Hardwick press conference May 9 / Insider knowledge may spark Tigers over Port

[one-eyed]

Insider knowledge may spark Tigers over Port

By Nathan Schmook
2:33pm AEST Thursday, May 9, 2013


RICHMOND assistant coach Mark Williams and former Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin have used their inside knowledge of the Power team to give the Tigers what they hope will be a match-winning advantage at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

Williams left the Power at the end of 2010 after 11 years as coach, while Chaplin moved to Richmond as a free agent at the end of last season after nine years.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick conceded a lot had changed with the Power under new coach Ken Hinkley, but said he hoped to gain some valuable insights into individual players ahead of Saturday's crunch game.

"He (Williams) makes no bones that he's certainly got some knowledge … he's had some input with regards to some strengths and weaknesses of those players," Hardwick said on Thursday.

"We looked at that today and we’ll look at that going forward this week.

"They're playing a different style to what they did last year, but the individual players is the one [area] where we feel we can get an advantage.

"We'll work our way through those and give our players some information they normally wouldn't have."

After three straight losses, Hardwick said the Tigers faced a big challenge against the 5-1 Power, and they will likely travel without defenders Dylan Grimes (foot) and Ricky Petterd (calf).

Ruckman Ivan Maric (ankle) is likely to be a game day decision, Hardwick said, while key forward Ty Vickery needs to pass a concussion test.

Hardwick said midfielder Nathan Foley was a "strong chance" to play his first game since round 10 last season after working his way back from an Achilles tendon injury in the VFL.

"He's trained incredibly hard over a long period of time and we have been what we feel has been cautious," Hardwick said.

"We've held him back, mainly because of his importance to the side.

"Last week was his first full game and he played three quarters the week prior, so we're pretty confident that he's ready to go.

"I asked him last week whether he thought he was ready to play and he said he'd prefer to get one more game in, so we gave him that luxury.

"I know he's ready to go this week."

Hardwick said Shane Tuck would also be in consideration after laying 10 tackles in the VFL, while Jake Batchelor and David Astbury shape as potential replacements in the backline.

Aaron Edwards will be discussed after a strong run of VFL form, but is likely to come into the team only if Vickery is ruled out.

On the Power, Hardwick said there were similarities between Hinkley's team and Geelong, where the new coach was an assistant for the 2007 and 2009 premierships.

He said Port Adelaide was a team the Tigers felt they play well against and they would have opportunities to "get their offensive game up and going".

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-05-09/duo-to-tell-tigers-tales

[Stripes]

It worries me that he seems so confident. 

[gerkin greg]

 

[rogerd3]

These sort of comments can only bite you on the bum I reckon...

[Ruanaidh]

He said Port Adelaide was a team the Tigers felt they play well against and they would have opportunities to "get their offensive game up and going".

Getting heartily sick of this false bravado every week....less mouth, more action Hardwick!

[one-eyed]

Tigers can fix mistakes, says Hardwick
Guy Hand, AAP
May 9, 2013, 3:53 pm


With their strong start to the AFL season in danger of being squandered, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick wants his players to overcome last week's backward step.

The Tigers take on high-flying Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday having lost their last three matches - teetering with a 3-3 win-loss record.

Their loss to unbeaten Geelong last weekend produced what Hardwick says is an unacceptable rate of errors.

But against a team at 5-1 and the season's surprise packets, Hardwick believes the Tigers are capable of rebounding.

"The rate of errors from us was probably the thing we haven't made in a long time," Hardwick said on Thursday.

"We felt we took a step back in that area ... whether it was the pressure of Geelong or just a mental error from ourselves - we think it's probably the latter.

"We get another chance this week to rectify the results of the previous three.

"No doubt these sort of games can galvanise a group.

"We haven't had some good performances over the last couple of weeks, and it's great to go away as a group, get that gel back together and play some good football."

Port premiership coach Mark Williams and ex-Power defender Troy Chaplin head a contingent from that club who have switched to Richmond - Hardwick himself a 2004 premiership player at Alberton.

Hardwick admitted some of Chaplin's intelligence on certain Port Adelaide players had been tapped into, though their style was different under new coach Ken Hinkley.

Tigers defenders Dylan Grimes and Ricky Petterd have already been ruled out of the match with injuries.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/afl/17085620/tigers-can-fix-mistakes-says-hardwick/

[Yeahright]

One thread says to talk ourselves up and not other teams, this thread complete opposite. People can never be pleased

[Owl]

Stay schtum bout intel... and behind closed doors, talk us up them down, to the media, give em nothing...NOTHING, dead pan, yes no answers or even noncommittal, give them nothing to work with nothing to infer their rubbish with to set us up with just shades of grey.