Hardwick's presser 11-8-16 / Dusty to go one-on-one with Dangerfield

[one-eyed]

Dimma's presser today:

VIDEO: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2016-08-11/hardwick-press-conference-august-11

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Danger, Dusty set for head-to-head clash

AFL media
August 11, 2016 10:55 AM

BROWNLOW Medal favourites Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin are set to go head-to-head on Sunday in a match-up which might decide who takes home the game's highest individual honour at the end of the season.

Geelong superstar Dangerfield ($1.50) is the runaway Brownlow favourite with Crownbet, with Richmond bull Martin ($7) next in line.

Both players are averaging more than 30 disposals after standout seasons and, if Tigers coach Damien Hardwick gets his way, the match-winners will face-off in a mouth-watering showdown at the MCG.

Hardwick said he wouldn't send a tagger to Dangerfield unless the star Cat got off the leash.

"We'll let those guys go head-to-head at the start and then we might look at something if Danger gets out of control," Hardwick said on Thursday.

"But that's probably happened with every game with Danger, hasn't it?

"He's such a quality competitor, he's one of those guys who is very hard to tag, he wins contested ball inside the contest and then also post-clearance as well."

After a pressure-relieving win over Collingwood last Friday night, the Tigers have the carrot dangling to end an 11-game losing streak against top-four contenders Geelong.

"We've been close the last four or five times; it's been a couple of goals that have decided it, but Geelong have been an outstanding outfit for a long period of time and we're looking forward to giving our players that challenge," Hardwick said.

The Tigers will once again be without Brett Deledio, who has been put on ice for the remainder of the year with a calf complaint.

But Hardwick isn't concerned about the injury-prone veteran's long-term durability after a run of soft-tissue problems limited him to 11 games this year – his fewest in 12 seasons at Punt Rd.

"We just had to weigh-up the risk versus reward," Hardwick said of playing Deledio again this season.

"Brett's obviously an important player for us and we didn't want to put him in the situation where we put him out with the possibility of being hurt again."

In better news for the Tigers, ruckman Shaun Hampson and crafty small forward Sam Lloyd have re-signed until the end of 2018.

Hampson, who has won the fourth most hit-outs this season, has turned his career around in 2016.

"He's got some areas of his game we think he can improve; rucks generally don't hit their straps until 26 or 27, Shaun's at that age now," Hardwick said.

"He's had a really good season, but we look forward to him improving over the next two years, which is why we gave him that contract extension.

"He's made enormous inroads this year."

The Tigers have some tough selection calls to make this week, with youngster Ben Lennon (23 touches, three goals) and Liam McBean (four goals) impressing at VFL level, and Shane Edwards and Reece Conca possibly returning from injury.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-11/dangerfield-and-dustin-martin-set-for-headtohead-clash

[Chuck17]

"He's got some areas of his game we think he can improve; rucks generally don't hit their straps until 26 or 27, Shaun's at that age now," Hardwick said.

Well its not as if he can get worse being at below VFL level

[Go Richo 12]

"He's got some areas of his game we think he can improve; rucks generally don't hit their straps until 26 or 27, Shaun's at that age now," Hardwick said.

Well its not as if he can get worse being at below VFL level

I can't wait until he hits his straps, it's going to be ultra exciting seeing him take touching the ball on the goal line to another level.

[Chuck17]

"He's got some areas of his game we think he can improve; rucks generally don't hit their straps until 26 or 27, Shaun's at that age now," Hardwick said.

Well its not as if he can get worse being at below VFL level

I can't wait until he hits his straps, it's going to be ultra exciting seeing him take touching the ball on the goal line to another level.

It will be an orgasmically sensation for the nation

[(•))(©™]

We'll let those guys go head-to-head at the start and then we might look at something if Danger gets out of control," Hardwick said on Thursday.


Good to know your idiot coach is backing you. 

Master stroker.

[YellowandBlackBlood]

I'll laugh if Geelong tag Martin out of the game while Dangerfield runs amok for the first quarter and a half and puts the cats up 10 goals before Derwood sends a tagger onto him.

[(•))(©™]

Rodgering

[Penelope]

I'll laugh if Geelong tag Martin out of the game while Dangerfield runs amok for the first quarter and a half and puts the cats up 10 goals before Derwood sends a tagger onto him.

who would you expect to to tag martin?

