McQualter's media conference 18-8-23 / 'One more chance to honour them': Mini

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Mini's presser today:

WATCH HERE: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1407333/we-get-one-more-chance-to-honour-them-mcqualter

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Tigers to 'embrace the beauty' of stars' final game

Andrew McQualter says emotion and meaning of Saturday's match should not be lost.

By AAP
18 August 2023

Between them, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Jack Ziebell have amassed 930 AFL games - meaning there will be plenty of emotion at the MCG when they run out for the last time.

Richmond coach Andrew McQualter wants his players to revel in the occasion as they take on North Melbourne on Saturday.

The Tigers will celebrate Cotchin (305 games) and Riewoldt (346), while the Kangaroos farewell Ziebell (279).

While the two clubs have a game to win, McQualter said it is important for the players to appreciate the importance of the occasion.

"It's something we need to think about a little bit. It's just embracing the emotion of it, the beauty of it as well," McQualter said.

"Ziebell has been North's captain, been a long-serving player for that club as well, so they'll be going through the same thing in their rooms.

"We will embrace it and still have a really clear plan about how we're going to try and beat North Melbourne."

McQualter confirmed former coach Damien Hardwick will be at the game after returning from an overseas holiday.

"He'll come to the game ... (he was) so influential for Trent and Jack," McQualter said.

Tigers fans gave Friday's training run at Punt Rd almost a pre-finals feel as they turned up to pay homage to their two retiring stars, who played vital roles under Hardwick in Richmond's 2017, 2019 and 2020 premiership wins.

McQualter, who took over from Hardwick earlier this season, had a dig at himself as he reflected on the buildup to Saturday's game.

"It is a massive day - I've been doing this job for 11 weeks and I've sacked two of the legends of the club. Not a bad effort, is it," he joked.

"We've spoken about it to the players ... we get one more chance to honour them, and play with them and for them."

Richmond's in-house video team put together a tribute which has been played to the squad.

"You forget how long they've been doing this, together," McQualter said of Cotchin and Riewoldt.

"It is such a long period of time and they've been through the ups and downs of footy, the real highs and lows.

"To do it together and then to finish together is so powerful. It was a pretty emotional sort of meeting this morning.

"But we can't wait to play tomorrow."

Cotchin is coming back from a calf injury and McQualter confirmed the former captain would be right to play.

"He said he hasn't trained a lot the last few weeks, but he's pretty tough," McQualter said.

"We'll just wheel him out there and I'm sure, the competitive beast, he'll get to work once the siren (sounds)."

The Tigers are 13th and two games out of eighth spot, with only next week's away match against Port Adelaide to come after Saturday's clash.

But McQualter insisted his side still have plenty to play for.

"The way we finish this season is the way we'll bounce into the pre-season. It all ties in," he said.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1010332/mcq-on-retiring-tigers

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Damien Hardwick returns to attend farewell game for Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt

Foxsports
Ed Bourke from Nca Newswire
August 18th, 2023

Former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick will return to the club to farewell champions Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin as the Tigers back a sore star desperate to play in the send-off game.

Hardwick has arrived back in Melbourne after an extended overseas holiday following his resignation as Tigers coach and will be at the MCG when Riewoldt and Cotchin bow out against North Melbourne on Saturday.

It comes as Hardwick is strongly linked to the vacant Gold Coast senior coaching role, while Tigers caretaker coach Andrew McQualter prepares to interview to become his permanent replacement.

McQualter said his focus remained solely on the final two games of the season as his chances of winning the role were seemingly given a boost following the withdrawal of highly rated Power assistant Josh Carr from the process.

“Basically, over the next few weeks, they’ll start interviewing the candidates – for me, it’ll probably be when the season finishes, the interview process will start,” McQualter said.

“I haven’t spent a whole heap of time on it, I just haven’t had the chance at the moment.

“I’ve been supported really well by a bunch of coaches here and staff … that’s been my focus, really.”

McQualter said he had not spoken to Hardwick since his departure overseas but was looking forward to seeing the triple premiership coach at the emotional farewell game.

“He’ll come to the game on the weekend, he’s obviously been so influential to Trent and Jack,” McQualter said.

“We’ll see him at the game, which is awesome. I haven’t spoken to him personally, but I’m really looking forward to seeing him and catching up.

“It is a massive day … we’ve spoken about it to the players this morning – the guys in the room, they’ll talk forever about playing with these two players, so influential to the club and the game.

“And we get one more chance to honour them and play with them and for them.”

McQualter backed Cotchin to make it through his final game after calf soreness forced him out of the round 22 clash against St Kilda, while he said star halfback Daniel Rioli would be given “every chance” to line up alongside his treasured premiership teammates one last time.

Rioli trained on the outskirts of the group at Punt Road on Thursday and was expected to again do little on Friday as he battles an ankle issue that forced him from the field against the Saints.

“(Rioli) didn’t train that much yesterday and won’t do much today, but we’re confident he’ll get to the line,” McQualter said.

“We’ll give him every chance … he’s such an important player for us and he’s had such a long history with Jack and Trent as well.

“(Cotchin) is right to go – he hasn’t trained a lot in the last few weeks, but he’s pretty tough Trent, and we’ll just wheel him out there and I’m sure the competitive beast he is, he’ll get to work once the siren starts.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/damien-hardwick-returns-to-attend-farewell-game-for-trent-cotchin-jack-riewoldt/news-story/4ef2e7339fa9eda532d88b8e660cb0f6