Hardwick's post-match presser

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Ch 7 showed some of Dimma's post-match presser:

* We hope the win tonight can be a bit of a kick starter. It's starting to come together. We've got guys coming back and it takes time to jell. Got a bit of way to go to get better.

* Lambert available next week.

* Not sure about Prestia or Nank.

* Fly back to Sydney tonight and reset. Works out well better for quarantine reasons and better training ovals. We need to be flexible. Both us and West Coast were good in the negotiations regarding next week. We fly back to Perth next Saturday to play Sunday.

* Look at being away as a positive. Our boys cop with it very well. They obviously miss their families but they enjoy connecting together while being away.

* Chol exciting early on. Mabs will get use to playing that role and get better. We're excited with what Mabs can bring.

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Hectic Perth-Sydney-Perth trip no concern for seasoned Tigers

Richmond faces a big week in the air as it prepares to return to WA for a meeting with West Coast in eight days

By Nathan Schmook
afl.com.au
6 June 2021

RICHMOND has embraced the challenge of flying in and out of Perth twice in nine days as it confronts a gruelling travel schedule following Saturday night's Dreamtime win at Optus Stadium.

The Tigers were boarding a late-night flight from Perth to Sydney on Saturday night after their 39-point win against the Bombers but will return to WA to face West Coast in just eight days' time.

That match was brought forward from round 14 on Saturday due to border restrictions and quarantine requirements that prevented the Tigers from returning home to Melbourne between the two matches at Optus Stadium.

They will instead set up base in Sydney as they aim to win three straight matches for the first time this season, having seen off a challenge from the brave Bombers on Saturday night.

"Our guys have done this, they did the Brisbane job last year and they look at it as a positive to be around the group and connect," Hardwick said of the looming travel challenge. 

"That's really exciting for us. Our players quite enjoy the aspect of going away and spending some time together. That's not to say we don't miss home and we don't miss people we've left at home.

"We've got an understanding of what each state offers and we don't make those decisions, we just abide by the rules.

"We're prepared to do anything we can to keep the season going and keep the fans at home watching a great game of footy."

Hardwick was kicking himself early in the fourth quarter on Saturday night after forgetting to prepare his players defensively for an early surge from the Bombers in the final term.

The Bombers kicked three quick goals to take the lead before Richmond seized the momentum back and kicked a run of seven unanswered goals to record their seventh consecutive Dreamtime win. 

"It was a bit of a … not an error on my part, but we sort of knew Essendon would push hard forward at three-quarter time into the last quarter," Hardwick said.

"I forgot to mention that to the players, and it probably caught us off guard a little bit with regard to our defensive set-up for that.

"I was a little bit disappointed in myself, but the players got it together by the end and we managed to get the result."

Hardwick endorsed Optus Stadium as a venue for any future marquee games that needed to be relocated after the Western Australian public packed the ground with 55,656 spectators.

He said he had no complaints about the surface, despite players slipping repeatedly and changing their footwear before adjusting to the conditions.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/625993/hectic-perth-sydney-perth-trip-no-concern-for-seasoned-tigers

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Watch the full presser: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/953165/round-12-hardwick-post-match

More from Dimma:

* Certain players lifted in that last 10 minutes. Shai was pretty special. Game ebbed and flowed. We were on top for periods in terms of the post clearance count and then Essendon were.

* Points from turnovers over 100 points according to a journo.

* It's a turnover game rather than a stoppage one. Thought we moved the ball pretty well through the night but tried too hard in patches. 

* The game reflected the event. Thought it was a terrific game. Very honoured to play in this game and we love it.

* One of the best stadiums in the country. We have great support in WA. No doubt the Tiger Army got right behind us.

* Parish had 25 disposals to half-time. We don't usually tag. We looked at stamping him but we wanted to back our system and style of play and in the end we won the game.

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* Points from turnovers over 100 points according to a journo.

To be exact, we scored 101 points from turnovers last night. You have to go back to 2005 since we last scored that many. Which is a little bit surprising since scoring from turnovers has been our 'thing' during this dynasty period of ours.