Hardwick on AFL360 tonight

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Dimma on 360 mon night

https://twitter.com/Jonesracing82/status/1634905161801015297

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Dimma coming on now after the ad break.

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Dimma was just on along with Voss:

* Hardwick hopes former GWS guns Taranto and Hopper, playing alongside Dion Prestia and Shai Bolton, will give the Tigers new strength at stoppages this year.

"There's three phases of the game and we've been pretty good at two - the turnover game and offensively as well. What we've probably struggled with is the clearance aspect and the ability to stop scoring from those. Over the course of the summer we addressed that, brought two ready-made players, good stoppage players and clearance players, that allow the game to be played a different way. If we can get that part of our game up and going it's going to make my job a hell of a lot easier and the way we play a little bit different as well."

* Cotch will play where Dimma needs him. He'll play some time midfield and some time forward. We're confident he can do it as he set up goals for us in the back end of last year if you watch the tape. Easy story (for critics) to write champs off.

* Dusty is training well. Great preseason. Role will be a little different (more time forward) given we've brought in two mids. Similar role to Petracca, De Goey and Cripps even. Mental aspect of the game is challenging. Players will reach out to the sports psych or a 3rd party. Robbo said stop generalising. Dimma replied that all that was last year and how about we start looking forward to what Dusty can do this year.

* Dimma said he loves Prestia. He's right to play which is great. Could've been one of those 16 week injuries. If he played every game he would've won our last two B&Fs.

* Our midfield will take time to jell. Understanding each other's strengths and where they position relative to each other. Prestia, Taranto, Hopper likely starting with Cotch and Bolton rolling through there.

* Robbo asked if this year would see the re-emergence of the big man and would that help Lynch. Dimma replied that re-emergence started to begin last year.

* Umpiring positioning is better from what Dimma has observed so far with the 4 umps. There will be more frees paid initially as everyone adjusts.

* If you rely on 1-on-1 contests with Curnow and McKay you're going to be in a bit of trouble with those boys. Balta and Grimes along with a couple of other options we'll use.

* Amazing feeling around the Melbourne this week. Love seeing our people enter and fill the 'G.

* I look at Ben Rutten who is back with us now, see his strengths as a coach, and don't understand why he's no longer a senior coach. Clubs make their decisions which Dimma said he's not party to and it's based on win/loss record. In general, he doesn't think it's right under the existing rules a coach can be sacked without serving a day of his contract.

* Off-field cap? It will always be a pushing point for us to have more money in the game and growing the game. We did lose a lot of good people during covid. We travel around the world and there's a lot of good coaches in the AFL that are in Dimma's opinion at the forefront of any sport around the world. Dimma mentioned he went to the US during the offseason and while there caught up with his sister living in New York.

* Dimma said he chatted with McRae and Dimma said he would like in the last couple of weeks of preseason that we can train with other clubs. Not playing matches but working on things like stoppages, etc. When you train against yourselves it's hard to get a proper read because you know what each other is doing.

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How do Taranto & Hopper fit into the Richmond mix?

Click on pic/link to watch:

https://twitter.com/FOXFOOTY/status/1635205349606293506

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'Move on mate!' Hardwick grills Robbo

Click pic/link to watch:

https://www.foxsports.com.au/video/afl/afl-360/move-on-mate-hardwick-grills-robbo!844017

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‘Stop going in the past’: Robbo and Tigers coach clash over Dusty amid AFL great’s big call on superstar

Catherine Healey
Fox Sports
March 13th, 2023 10:13 pm

Damien Hardwick says Dustin Martin is preparing for a slightly different role this year as the Richmond coach cheekily refused to reflect on the 2022 speculation circus that surrounded his superstar’s playing future.

Martin, the three-time premiership star and three-time Norm Smith Medallist, was restricted to just nine games last season as a result of injury, while he also spent time away from the sport.

But he looms as a major key to the Tigers’ success in 2023, with the recruitment of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper allowing Martin to play predominantly forward.

During Monday night’s episode of Fox Footy’s AFL 360, co-host Mark Robinson peppered Hardwick with questions on past conversations he’d held with Martin, which the Tigers coach wasn’t prepared to elaborate on in a jovial exchange.


Mark Robinson: Did you get great comfort (from the chats with Martin)?

Damien Hardwick: I get great comfort with all my players, Robbo.

MR: Jeez you are generalising.

DH: Oh c’mon. Move on!

MR: C’mon mate. He’s Dustin Martin, Dimma!

DH: We’ve been through this last year. Let’s just look forward to what he’s going to produce on the field! (claps)

MR: I’m looking forward!

DH: Stop going in the past! Move forward. C’mon.

MR: We’ve only got the past at the moment. We haven’t started yet mate.

DH: No worries.

MR: Oh you’ve started early this year.

DH: I’ll start early with you (laughter).


Hardwick had earlier confirmed Martin would no longer play predominantly as a midfielder with his role “a little bit different” in 2023.

“We’re hoping if Dustin Martin is forward of centre, he’s going to kick a fair few goals,” Hardwick said.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/stop-going-in-the-past-robbo-grills-tigers-coach-about-dusty-amid-greats-big-call-on-superstar/news-story/98b2c26d49c9f3a5b4a219334c194f93

[Tigeritis™©®]

 I thought Chris Scott was very complimentary to us in his interview with Gary Lyon on the couch. It’s probably the first time since 2020 GF (when he congratulated Dimma in the box) that I’ve seen or heard him acknowledging how good we were and how much he had admired us.

But if you do happen to watch it don’t expect him to acknowledge how the stand rule helped his team.