Hardwick's post-match media conference - "I thought we were poor today"

[one-eyed]

Hardwick's post-match press conference ...

VIDEO: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2014-07-05/round-16-hardwick-postmatch

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Hardwick rues fist of fury after Tigers' 'poor' effort in victory over Lions
Ben Guthrie 
afl.com.au
July 5, 2014 6:15 PM

DAMIEN Hardwick was nursing a sore right fist after Richmond's "poor" performance on Saturday at the MCG, despite watching his side record a hard-fought 25-point win over the Brisbane Lions.

The Tigers coach quipped he was the club's only injury concern after the match, banging his hand down on the table in frustration as his side showed too much of an inclination to handball its way out of trouble.

Richmond registered 227 handballs and 211 kicks in their victory over the Lions, a kick-to-handball ratio which did not please the Tigers coach.

"All credit to Brisbane, they came to play, but I thought we were poor today," Hardwick said in his post-match press conference.

"We overused the ball by hand which was really disappointing. I don't think we played anyway near the standard that we require."

At one stage in the game, the Tigers mustered 10 handballs in the back half before eventually moving the ball forward.

The Tiger army, clearly fed up with the players' indecision, made their point known with a chorus of Bronx cheers that rang around the MCG.

Hardwick was sympathetic to the fans’ point of view.

"We constantly gave the ball to a guy who was in a worse position, which was one of the things that you speak about as a coach and it's hard to get yourself out of at times," he said.

"I started jeering, as well, when we kicked the ball forward."

The decision-making and skill execution may not have been at the optimum level, but the Tigers' efforts certainly were.

In fact, the game’s GPS data showed that Richmond's players had run themselves into the ground, a point of concern for Hardwick.

"Our GPS was through the roof in the first half – our high intensity running was right up. We looked out on our feet in the last quarter," Hardwick said.

The Tigers allowed seven inside-50 entries to nil in first half of the final term, as the Lions made them earn their victory.

With a high-powered running opponent in Port Adelaide looming as the Tigers' next assignment, Hardwick said it would be an area that would be looked at this week.

"We'll taper our training off this week to make sure we freshen up," he said.

In the same game that the Lions' key forward struggles were magnified, up the other end of the ground Tiger Ty Vickery proved to be the difference.

After being shunted in and out of the side for much of this year, the Richmond big man kicked an equal career-high four goals to reveal his importance to the Tigers.

"He (Vickery) muffed a few chances. I thought he could be a little bit better at the ball. He probably went looking for the body of his opponent a bit too much, instead of jumping at the ball," Hardwick said.

"I thought he was good, but I still think he can be a lot better.

"He's worked incredibly hard on the training track which is pleasing from his point of view to get some reward for effort.”

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-05/hardwick-postmatch

[WilliamPowell]

Good one Dimma, admitting we were poor.

 

[Hellenic Tiger]

Good one Dimma, admitting we were poor.

 

Cut him some slack WP. If this game was played 6 weeks ago he would have said he was pleased we withstood the ferocious challenge of Brisbane and won all 4 quarters with shows we are "slowly but surely" turning the corner.

[WilliamPowell]

Good one Dimma, admitting we were poor.

 

Cut him some slack WP. If this game was played 6 weeks ago he would have said he was pleased we withstood the ferocious challenge of Brisbane and won all 4 quarters with shows we are "slowly but surely" turning the corner.

True didn't think of it that way

Shame on me 

[dwaino]

we lose: better team than last year
we win: we were poor today

[one-eyed]

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick warns players they need to lift ahead of Port Adelaide clash
Glenn McFarlane
Herald-Sun
July 06, 2014

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has warned his players they face “a pantsing” from Port Adelaide next Sunday if they produce the same form as they did against Brisbane on Saturday.

Defender Alex Rance told the Herald Sun after the game that Hardwick provided his team with a few home truths immediately after the Tigers’ 25-point win over the Lions.

“’Dimma’ (Hardwick) was pretty tough on us after the game,” Rance, the Tigers’ best player, said.

“He said pretty much if we serve that up next week, we are going to be in for a fair pantsing because Port Adelaide are a quality side who punish turnovers.”

