Hardwick's post-match media conference / "It was a great win," says Dimma

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Dimma's post-match presser:

VIDEO: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2019-04-13/round-4-hardwick-postmatch-

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Dimma says Riewoldt a chance to return next week

AFL.com.au
Lee Gaskin
Apr 13, 2019 8:41PM

RICHMOND spearhead Jack Riewoldt is 'banging down' the coach's door in his bid to get back on the field, as early as next weekend's encounter with Sydney at Marvel Stadium.

With Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin to return from suspension and defender Bachar Houli a chance to make his comeback from a hamstring injury, the news the Tigers could also regain Riewoldt is a huge bonus after their outstanding seven-point win against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Riewoldt hasn't played since suffering a wrist injury and medial damage to his knee in the round two loss to Collingwood.

He has recovered from his wrist complaint but will need to pass a fitness test on his knee this week.

The Tigers (2-2) will also take into consideration their short four-day turnaround after the Sydney game leading into the Anzac Day eve game against Melbourne on April 24 before deciding whether Riewoldt returns.

"He's been banging my door down for a couple of days, he wanted to play this week," Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.

"It's probably less likely than likely that he plays this week, because we go into a four-day break after the Sydney game.

"It will be a matter of, he might get away with this week, but he might miss the next one by pulling up a bit sore, so we'll go through that."

Houli was initially named to take on the Power but was scratched from the team on Friday morning.

Hardwick was thrilled with his side's upset victory, especially considering they were without their big four of Martin, Riewoldt, captain Trent Cotchin and All-Australian defender Alex Rance.

The Tigers made six changes after their 49-point loss to Greater Western Sydney last weekend.

"It was a great win," Hardwick said.

"We came over here against a quality opposition on their home deck and in a hostile environment.

"To have some young players in, some inexperience, we built it up as an exciting opportunity for our boys and set that scene pretty early in the week, and they delivered."

"If no-one thinks you can win, there's some element of underdog you look at," Hardwick said.

"It's the ability for our guys to take that and play with the intent they did.

"Talk is really cheap and our guys value action, and that's what they delivered tonight."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-04-13/dimma-says-riewoldt-a-chance-to-return-next-week

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Steve Barrett
The Age
14 April

While Lynch proved the obvious difference, Hardwick was full of praise for the Tigers’ younger brigade, who stepped up in the absence of ‘‘Big Four’’ Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance, headlined by 18-year-old first-gamer Jack Ross, who collected 25 possessions.

‘‘Jack Ross looked seamless – his transition to AFL footy was really impressive,’’ said Hardwick who will get Martin (from suspension) and Bachar Houli (hamstring) back next Saturday against Sydney but concedes Riewoldt is ‘‘less likely than likely’’ to be available.

‘‘You come over here against a quality opposition on their home deck, a hostile environment and had some young, inexperienced players in.

‘‘We built it up as an exciting opportunity for our boys and we set that scene pretty early in the week. And they delivered.’’

The match turned Richmond’s way early in the third quarter when Lynch was the recipient of a fortuitous ‘‘double goal’’ that turned a eight-point deficit into a four-point lead.

As he was running into an open goal, Lynch was shoved in the back by Ryan Burton and awarded a free from the goal square, which he duly converted.

Asked if his team was a fraction lucky, Hardwick was having none of it.

‘‘The four deliberates that went against us?’’ he posed. ‘‘It probably evens out, doesn’t it?

‘‘We still win by a point (without the second goal).

Source: The Age