Hardwick's post-match media conference

[one-eyed]

Dimma in his presser:

* -22 in contested footy in 2nd qtr.

* 3 goals from defensive turnovers & 3 free kicks against in that period. Very unlike us.

* Won 3 quarters but lost one by 30. That 2nd qtr was the game.

* No issue with playing interstate. Just played the 3 best interstate sides.

* Couldn't get the game on our terms. Game was played the way Port wanted it.

* Port were the better team on the night. Tough conditions under foot; contested footy. Not a pretty game. Both teams didn't play near their best.

* We played poorly. Port were cleaner while we fumbled.

* Lack of concentration not to blame. It was system breakdown. We gave up 8 free kicks in our defensive 50 tonight.

[one-eyed]

From the AFL website:

"Port are the highest stoppage side in the competition, they make it a contested nature," Hardwick said.

"We've got (Dion) Prestia out we've got Dustin out. Look at Port Adelaide, their strength is those bigger bodied mids in and around the contest.

"We tried to take that away from them. They play wide, the ball goes out of bounds, they start again – we just couldn't get the game played the way we wanted it to be played."

Richmond has been impressive at home, but has lost all three games on the road this season (round two against Adelaide and round nine against West Coast).

The Tigers still have two more interstate games against GWS and Gold Coast this season, but Hardwick isn't concerned by their away record.

"At the end of the day wins away are really tough. I don't think our (record) is any more significantly bad than other teams that play away, that's the harsh reality of the AFL game," he said.

"We've played all the really good sides interstate."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-09/tigers-anticipating-dusty-will-return-to-face-cats

[georgies31]

Not sure I agree with him tho even with those 2 in we a still loosing clearances and contested ball.

[Chuck17]

Not sure I agree with him tho even with those 2 in we a still loosing clearances and contested ball.

OK let’s bump the sack Hardwick thread then

[one-eyed]

Damien Hardwick seeks answers on Tigers

By Ashley Porter
The Age
9 June 2018 — 3:04pm

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan will host the competition's 18 senior coaches at dinner on Monday night, and Richmond coach Damien Hardwick seems prepared to be served the cold shoulder for now.

Speaking after the Tigers' disappointing 14-point loss to Port Adelaide on Friday night, Hardwick said he wasn't fussed about the annual gathering to casually discuss the game at heart claiming he was “a bit over the issues”.

Instead, he is more concerned with how his team is playing. “I would rather just concentrate on playing the game,” Hardwick said. “There seems to be 75 committees going around at the moment, so I will let them figure it out and I will just do whatever is required and coach my side. Quick dessert and then gone.”

While Richmond's second loss over the past month – their third on the road this season – is not likely to make him choke on the asparagus Monday night, Hardwick concedes there is need for the Tigers to refocus and get back to doing a lot more things right.

Despite losing to Adelaide at Adelaide Oval by 36 points, to West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium by 47, and now to Port by 14, he doesn't see performing on the road as a real issue.

“Wins away are really tough, and I don't think ours is any more significantly bad than other teams that play away,” Hardwick said. “That's the harsh reality of our game. We have played all the really good sides interstate.

“Port was the better team on the night. I don't think it was an overly great game for both sides. It was a tough, hard-fought contest, but pretty tough conditions; wet under foot, high stoppage, high contest. We just didn't get the job done.

“We didn't gain a lot from the game, to be fair. We didn't play anywhere near the level of expectation for us. We expected a better performance than that. I was really disappointed with our contested ball number and the manner we were in around the conference. I thought Port looked a lot cleaner and we probably fumbled a bit.”

Richmond were floored by Port's seven-goal second term, which Hardwick blamed on a breakdown in system rather than a lapse of concentration. There was also his frustration at three goals coming from free kicks during that period. “We're 18th in the competition for free kicks against,” he lamented.

“We gave away eight frees in our defensive 50 and again tonight. Things which we can control we have to get better; those sort of things don't help. It is something that we will look at – it's not often that we will give away seven goals.”

Hardwick, however, dismissed any notion about contentment. “We still feel we are the hunter to be honest; that's the way we play, but not that way tonight,” he said.

“I thought they out-hunted us in-around the contest. The contested ball numbers probably back that up ... we have got some work to do in that part of our game.”

Dustin Martin will return from seeing his father in New Zealand on Monday night, and Hardwick seems sure he will be available for next Sunday's game against Geelong at the MCG after missing a game with calf soreness. Daniel Rioli will return for his first AFL game this season after his serious ankle injury.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/damien-hardwick-seeks-answers-on-tigers-20180609-p4zkj8.html