Hardwick's post-game presser / 'We've just got to get to work', says Dimma

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Dimma's post-game presser was just shown on Ch7:

* If you get beaten around the contest it's hard to sustain. If you're pressure isn't high then you get exposed. Geelong's ability to get through tackles was outstanding. We thought we had them and they'd get out. They are a strong and big side and if they get through that first line of defence they are dangerous. It gives their forwards easy ball.

* We were nowhere near our level of expectation.

* You lose some confidence and you start making mistakes.

* Dusty good first half. Like most of the side no one had a good second half.

* Even with our outs we expect to be better than what we saw in that second half.

* Geelong are better than last year with the additions of Smith, Higgins & Cameron. They are a great side. We need to get better again.

* Got to get to work. Look at what Geelong did. The gap was 10 goals but if you narrow it down to contests and cutting out our mistakes then the result is a lot closer.

* Unsure about Edwards. Looks like he'll miss next week.

* Didn't see Mansell incident. Don't comment on those things.

* Bolton's mark was pretty good. A great mark. One of our better players tonight. Too few and far between. Sadly you don't get 4 points for mark of the year.

[one-eyed]

Video of Dimma's presser: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/930330/round-8-hardwick-post-match

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'We've just got to get to work', says Dimma

Damien Hardwick says his side must respond ahead of next week's pivotal encounter with GWS.

By Riley Beveridge
AFL Media
8 May 2021

Richmond has faced some tough opposition through the season's first two months, but according to coach Damien Hardwick a potent Geelong outfit might just be the best of the bunch.

The Tigers suffered their biggest defeat in nearly two years on Friday night following a resounding 63-point loss to a rampant Cats side that kicked seven straight goals in the third quarter.

Having already faced fellow premiership contenders like the unbeaten Melbourne, the previously unbeaten Western Bulldogs and last year's preliminary finalists Port Adelaide, Richmond's indifferent start to the season is now reflected in a 4-4 record.

However, the Tigers coach believes the Cats might be ahead of everyone in the challenging pack, saying his side must respond ahead of next week's pivotal encounter with GWS in order to get their season back on track.

"We've got no choice, we've just got to get to work," Hardwick said.

"Once again, we'll look at some things that Geelong did. They did some things really, really well that we'll take out of the game. There are some areas that we've certainly got to improve on.

"If you look at the tape, you'll see their ability to fight through tackles … that's the difference in the game. The game is 10 goals, but it's amazing … if you nullify those contests and we don't make a couple of errors, the game becomes a hell of a lot closer.

"They're a well-coached, well-drilled outfit that is probably the best side we've played this year."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/608605/new-flag-faves-cats-the-best-side-we-ve-played-says-dimma

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"We've got some quality players out but we still expect to be better than what we were in that second half," Hardwick said.

"There's a way to lose and we don't like to lose the way we did.

"The way we got belted around the contest in the second part of the game was incredibly disappointing."

Richmond have overcome slow starts to win the premiership in three of the last four seasons and are now facing a similar hurdle this time around.

But Hardwick feels they are still in the hunt to complete a hat-trick of flags despite the Geelong defeat and significant injury toll.

"I think this year's going to be pretty open," Hardwick said.

"It's similar (to previous years), but we've got to play better.

"We've got some players that we'd love to have back in the side but they're not going to be back for some time.

"We've got to hang tough, but that's what we do."

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-afl-injury-toll-mounts-after-loss-c-2786399