Hardwick's presser 14-7-16 / Tigers eye 2017 as Dimma plays the kids

[one-eyed]

Tigers eye 2017 as Dimma plays the kids

Lauren Wood
Herald Sun
15 July 2016

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has turned an eye to 2017, but maintains winning games will still remain top of his agenda for the rest of the season.

The likes of Oleg Markov, Jason Castagna and Liam McBean have all been rewarded with senior selection this week and Hardwick expects they will continue to remain a part of the Tigers’ look in the remaining weeks of the season as the club starts to lay foundations for next season.

But while it is a focus, he is adamant that winning won’t take a back seat.

“Mathematically we can still make (the finals), but our focus is certainly on winning games — make no mistake about that — but it’s also about giving the side what we call a springboard into 2017,” Hardwick said.

“It’s having plans in place. We’ve done a few things differently now that we’re looking forward to seeing and we’ll continue to do that.

“We want to win as many games for our fans as possible and we’ve got to continue getting some games into these younger players.

“All in all, it’s all about winning.”

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-coach-damien-hardwick-says-winning-still-a-priority-but-focus-on-tigers-future/news-story/1596b95f686b4225e057fdac2b16e08b

[one-eyed]

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick aims to give younger players more game time

Tess Ikonomou
The Age
15 July 2016

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is reinventing the Tigers' approach for the rest of the year as they look to build a platform for 2017.

The disappointing season to date has meant an overhaul for the remaining games of the season, with Hardwick seeking a boost from the club's younger players.

"It's about getting what we call a springboard into 2017 it's getting some plans in place. We've done a few things differently now, that we're looking forward to seeing," Hardwick said.

"We'll continue to do that but like I said we want to win as many games as we can for our fans as possible."

Hardwick said the Tigers' emerging talent needed more experience on the field  to be brought up to standard.

"You know we'd like to give those guys three to four games to get to the level because the difference between the VFL to AFL is significant, as you know it does take a little bit of time to get to speed with the game," he said.

"We've got to continue getting some games into these younger players that we brought in last week but all in all, it's all about winning.

"The season hasn't gone to plan for us we're well below our expected level of performance, as a coaching and playing group we accept that and we've got to get better."

The Tigers are set to take on the Bombers this Saturday and Hardwick said although there was an extremely slim chance of being able to make the finals, their main focus would be on securing victory against the Dons.

"I think mathematically we can still make it, but our focus is certainly winning games make no mistake about that," Hardwick said.

Despite the Bombers being last on the ladder, Hardwick said "they've been really competitive " and it would be a good match for his team.

"Their contest of balls has improved, they're moving the ball a little bit faster so they're different from the round 10 game that we played against them last time. It's going to be a good contest for our boys," he said.

"They're playing a style of game that suits them. It always going to take a little bit of time with the players coming in late but they're starting to play some good consistent footy."

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-coach-damien-hardwick-aims-to-give-younger-players-more-game-time-20160714-gq5kzs.html

[Simonator]

So have we gone back to honourable losses that we stopped accepting around 2012-2013 ? Because we've lost dan Jackson, Shane tuck and effectively Ivan maric ?

[MintOnLamb]

"Springboard into 2017"...gee that could come back to haunt him.
Unsure if a lot of our players can swim.

[Gracie]

Not sure how we can still "mathematically" make the finals. My calculations have the 8th spot on 14 wins and we can only get to 13 with games against Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong to come.

[Harry]

So we're back here again are we?  From cream on the top to rebuilding.  In the same year.  With the same coach who had7 years and wants to start again.  And the club expects and hopes this goes through to the keeper without the supporters and members demanding answers.  Is this where we're at?

[YellowandBlackBlood]

So we're back here again are we?  From cream on the top to rebuilding.  In the same year.  With the same coach who had7 years and wants to start again.  And the club expects and hopes this goes through to the keeper without the supporters and members demanding answers.  Is this where we're at?

Do you think anybody likes it? No. The current footy department have had long enough IMHO to right the ship. They have been backed to the hilt by the board. Benny was quite pensive when talking about Hardwick's contract extension to us. He wasn't sure it was the right move but he took a punt in backing the guy who had taken us to 3 final series. His punt was way off. We can now see that. In wanting to take the media pressure off Hardwick, he made the fatal error in backing him in for far too long. I personally would have waited till the end of the year before negotiating a new contract (or not). If the team couldn't take the heat with talk of sacking the coach, they wouldn't be able to win a final.

Nobody likes it, but just running in with no plan, no strategy and no vision is just as bad if not worse.