conca, Brandon Ellis, Shaun Grigg – all these types of players who can flow through. Dan Jackson is another one.
"Good sides have that depth and we're starting to develop that.
"We certainly think we're seeing enough upward trend that we've got the players capable of going through there and matching the better sides.
"There'll be some good head-to-head battles, no doubt."
The Tigers' 3-0 start to the season has hype growing rapidly around Punt Road, and Hardwick said he welcomed the expectation to perform.
However, he said Saturday's blockbuster against a seasoned finals team would give a stronger guide on where his team is placed, with the Tigers' resolve in pressure situations to be tested.
"There's no doubt Collingwood is a side that over the last three or four years has been a very impressive unit," he said.
"Our guys are starting to see the work-rate and talent that's required to get to that level.
"It's going to be a great test for our guys. Our midfield, forwards and backs - all of them are going to learn something on the day.
"We think we've certainly got the ability to beat Collingwood, we've just got to make sure that happens on the day."
Richmond named an unchanged team following last Sunday's 67-point win over the Bulldogs, but there has been speculation around the fitness of star forward Jack Riewoldt.
The 2012 Coleman medallist trained away from the main group for much of Friday's light session, but Hardwick said; "He's fine, he's going to play".
Regarding Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke, he said key defenders Dylan Grimes, Alex Rance and Troy Chaplin were all capable of playing on the powerful forward and the Tigers would probably use a combination of all three.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-04-19/tigers-need-to-be-like-pies