The Tigers may have won their fifth game of the season yesterday, but Hardwick admitted to letting off some jeers like the rest of the crowd when the Tigers finally kicked the ball after too many handball chains.

“We just constantly gave the ball to a guy in a worse position ... we just seemed to get ourselves further and further into trouble,” Hardwick said.

“We just ended up with nine or 10 handball chains ... I started jeering as well when we kicked the ball, like the 40,000 (fans) that were also here.

“It was disappointing. We will go to the tape and rectify that during the week.”

Hardwick’s frustration was such that when asked if the Tigers had any injuries out of the game, he was honest enough to say he had a sore fist “for smashing it on the table a few times.”

“All credit to Brisbane, (but) I thought we were poor,” he said. “We overused the ball through hands, which is really disappointing. I didn’t think we played anywhere near the standards that were required.”

Hardwick said he felt the effort was there early, but sensed the Lions ran out the game much better.

“Our GPS was through the roof in the first half, (but) we looked out on our feet in the last quarter,” he said. “The first half we were working really hard, but we just fell in a big hole late.

“We will taper our training a bit this week to freshen up for a big game this week against Port Adelaide. We need to play a hell of a lot better.”

Rance said the players were frustrated by their performance yesterday and acknowledged they need to be a lot better against the Power.

“It just felt like we over-handballed a lot this game ... instead of just kicking the ball and taking some composed possessions,” he said.

“It is not something we are trying to do. It is one of those (games) you are just lucky to get four points out of.

“We have got to get more consistent. If we want to play finals footy for a long period of time, then we have to get consistent and predictable because it will be this group that will take us there.”

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-coach-damien-hardwick-warns-players-they-need-to-lift-ahead-of-port-adelaide-clash/story-fndv8t7m-1226978971354

[Rampstar]

our players better go buy some lube coz when Port finishes with them theyll know theyve copped a hiding.

[Yeahright]

we lose: better team than last year
we win: we were poor today

And either way some of the nuffies aren't happy

[Darth Tiger]

Terribly uninspiring game yesterday.

Some news for you Dimma, YOU actually have the power to change the tripe dished up yesterday.

YOU have a direct influence on the club, and it is YOUR time to 'do something'.

I have done my part and bred the next generation of tiger supporter YOU need to give them a reason for attending.

[tony_montana]

At least he's finally being honest - the sad thing is if he spoke like this from the start instead of feeding us BS I'd probably still respect him along with thousands of others

[(•))(©™]

“We just constantly gave the ball to a guy in a worse position ... we just seemed to get ourselves further and further into trouble,” Hardwick said.

.....and he only now makes mention of what has been a longstanding part of the teams "game plan" ?


“It was disappointing. We will go to the tape and rectify that during the week.”


because you hadn't noticed it before this week ??


Hardwick’s frustration was such that when asked if the Tigers had any injuries out of the game, he was honest enough to say he had a sore fist “for smashing it on the table a few times.”

Hmmm.Me thnks it be more from smashing his nob on the table.

[yellowandback]

I think table is his nickname for Matt Thomas cheeks

[Penelope]

At least he's finally being honest - the sad thing is if he spoke like this from the start instead of feeding us BS I'd probably still respect him along with thousands of others

yep! it seems that he maybe, just maybe, starting to accept reality.

That's the first step of rehabilitation.

[WilliamPowell]

At least he's finally being honest - the sad thing is if he spoke like this from the start instead of feeding us BS I'd probably still respect him along with thousands of others

So true, so very very true

[DCrane]

If the team has more handballs than kicks then they are probably too scared to kick it and just want to make it someone else's responsibility. To me this denial of responsibility is another black mark against Dimma. If it's true that Dimma was slamming his fists into the bench yesterday about the ring a rosy chain, then I have no faith in him whatsoever in his ability to be able to turn it around, it shows that the denial of responsibility is evident at all levels.
Our team is better than they are showing and I think it is time for Hardwick to go, but the club has shot itself in the foot with some ridiculous long term contracts and unfortunately Dimma is one of them.

My tip is that Dimma will get pushed/resign towards the end of next year when we are headed for another finish around 11-15th and we will negotiate a payout with him.