Dimma's presser this morning:
WATCH: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1317359/-we-look-forward-to-him-ripping-a-game-apart-hardwick-------------------------------------------------------
Damien Hardwick plots Tiger surge in second half of AFL seasonTigers coach Damien Hardwick says his side cannot be counted out of finals contention even if they lose to Gold Coast.
Ed Bourke
HeraldSun
April 28, 2023 - 11:27AMRichmond coach Damien Hardwick says a four-game losing streak does not mean the Tigers have to lower their aspirations for 2023, even if they miss out again on Sunday.
A loss to Gold Coast would leave the Tigers firmly mired at the foot of the ladder with one win, one draw and five losses, but Hardwick says the door will remain open for his side to make a late charge into the finals.
He said the eventual return of key players, including Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis and Robbie Tarrant, meant the Tigers could flick a switch from developing younger players to launching an assault on a finals spot in the back half of the season.
“If you look at outcome … yeah, we’ve had four losses in a row, for four games though we’ve been within a goal of the opposition in the last quarter,” Hardwick said.
“There’s a lot of things we’re doing right, unfortunately the winning element is not the one that we’re nailing at the moment.
“Every loss, we get more information, we get a greater understanding and improve us towards the back end of the year.”
Hardwick accepted heading into round 8 with only one win would leave the Tigers significantly disadvantaged in the race for a finals spot.
“I think it’s a make-or-break from how you guys define it, but the fact of the matter is it’s a long year,” he said.
“No one knows where the season’s going, sides that have been nine-zip in previous years have not made finals.
“We’ll just control what we can control … we’re really excited about the prospect of what the second half of the year may look like with those players that we may get back.”
https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/damien-hardwick-plots-tiger-surge-in-second-half-of-afl-season/news-story/f07f5a6711bcebd97f949d4c784de79c