Ask the coach: Send in your questions for Dimma (AFL facebook)

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Ask the coach: Send in your questions for Dimma

afl.com.au
Feb 8, 2018 3:57PM

AFL.com.au's Ask The Coach series continues with Richmond coach Damien Hardwick taking fan questions from Facebook on Friday.

Hardwick pulled a rabbit out of the hat last year to lead the Tigers to their first flag since 1980. With a similar list in 2018, is there any reason he can't deliver a repeat?

Send your questions in for Hardwick here: https://www.facebook.com/aflmedia/photos/a.1643462382598865.1073741827.1610907332521037/2064667577145008/?type=3

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-08/ask-the-coach-send-in-your-questions-for-dimma

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Who will line up for @Richmond_FC in round one? Gain an insight as Damien Hardwick answers your questions! Dimma also touches on areas for improvement, how Dusty can get better, Rioli's injury rehab and much more.

Watch Dimma's video here: https://twitter.com/AFLcomau/status/963233049461731328

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After playing the majority of last season with a successful small forward line and with Riewoldt as the sole key target, Hardwick said unearthing another tall wasn't a priority.

Rookies Callum Moore and Mabior Chol are the two young forwards most likely to earn selection if a second key target is needed and Hardwick said both had been exciting on the track this pre-season.   

The coach was wary of moving Toby Nankervis forward if ruckman Shaun Hampson is able to recover from a back injury that is still restricting him and holding him out of main training.

"If you look at how the team finished up last year to how it starts this year, [the structure] is probably going to be about the same," Hardwick said. 

"That's not to say we're not hoping some of these players jump up, and if that player happens to be a tall then he plays.

"Many would say we were unconventional last year, I'd say we were unique in the way we went about.

"I'm looking forward to seeing those players jump up."

Source: AFL website

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Hardwick hopes to see Dusty fly in AFL

SBS
13 Feb 2018

Damien Hardwick wants to see Dusty fly.

The Richmond coach nominated big marks as an area where Dustin Martin could potentially improve on last year's stellar AFL season.

Martin had one of the great individual seasons, setting aside speculation about his playing future to win the Brownlow Medal.

He then won the Norm Smith Medal as best afield in Richmond's premiership triumph.

It's difficult to see where Martin could boost his game, given last year's heroics, but Hardwick said he would love Martin to fly for a few big grabs.

"The great thing about Dustin is he comes with an area (where) he'd like to improve," Hardwick said.

"One area straight away is probably his marking inside 50 ... I haven't seen him take a speccy at all.

"I haven't seen him get off the ground trying to take a mark so that will be a highlight for me this year if he can get that part into the game."

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Hardwick said the premiers were likely to start the season with the same unusual forward set-up that worked so well for them during last year's finals.

Jack Riewoldt was their sole key forward, with the Tigers' manic pressure overcoming the lack of another marking option inside 50m.

Hardwick said while potential key forwards such as Mabior Chol, Callum Moore and Ivan Soldo were training well, they had to prove themselves worthy of a senior berth.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/hardwick-hopes-to-see-dusty-fly-in-afl