If martin is running with dangerfield and another cat runs with martin, does that not let another of our mids off the leash with free reign?

[one-eyed]

Danger v Martin? Unlikely, says Chris Scott

AFL.com.au
12 August 2016

THE FOOTBALL fan in Geelong coach Chris Scott wants to see midfield bulls Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin lock horns at the MCG on Sunday.

But he's warned Cats and Richmond supporters not to get their hopes up of an epic duel – a la Dangerfield and Nat Fyfe last season.

"I guess I sit marginally in the camp that likes to see the best players going head-to-head," Scott said.

"The unfortunate part in the modern game is it's not really the way it works.

"They can stand next to each other at the stoppage and very rarely do they go significant periods of the game where they're just one-on-one.

"Team defence tends to take a bigger priority in today's footy."

Dangerfield, the runaway Brownlow favourite, leads Martin for disposals (31.5 to 30.7), metres gained (612m to 439m), clearances (6.5 to 5.7) and goals (21-9) amid a stellar campaign.

But the tattooed Tiger has been a shining light in a gloomy year for Richmond, elevating himself into the top echelon of AFL midfielders.

"He been an outstanding player this year, Dustin, and presents a really big challenge for us," Scott said.

"We think we've got a couple of good ones in there (midfield) as well, so probably more than anywhere else that will dictate the terms of the game."

With a top four spot on the line, Scott is wary of Richmond after last week's pressure-relieving win over Collingwood.

Three of the Cats' five defeats have come against sides outside the top eight and the unpredictable Tigers are determined to snap an 11-game losing streak against Geelong.

"There were some slight adjustments (to the way Richmond played) last week and I think they would've been proud of the way they performed under pressure," Scott said.

"You can't deny that the whole club would've been feeling pressure. It can be galvanising when you fight your way through that and have a good win.

"So the challenge for us is to make sure our game is at a really high level and can counter them at their best, because to expect them at any less than their best could leave us in a really vulnerable position."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-12/danger-v-martin-unlikely-says-chris-scott

[Yeahright]

We'll let those guys go head-to-head at the start and then we might look at something if Danger gets out of control," Hardwick said on Thursday.


Good to know your idiot coach is backing you. 

Master stroker.

Funny, isn't "no plan B" one of the go to critiques of Dimma? I guess some people will use anything to critique him

[YellowandBlackBlood]

I'll laugh if Geelong tag Martin out of the game while Dangerfield runs amok for the first quarter and a half and puts the cats up 10 goals before Derwood sends a tagger onto him.

who would you expect to to tag martin?

If martin is running with dangerfield and another cat runs with martin, does that not let another of our mids off the leash with free reign?

Guthrie. Although I suspect he'll go to Cotchin as they feel he does more to set up the team.

[Chuck17]

We'll let those guys go head-to-head at the start and then we might look at something if Danger gets out of control," Hardwick said on Thursday.


Good to know your idiot coach is backing you. 

Master stroker.

Funny, isn't "no plan B" one of the go to critiques of Dimma? I guess some people will use anything to critique him

It's no wonder every thread is a sack Hardwick thread

[(•))(©™]

We'll let those guys go head-to-head at the start and then we might look at something if Danger gets out of control," Hardwick said on Thursday.


Good to know your idiot coach is backing you. 

Master stroker.

Funny, isn't "no plan B" one of the go to critiques of Dimma? I guess some people will use anything to critique him

What's your invalid point?

U mean, as in the way you go about critiquing me?

Hmm, ok.

[Yeahright]

We'll let those guys go head-to-head at the start and then we might look at something if Danger gets out of control," Hardwick said on Thursday.


Good to know your idiot coach is backing you. 

Master stroker.

Funny, isn't "no plan B" one of the go to critiques of Dimma? I guess some people will use anything to critique him

What's your invalid point?

U mean, as in the way you go about critiquing me?

Hmm, ok.

It's only critiquing you if you take it that way. My point is it seems Dimma can't make anyone happy because they want to go with the opposite of what he says, no matter if it's what they wanted from him in the first place

[JP Tiger]

I can't see either side using their most attacking player as a tagger!     
Media beat-up ...