Grimes' presser today ...
VIDEO:
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2015-08-04/grimes-press-conference-august-4th-------------------------------------------------------
Unsociable? Try 'uncomfortable' says Tiger GrimesDylan Grimes happy that Tigers are uncomfortable to play against Melissa Woods, AAP
Ronny Lerner, Age
August 4, 2015 11:17 AMRICHMOND defender Dylan Grimes says his team will happily accept the tag of AFL bully boys, having beaten unsociable Hawthorn at its own game.
Captain Trent Cotchin set the tone for a physical encounter against the Hawks before the opening bounce on Friday night and his teammates responded, beating the red-hot flag favourites by 18 points.
Grimes said the Tigers wanted to be known as a team that was "uncomfortable" to play against.
He said that was how coach Damien Hardwick played his football during his career with Essendon and Port Adelaide - and how he wanted his team to play.
"It's been a part of our culture for a while now and I really like the fact that it's uncomfortable playing against the Tigers," Grimes said.
"Perhaps now that we're winning a few more games, there's more light on it.
"I like being known as that type of playing group and I know Dimma (coach Damien Hardwick) loves it as well - it's something he prides himself on."
"Look at the way Dimma played his footy and the way he coaches as well, he was always really tense at the man and at the ball and at the contest.
"I think that's probably come through on our playing group ... it's a real compliment to our group that, one, we can take it up to the bigger sides and, two, we don't just play the game – we're out there to win."
Grimes said watching Cotchin initiate some argy-bargy with Hawks stars Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell revved up his team.
And Grimes all but admitted that Cotchin was feeding off the universal praise he was receiving for his heightened aggression levels.
"I suppose when players are being rewarded in the media for being more aggressive and being more upfront and having that bully mentality, I guess he's going to keep on doing it," Grimes said.
"As players under him, we love seeing our skipper go straight up to their skipper before the game and show everyone in the footy world that it's going to be a real arm wrestle for the next two hours."
Richmond has now taken the scalps of the Hawks and Swans and split results with runaway ladder-leaders Fremantle this year.
But Grimes, 24, was quick to point out they have also lost games they should have won, most notably in round for against Melbourne.
"It's great to beat some really good teams but we've shown in the past if we're not on 100 per cent, any side can beat any other so it's critical we bring our best game like we did on the weekend," he said.
"The top 10 spots are really up for grabs."
Since the current top-eight system was introduced in 2000, no side outside the top three has gone on to win the premiership but Grimes suggested that trend could change this season.
"Anyone in the finals (can win the flag), particularly this year where we're sixth at the moment and we've beaten a few of the top sides and so have the teams that are not in the top eight at all," he said.
Grimes said the most pleasing aspect of the win over the Hawks was that they delivered a four-quarter performance, which had been missing for the past month of football.
He said the performance had boosted their confidence but they needed to back it up against the Crows in Adelaide on Friday night.
"To do it against quality opposition always instils a lot of confidence in the playing group and we've got a big challenge this weekend," Grimes said.
"Hopefully that confidence, we can take it into the game and play really well again."
The match takes place at Adelaide Oval on Friday night but the Tigers are one of the best road teams in the competition, having won nine of their last 11 interstate games, and Grimes said they relished travelling.
"Being a young group and getting all the players in together, at the same hotel together, being able to prepare together, train together over there as well and then go out in the game, I think that's an ideal situation for us really," he said.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmonds-dylan-grimes-happy-that-tigers-are-uncomfortable-to-play-against-20150804-gir2fh.html#ixzz3hoyORk5fhttp://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-04/tigers-gain-confidence-from-win-over-hawks-but-another-big-challenge-awaits-grimes