Hardwick's presser 14-7-22 / "I didn't prepare the players well enough": Dimma

[one-eyed]

Dimma's media conference today:

Watch here: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1171523/hardwick-previews-north-melbourne

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Dimma takes blame for late collapse, upbeat over flag chances

By AAP
14 July 2022

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says his side's last-gasp loss to Gold Coast is on him and the Tigers must improve to close out games if they want to contend for the premiership.

He said the replay of Noah Anderson's after-the-siren goal to pinch the Suns a two-point win had been a tough watch, having led by 28 points at the final change.

Considering the Tigers have won seven of 10 games with the three losses by a combined 11 points, tidying up their finishes looms as a pivotal growth area heading into finals.

"It was challenging, there's no question, but the fact of the matter is I didn't prepare the players well enough," Hardwick told reporters on Thursday.

"Our structure itself was OK, but the philosophy, our players probably just didn't execute to the level that we'd require.

"There's no harder space to be in the last two minutes when you've got to try and save a game, winning games is a little bit easier ... trying to save it is tough, especially if you've got four or five minutes to go."

Sitting eighth despite some solid form, Hardwick said it was time for the Tigers to make their move as the finals quickly approach.

"We know our best is good enough ... we certainly feel we're in the frame," he said.

"I look at the competition at the moment as wide open, there's up to 12 sides I still think can personally win it and we're in one of those positions.

"A lot of the indicators that we have indicate we're better than where we're placed but unfortunately, as we know ... we're based on outcomes, so we've got to get better."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/798864/dimma-takes-blame-for-late-collapse-upbeat-over-flag-chances

[Chuck17]

Nice of Dimma to take the wrap, but it clearly wasnt his fault, brain farts galore in that match from our boys

[WilliamPowell]

Nice of Dimma to take the wrap, but it clearly wasnt his fault, brain farts galore in that match from our boys

Yep

Finally watched the replay

I thought it was bad being actually being at the game, replay was worse

[Chuck17]

Nice of Dimma to take the wrap, but it clearly wasnt his fault, brain farts galore in that match from our boys

Yep

Finally watched the replay

I thought it was bad being actually being at the game, replay was worse

Don't know how you could do that to yourself WP

[georgies31]

Players did school boy stuff and Dimma cannot be responsible for that , but our fade outs there a pattern so is our undiscipline  has not been addressed.The picking of vfl player standard players or a few getting games not performing there on Dimma for me.

[Tiger Khosh]

Players did school boy stuff and Dimma cannot be responsible for that , but our fade outs there a pattern so is our undiscipline  has not been addressed.The picking of vfl player standard players or a few getting games not performing there on Dimma for me.

Agree Dimma is certainly partly to blame. Obviously can’t prepare for our best defender to be dropping chest marks or our forwards to be missing sitters, but I didn’t see any obvious moves he made to get some control back when it was obvious Gold Coast were closing. If it was just a one off you would let it slide but has been a pattern for us all season in the losses and even the wins.

[rogerd3]

Nice of Dimma to take the wrap, but it clearly wasnt his fault, brain farts galore in that match from our boys

Yep

Finally watched the replay

I thought it was bad being actually being at the game, replay was worse

Honestly.
The amount of experience on the field, players that have won 3 flags that know what is required to close out those games.
It beggars belief that those said players couldn’t or were unwilling to lead the side.

[Andyy]

I blame him for picking spuds like George and Aarts.

[camboon]

Interesting who was missing as it might give a indication of leadership as we seem rudderless on the weekend when they came at us

[eliminator]

Players did school boy stuff and Dimma cannot be responsible for that , but our fade outs there a pattern so is our undiscipline  has not been addressed.The picking of vfl player standard players or a few getting games not performing there on Dimma for me.

Agree Dimma is certainly partly to blame. Obviously can’t prepare for our best defender to be dropping chest marks or our forwards to be missing sitters, but I didn’t see any obvious moves he made to get some control back when it was obvious Gold Coast were closing. If it was just a one off you would let it slide but has been a pattern for us all season in the losses and even the wins.

He also is to blame for the team selections. Having Aarts and George in that team was questionable in the first place and we paid the price for it.

[mightytiges]

Aarts isn't the reason we lost the game as the team couldn't kick straight all game but Dimma if you keep picking the same players that let you down then you're going to get the same brainfade moments from them .

[Rampsation]

Yep