Hardwick's post-match media conference

[one-eyed]

A snippet from Dimma's post-match presser:

* Thought we played better last week. First half was scintillating. Game was put to bed. That sort of game goes two way: a 100 point win or the way it went tonight which is disappointing. Having said that if we were offered the result before the game against a side that had won 3 of their last 4 we would've taken it.

* Cotch - Pressure and ability to hunt around the ball was outstanding. He's continually crashing into packs as shown by the scratches on his body after the game. The way he plays is inspirational and that's why we love him.

* Prestia - credit to our conditioning staff to have him right at this time of the year. Allowed him to time to get right. Dion shows how good a player he is. Very lucky to have him, Caddy and alike.

[one-eyed]

Tigers won't rush key playmaker back too soon

Ben Collins
afl.com.au
Jul 21, 2018

RICHMOND playmaker Bachar Houli will return next round but it could be through the VFL rather than in the blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG.

The star defender returned from a groin injury last round, but was again sidelined with groin soreness as the Tigers defeated St Kilda by 54 points at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick conceded there was some uncertainty surrounding Houli, but said the Tigers were willing to wait until he achieves full fitness before selecting him at AFL level.

“He ran today. If the game was tomorrow or Sunday, he probably plays. But he just wasn’t feeling comfortable,” Hardwick explained post-match.

“We were probably at the stage where we had some fit players playing his position (so) we thought, ‘Let's just give him another week.’

“We’ve just got to make sure he’s right to go. He’s such an important player for us, gives us such enormous rebound off the back half, but he’s missed a lot of footy.

“So we’ve got some decisions to make with whether we just give him a run in the twos to make sure he’s OK, or he comes straight back in and plays.

“We want Bachar Houli at his best and we know what that’s like when we see it.

“We’re at the stage of the year now where we want our best players playing on the park. If that means we’re a little bit more conservative from a playing viewpoint, we probably will be.”

Hardwick praised his team’s “scintillating” first half against the Saints when they scored 11 goals to two to lead by 58 points, but was disappointed with the second half.

“It’s funny – I thought we played better last week,” he said, referring to the Tigers’ two-point loss on the road against Greater Western Sydney.

“But if you had have said to me at the start of the night we’d walk away with a 10-goal victory against a side that’s won three of its last four, I would’ve taken it.”

The Tigers coach was particularly pleased with the efforts of midfielders Kane Lambert and Dion Prestia, describing the latter’s defensive running as the equal of anyone he has seen.


http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-07-21/tigers-wont-rush-key-playmaker-back-too-soon

[tdy]

You could see in the 4th we stopped caring after the first couple of goals