One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on February 24, 2013, 03:09:44 PM
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Hardwick predicts Tiger surge
By Mark Macgugan
afl.com.au
Sunday, February 24, 2013
IT'S time.
That was the message at Richmond's family day on Sunday as thousands of the yellow and black faithful descended on Burnley Park to show their support for the club's bid to reach the finals for the first time since 2001.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick embraced the occasion, telling supporters his team now had the talent to finally break the September drought.
"It's an exciting time for Tigers fans," Hardwick said.
"We can look forward to the start of our 2013 campaign with renewed vigour.
"We certainly think we're a chance to go where we haven't gone for some 12 or 13 years prior, and we look forward to giving you the opportunity to participate in September."
Richmond's last finals appearance was in 2001; a preliminary final loss to eventual premier the Brisbane Lions.
Young midfielder Reece Conca said the players were gaining energy from supporters' enthusiasm, rather than feeling pressured by expectation.
"The fans have been good every year since I've been here, but this year seems to be the biggest," he said.
"There's a good vibe around, so we're sort of feeding off that and it's really good.
"We've built a pretty solid team, especially through the midfield, but we've got some solid depth across the field.
"We're all excited and happy to be out there together."
Conca has returned to fitness after a foot injury delayed his start to pre-season.
He played valuable game time in Friday night's round one NAB Cup clashes with Melbourne and North Melbourne, and believes the club is well placed to hit round one in strong form.
"I was quite happy with how I went on Friday," Conca said.
"The team went really well, and we're looking to build from that and bring some good form into the season, and get some wins on the board.
"We didn't have our full 100 per cent team out there [on Friday night], but the way we went about it was good.
"The style of play, the things we've been incorporating at training; we showed some signs in the game.
"Now we're looking to build on that."
Richmond travels to Wangaratta to take on Essendon in round two of the NAB Cup next Saturday night.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-02-24/hardwick-predicts-tiger-surge?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
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Just please bring home the money in round 1 Damo!!!! :thumbsup
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Just please bring home the money in round 1 Damo!!!! :thumbsup
I'll do what I can
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Great it's finally happening I will lock it in
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Conca's right. The vibe is good. 8)
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Just please bring home the money in round 1 Damo!!!! :thumbsup
I'll do what I can
:lol :thumbsup
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Yep a round 1 win against the scum would be a good start. :thumbsup
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Love the Tigga gif Tiga 8)
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Love the Tigga gif Tiga 8)
Thanks Tigers of Old. :cheers When I saw Tigga in the NAB Cup highlights I had to make it. Really shows what a talent he is.
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The pulse is getting stronger....... :gotigers
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Actions speak louder than words.
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Richmond coach Damien Hardwick tells supporters it is time to feature in September
Scott Gullan
From: Herald Sun
February 25, 2013
THE expectation about Richmond breaking its finals hoodoo was raised again yesterday with coach Damien Hardwick telling the club's faithful it was time to feature in September.
Speaking at the club's family day, Hardwick said it was an "exciting time'' to be a Tigers fan.
"We can look forward to the start of our 2013 campaign with renewed vigour,'" he said.
"We certainly think we're a chance to go where we haven't gone for some 12 or 13 years prior, and we look forward to giving you the opportunity to participate in September."'
Richmond's last finals appearance was in 2001; a preliminary final loss to eventual premier Brisbane.
Midfielder Reece Conca said the players were not concerned about the growing expectation.
"There's a good vibe around, so we're sort of feeding off that and it's really good,'' he said.
"We've built a pretty solid team, especially through the midfield, but we've got some solid depth across the field.
"We're all excited and happy to be out there together."
The Tigers defeated Melbourne but lost to North Melbourne in the opening round of the NAB Cup on Friday night.
"The team went really well and we're looking to build from that and bring some good form into the season, and get some wins on the board,'' Conca said.
