Richmond coach pleased with team's maturity Emma Quayle
The Age
July 1, 2013 Richmond's fourth consecutive win was evidence of a maturing, more consistent side better able to make on-the-run adjustments to force games its way, according to coach Damien Hardwick.
Hardwick was pleased with the number of many players who contributed to the Tigers' 64-point win over St Kilda on Sunday, and that they were able to take gradual control after being challenged early in the match.
"Credit goes to the players on the field. They certainly knew what was happening and they had a couple of conversations on the bench where that came up and were able to make some adjustments to get that right," Hardwick said.
"In the quality sides, the players make a lot of the changes on the field and can read the cues relatively quickly. And that's what we're getting right now.
"The more you put them through those situations, the more times they experience it, the better you're going to get at making quick judgment calls.
"The great thing about our leaders is that they're still relatively young. There's still scope for improvement - the guys will learn more as they progress through the ranks.
"But they've done a truckload of work to improve in that area and I think they're ticking a lot of boxes at this stage.
"Last year we tended to blow sides out and then lose that lead a little bit. I think the thing we're doing better is playing a more consistent brand of footy - three goals, five goals, seven goals and then win by nine.
"That's a sign the group has matured, they know when to take risks and when to play within themselves and we think we're tracking OK in that area."
Richmond dominated the St Kilda midfield, resulting in a lopsided inside 50 count of 70 to 31, with Aaron Edwards playing the best of his four senior games for the club alongside Jack Riewoldt and Tyrone Vickery, having been traded in at the end of last year.
"He certainly provides a different target to Jack and Ty. We certainly think with all three of those players, we've got a different attacking force, I suppose you'd say," Hardwick said.
"He's been outstanding since he's come to our club, he's certainly had to earn his game. He'd been in terrific form at VFL level but he's certainly got an aspect that we don't have in our forward structure we certainly enjoy."
Midfielder Nathan Foley was also prolific for Richmond, seven weeks after making his return to the senior side from the ruptured achilles that cut short his 2012 season.
Foley said he felt he had returned to a more consistent line-up, as well as a deeper midfield.
"I think the consistency has just improved over four quarters. Like Dimma said, we've got a real even spread and everyone is just playing their role and over four quarters, the level of consistency has just improved and is probably the biggest [thing] to notice," he said.
"In a way [you expect to win]. You go into a game hoping that's going to be the case but you sort of just play your role and that's all you can really do."
Nick Vlastuin will be available for the Tigers next week against North Melbourne after withdrawing with a shin injury, with ruckman Ivan Maric still doubtful but Jake King set to line up for his 100th match despite being subbed out of the match, sore.
"He was fine. He was just one of those ones, he's a warrior and it's wear and tear. His 100th I think is next week," Hardwick said.
"I made sure I spoke to him on the phone because I thought he'd go berserk at someone. As soon as I saw that red vest, I thought he was going to punch whoever gives it to him."
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