RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick insists the Tigers are a “lot closer than people think”, claiming consistency is the biggest issue hurting his team.
The Tigers slumped to a 2-4 record after last week’s 35-point loss to North Melbourne and face another big clash against the third-placed Magpies at the MCG on Sunday.
Despite a tough month ahead, Hardwick said there was no panic internally.
“We know we are not as far away as what a lot of other people think,’’ Hardwick said.
“There is a lot of areas we are doing well, the consistency of performance is what is hurting us at the moment.
“The 15 minutes of poor footy on the weekend in the third quarter cost us seven goals. We only had nine entries inside 50, but we gave up seven goals because of our ball use.
“We are a lot closer than people think.’’
Hardwick said the team’s intensity in training had “been terrific”, but the Tigers needed to find a way to eradicate lapses in games.
“We have won a lot of quarters of footy but unfortunately one quarter or a period of 15 minutes or 10 minutes has let us down and that’s what is costing us games at the moment,’’ he said.
“The consistency of performance is what drives you up the ladder and that’s what we have got to work on.’’
Hardwick took aim at the club’s forward line for “not getting the job done” after the loss to the Kangaroos and also singled out Dustin Martin for criticism.
But Hardwick yesterday admitted he had been harsh on Martin for his third-quarter blunders.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/brett-deledio-is-in-doubt-for-sundays-clash-against-collingwood-and-needs-to-be-managed-week-to-week/story-fndv8t7m-1227354654949