The Tigers travel to Wangaratta to play Essendon in Round 2 of the NAB Cup on Saturday night.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-coach-damien-hardwick-tells-supporters-it-is-time-to-feature-in-september/story-fnelctok-1226584589363
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Tiger Army told: enjoy the journey
Matt Murnane
The Age
February 25, 2013
PRE-SEASON doesn't seem complete until the Tiger Army has gathered at Richmond's annual family day and the obligatory ''we can play finals this year'' declaration is made.
So it was again on Sunday when coach Damien Hardwick and the players stood in front of a sea of black and yellow at Burnley Park in Richmond.
The venue wasn't the same - because of the significant redevelopment taking place at Punt Road - but the message certainly was.
''We certainly think we are a chance to go where we haven't gone for some 12 or 13 years prior to this - and to bring you that opportunity - and that is to participate in September.
''So enjoy the journey, it will be a good one,'' Hardwick told a crowd of more than 7000 supporters.
It was the same message most of the same supporters heard last year, six months before another Tigers challenge for the top eight fell by the wayside in the final few rounds.
Richmond has been telling its fans for most of the last decade that it is ''knocking on the door'' of the big time. Long enough for a less-fanatical band of followers to stop listening. To stop turning up to family days. To say, ''We will believe it when we see it.''
But there could be something different about 2013. Instead of being deflated by another ''also-ran'' in 2012, it is how they ran last year that seems to have created more expectation for 2014, not less.
And it's not just the Tiger Army creating the optimism. It can be argued that the Tigers have not in recent years knocked harder on the finals door than they did in 2012.
They lost 11 games last season. But in only one of those matches did the losing margin exceed 22 points. In six of the losses, the margin was two goals or less. They also had a draw. And they took a couple of handy scalps, knocking off both grand finalists Sydney and Hawthorn.
It is for all those reasons that Reece Conca and his teammates can sense a palpable feeling around the club and among supporters - perhaps one of confidence, rather than hope.
''The fans seem really, genuinely excited this year,'' Conca said. ''I mean they have been good every year I have been here, but this year, in particular, it's probably been the biggest. There is a really good vibe around, and we sort of feed off that. It's really good to see.''
But as Conca rightfully pointed out on Sunday, it is not that most experts don't think Richmond is good enough to be in the top eight teams this year. It's more about who the Tigers will force out.
''There are a lot of good teams out there,'' the midfielder said.
The Tigers won one of their two NAB Cup matches on Friday night. But that win-loss ledger is of little consequence to Hardwick and his players.
''Obviously we didn't have our full team out there,'' Conca said of the first-up NAB Cup performance.
''But the way we went about it, the style of play, the things we've been incorporating in training,'' he said.
''We showed some signs in those two games.''
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tiger-army-told-enjoy-the-journey-20130224-2ezmz.html#ixzz2LpfjW5gW
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WOW, fantastic journalism right there frm Matt Murnane.
Let's rehash someone else's article from yesterday. Spend the first half of the dribbly article give low blows to the club and its supporters. By the way idiot its "yellow and black"
Knob jockey! ::)
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Knob jockey! ::)
Pretty much sums it up. ;D
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pfft not really interested in bold statements and training the house down comments.
Lets just beat the scum in rd 1 then il listen
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WOW, fantastic journalism right there frm Matt Murnane.
Let's rehash someone else's article from yesterday. Spend the first half of the dribbly article give low blows to the club and its supporters. By the way idiot its "yellow and black"
Knob jockey! ::)
What are you talking about, it was high quality journalism :rollin
But there could be something different about 2013. Instead of being deflated by another ''also-ran'' in 2012, it is how they ran last year that seems to have created more expectation for 2014, not less.
:rollin
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Going on Fridays games:Lets hope Ivan can stay on the park or else.
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didnt he say he thinks we can play finals rather than we will definately play finals.
of course the aim is finals its the same for . 18 teams. id say the reality is about 13 14 sides have some sort of chance depending on circumstance.
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Going on Fridays games:Lets hope Ivan can stay on the park or else.
Yep I rate tuck more in the ruck than the Big O and the Xman
Edit: fixed quoting.