From Dimma's SEN interview:“I think early days in my coaching career, obviously being a young coach, it’s like if you lost that first game, it was season over,” Hardwick said on SEN.
“For us, it’s all about that (opening) four-week block (v Carlton, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane and Melbourne).
“We look at that four-week block and you might go three and one, hopefully you go four and zip, you might go two and two.
“The season’s so long, it’s all about the management of your players and that longer-term plan. But understand, we also want to win every game we play and most coaches would be the same.
As much as we feel as if it’s a be-all, end-all, it’s only one game of 22.
“They’re all worth four points, although they seem like they’re worth 16 in that first round.”
Full article: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2015-03-26/hardwick-a-fan-of-the-block