Hardwick's press conference Jul 18 / Tigers learn lessons from Roos setback

[one-eyed]

Tigers learn lessons, says Hardwick
Roger Vaughan
AAP
July 18, 2013, 12:15 pm

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says their setback against North Melbourne has taught the Tigers vital lessons ahead of the massive clash with Fremantle.

The Tigers are sixth, one and a half wins behind the fifth-placed Dockers ahead of Sunday's match at the MCG.

A win will virtually assure Richmond of their first finals appearance since 2001.

Two weekends ago, North broke Richmond's game wide open and thrashed them by 62 points.

"Defensively we weren't happy - we still had (26) shots on goal," Hardwick said.

"Offensively, it wasn't a big concern but, defensively, we gave up 33. Good sides don't give up 30 shots on goal.

"That's generally what we hang our hat on.

"We certainly learnt a few things, it was a good kick in the backside so, defensively, we will be in a better mindset this week."

The match against Fremantle starts a crucial block of matches for the Tigers.

Like the Dockers, Hawthorn (top) and Sydney (third) are above Richmond on the ladder.

"Going up against the fifth side, the top side and the third side is an enormous challenge," Hardwick said.

"But they're challenges sides love to go up against.

"We have our eyes firmly entrenched on Fremantle this week - that's our first port of call."

Since Fremantle's Ross Lyon became an AFL coach, his sides at St Kilda and the Dockers have never lost to Richmond.

"He's coached some really good sides," Hardwick said.

"He's a very good coach also.

"It's certainly a challenge for us ... they have some players out, (Matthew) Pavlich and (Hayden) Ballantyne, which from a personnel point of view helps us.

"But the way they're coached, they're a systems-based side and they're certainly coached to that standard very well."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/afl/18047991/tigers-learn-lessons-says-hardwick/

[one-eyed]

Tigers using Roos as defensive lesson

By Jennifer Phelan
afl.com.au
2:28pm AEST Thursday, July 18, 2013

RICHMOND will look at how it was brought undone by North Melbourne's defensive tactics two weeks ago when planning for Ross Lyon's Fremantle this weekend.

The Kangaroos beat the Tigers by 62 points in round 15 after putting players behind the ball while their defenders blanketed Richmond's forwards.

Hardwick said the Tigers' would take lessons out of both the Roos' loss and last week's win over Gold Coast, which was a highly contested game - another trait of the fifth-placed Dockers.

"Defensively we weren't happy. We still had 30 shots on goal versus North Melbourne so offensively it wasn't a concern but defensively we gave up 33," Hardwick said.

"Good sides don't give up 30 shots on goal and that's what we generally hang our hat on. Last week I think we gave up 13, 14.

"We were really disappointed with the defensive aspect of our game from that game - we certainly leaned a few things and it was a good kick in backside so defensively we'll be in a better mindset this weekend.

"North Melbourne are like a slingshot type of side as similar to Fremantle so we certainly get a look at that also … we've learned a couple of lessons over the last couple of weeks."

Hardwick also said the Tigers would look to reduce the impact of some of the Dockers' backmen who are renowned for using the ball well out of defence.

"They're a good back half using side. Guys like Johnson, Duffield if he comes back in, these players can set up their play really well ... Ibbotson is a guy that probably gets under the guard of a lot of opposition sides," he said.

"We'll be putting some work into those players because I think they start a lot of their offensive counter-attacks through those guys.

"They're really good players - we've just got to make sure we have their measures."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-18/tigers-using-roos-as-defensive-lesson

[one-eyed]

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says his men haven't been too bad against quality teams this year

    Eliza Sewell
    Herald Sun
    July 18, 2013 2:05PM

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers' poor record against teams above them this season doesn't worry the club.

Richmond has lost to Essendon, Collingwood, Geelong and Fremantle ahead of Sunday's clash with the Dockers at the MCG.

It's the start of a tough few weeks for the sixth-placed Tigers, who also face Sydney and Hawthorn in the coming rounds.

"I reckon we've played two really poor games for the year (against sides above them)," Hardwick said.

"The Essendon game, and the other one - (the ) North game (they were ) not above us - and the Collingwood game.

"(Against) Essendon we just didn't get up and going at any stage and the Collingwood game we just had a bad day.

"The Geelong game we were in the game then we lost two rucks, you can look at various reasons for both but I think it's more of an external one, we're not too worried about that."

TIME TO STEP UP, TIGERS

The Tigers lost to North Melbourne by 62 points in Round 15 and Hardwick said the side has learned valuable defensive lessons.

"It was a good kick in the backside," he said.

"Defensively, we'll be in a better mindset this week."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-coach-damien-hardwick-says-his-men-havent-been-too-bad-against-quality-teams-this-year/story-fni5f9jc-1226681367887