Tigers only human, like me: Damien Hardwick by: Greg Denham
From: The Australian
April 24, 2013 RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick was the first to admit the Tigers did not deliver against Collingwood last Saturday at the MCG.
However, three days after Richmond's meek second-half surrender following its unblemished start to the season, Hardwick yesterday said his players were only human after all . . . just as he was.
After conceding his players did not reach the heights required on the training track in the lead-up to the clash with the Magpies, he was asked how that could happen.
"We didn't train well, but does that get taken into the game, I wouldn't think so," he said. "It happens all the time; sometimes I like to make love to my wife, I don't (always) perform at a high standard."
After sharing a laugh at his own expense he quickly switched to the task at hand -- facing Fremantle in Perth on Friday night, where he will have to tinker and make some changes after playing the same 22 for three successive weeks.
For starters, key-defender Troy Chaplin could miss after being concussed against the Magpies, while small defender Steven Morris needs to be replaced after being found guilty of rough conduct.
Chaplin, who crossed from Port Adelaide last year, will not have been helped by the six days in between games.
As well, Hardwick could look at replacing struggling midfielder Shane Tuck, who has been in ordinary touch. If he does play, surely he must be on his last chance before being dropped to the VFL.
"The pleasing thing you'd say is we only got beaten 34 points considering we played our worst game for the year," Hardwick said.
"We're three and one. We didn't play to the level we required. We address those things. We move on."
Hardwick said he was confident Jake King, who was sore earlier in the week after being kneed in the lower back, would be fit to travel to Perth tomorrow.
But speedy midfielder Nathan Foley, who made a successful return from his long injury absence in the VFL last weekend, won't be rushed back.
In his first hit-out for nine months following an Achilles injury, Foley collected 18 disposals in just under half a game, but Hardwick said he faced at least another fortnight in the lower grade to gain match conditioning before being considered for a senior recall.
Hardwick said improved tackling was a "must" for the Tigers.
"Is it (tackling) a technique thing? No. Is it an attitude thing? No doubt," he said.
"It's just an attitude. You come with a mindset you want to tackle and you want to defend, and you get the job done. We've just got to get a lot better at that."
Fremantle expect to regain centre half-back Luke McPharlin. He missed the loss to Hawthorn last Saturday after being concussed eight days earlier.
However, the Dockers will still be without two of their most influential big men, ruckman Aaron Sandilands and forward Matthew Pavlich, who booted nine goals in total in his two games against the Tigers last season.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-only-human-like-me-damien-hardwick/story-fnca0u4y-1226627396422
