Hardwick had enough of Riewoldt debateJennifer Phelan and AAP
afl.com.au
April 10, 2014 1:24 PMRICHMOND are tiring of the Jack Riewoldt debate, although coach Damien Hardwick did his best to laugh it off at Thursday's media conference.
The Tigers (1-2 win-loss record) host Collingwood (1-2) in a crucial round-four clash at the MCG on Friday night, as Hardwick aims to break a six-game losing streak against the Magpies.
But the main focus of Thursday's questions from reporters were about jumping Jack, the full-forward who seems to spend a lot of time up the ground rather than deep in the goalsquare where the fans and some critics would like to see him.
"I tell you what I'll do. I'll name him full forward in the paper so it makes everyone happy," Hardwick said on Thursday.
"Unfortunately these days the way the game's played there's six forwards. Where those guys fall is generally where they are.
"We don't chain them to the goalsquare any more. Jack plays deep. He's leading the marks inside-50 in the competition."
Meanwhile, at the other end of the ground David Astbury will lead Richmond's defence of Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke, but will need strong support from his midfield teammates, Hardwick said.
While Cloke has lacked influence so far this season, he kicked three goals against the Tigers in a losing Magpie outfit in the pre-season and seven in round four last year.
With Alex Rance to miss possibly another two matches with a foot injury, Astbury will be called upon to mind Cloke with the help of fellow backman Troy Chaplin.
"David did a terrific job on him up at Wangaratta [in February]," Hardwick said.
"Dave has been in terrific form and Troy Chaplin will go through him at various stages also, but the thing is with Travis, a lot of it depends on the ball use up forward.
"If we have enough pressure on the ball the delivery's not going to be good, because if that entry level ball is good, he's going to beat the majority of his opponents.
"It's really important the players up the field put adequate pressure on the disposals inside 50."
The Collingwood forward has been goalless in two of the first three games but Hardwick didn't subscribe to him getting a poor run from the umpires as has been perceived.
"He's a fantastic player and a guy I'd love to have on our side," he said.
"The thing you see most key forwards at this time of year is they do struggle a little bit from a goal tally point of view, the defenders are up and about.
"I think the defenders have been playing incredibly fair over the course of the first three rounds and we hope that tradition continues."
Vice captain Brett Deledio will be sidelined for up to a month as he battles achilles soreness he has managed in the past two pre-seasons.
Hardwick said Deledio's history with the complaint made them confident they knew how to treat it, but conceded he was a week-to-week prospect.
"We don't know whether it's going to be a week or it's going to be four weeks," Hardwick said.
"They're very sensitive in nature, the achilles, so we've just got to work our way through a strength and conditioning program and see how it pans out.
"We feel he's turned a corner; that still doesn't mean he's any closer to playing next week.
"We're not going to put him in any adverse risky situations to get him back on track, so when he's ready he's ready to play."
Shaun Hampson has pressed his case for selection by training on Wednesday before a light session on Thursday.
He missed last Saturday's loss to the Western Bulldogs with a knee problem.
Hardwick also recognised Jake King's lack of form but backed the small forward, who again spent the pre-season coming back from operations, to bounce back.
"He acknowledges he's playing nowhere near his best footy," he said.
"He's an important player to our side, he knows that he has to play better.
"He's a fair barometer for us. If he plays good football, we know we're a fair chance of winning."
Hardwick assessed the Tigers' form as a "six out of 10" but was pleased they'd been in front in every last term so far.
However, he isn't interested in the theory the Tigers are satisfied with their sole finals berth last year and is determined to shelve the inconsistencies that have plagued individual quarters this season.
"We've just got to make sure we eradicate those inconsistencies of how we play, which we thought was past us," he said.
"Unfortunately, they rear their head and we, like any other side, want to continue to work and get back to what we do best and the results we're after.
"The guys with the consistency of their preparation and their performance, we've just got to make sure that transfers to on field."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-04-10/hardwick-jack-of-debate
