'Hunting' Tigers still wary of the threat from St KildaScott Spits
The Age
20 July 2018Fresh off a narrow defeat to GWS that left premiership favourites Richmond holding down top spot by percentage only, Damien Hardwick had a clear message about the target on the Tigers’ back: we might be the hunted, but we’re still hunting.
Hardwick was largely unfazed by last week’s two-point loss to the Giants - a result that left the Tigers with a 0-4 record outside Victoria in 2018. Instead, he was conscious of the danger an improved St Kilda represents at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
‘‘They’ve played some really good footy, they’ve beaten a really quality side in Melbourne (in round 15),’’ said Hardwick of the Saints, who famously inflicted an incomprehensible 11-goal victory over Richmond a year ago.
‘‘We run into a side that’s in really good form.’’
Richmond have been hurt by the loss of Bachar Houli (groin soreness), but his omission was partly offset by the return of Nathan Broad, who had a rapid recovery from a fractured cheekbone suffered in round 16.
St Kilda have made two changes, bringing in Josh Battle and Seb Ross for injured duo Jimmy Webster and Jack Lonie.
The Saints' big win over the Tigers in early July last year was an anomaly, but it’s also now irrelevant given that the Saints have twice since been on the end of defeat to the yellow and black brigade.
Hardwick says the Tigers are focused on maintaining the style of play that drove them to last year’s premiership - a drought-breaking triumph that has been followed with a 12-4 start to this season.
‘‘I know you say we’re the hunted, but the way we play we hunt,’’ Hardwick said.
‘‘That’s how we play. Defensively we’re very good, we try and manufacture the turnover and then try and score off turnovers.
‘‘What the opposition bring is irrelevant to us. They’ll bring their best game like most sides will every week.
‘‘We know if we control that (our intensity) for the vast majority of games, we’re going to win more games than we don’t.’’
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/hunting-tigers-still-wary-of-the-threat-from-st-kilda-20180719-p4zsf3.html
