Hardwick's post-match media conference / Tough talk worked; praised leaders

[one-eyed]

Dimma's post-match presser ...

* Great effort to comeback and win. 2nd quatrter as poor as we've played for sometime. Credit to Ivan, Cotch, Lids and the team for lifting after half-time.

* The Swans steamrolled us in the 2nd but we turned it around and won the contested footy in the 3rd. Cotch lead the way starting with that goal.

* We had some stern words at half-time. That 2nd qtr effort was ummm "not good".

* We were able to control the ball inside forward 50 after half-time.

* Both sides played 7 in defence with a player behind the ball and that made it hard to score. The ball got over the top a few times which lead to goals. Worked for Sydney at stages and then for us.

* Accidents happen [re: reports] and the MRP will make their decision. We want to see the best players play.

* Be nice to win at home. We follow the same process both home and away. For away games interstate we jell well but we need to replicate that home. [Jokes] Perhaps stay in hotels and spend the time before a game together.

* We need to respect GWS next week. He's watched them a couple of times and they can be deadly.

* We were changing players 3-4 times and couldn't get the side to play a cohesive style. We've improved now although we still have issues to resolve as we saw tonight. We're still a developing group.

* We just concern ourselves with each block of 4 games. We start a new block next week against GWS. The ladder (as far as top 4) will take care of itself.

* Disappointed with our ball use last week and early tonight but over the past block of games we've played some decent footy.

* No injuries from tonight.

[one-eyed]

VIDEO: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2015-06-26/round-13-hardwick-postmatch

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Tough talk worked: Hardwick praises his leaders

Jordan Chong 
afl.com.au
June 27, 2015


RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says there were a few hard truths told at half time in Friday night's big come-from-behind win over the Sydney Swans.

The visitors trailed by 32 points at the main break, with the Swans blanketing their opponents and not allowing them to run and carry the football.

All that changed after the interval, when Richmond kicked 11 goals to three to register a fourth interstate win for the season, having overcome Fremantle in Perth a fortnight ago.

Hardwick paid tribute to his senior players such as captain Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio.

He also singled out spearhead Jack Riewoldt for leading the turnaround effort.

"We had a few probably stern words at half time to make sure we came out with the right attitude," Hardwick told reporters after the match.

"We went over a few things that we weren't doing well.

"I thought the guys showed great poise and character to come back."

Cotchin was huge for the Tigers, leading from the front with 27 possessions and five marks. Defender Alex Rance kept Lance Franklin well in check for most of the night and Troy Chaplin did the same against Kurt Tippett.

After a poor start to 2015 when the club dropped four of its first six games, the Tigers have been one of the best-performing sides since, winning five of their past six.

Moreover, the result in front of 37,579 fans on a chilly, slippery night at the SCG maintained the Tigers' impressive road record, having come away from Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and now Sydney with four premiership points this year.

Asked what had been behind the turnaround, Hardwick said having a more stable line up in recent weeks had helped the team play a "more cohesive brand of football".

"We have started to get that," Hardwick said.

"The players have probably got a greater understanding of what we are after in certain situations.

"For the fair majority I thought we played some really good football tonight, which is pleasing for us and more importantly pleasing for our fans to see back home."

Richmond sits sixth with a 7-5 win-loss record heading into next Saturday afternoon's match against Greater Western Sydney at the MCG.

And with games against lowly Carlton and St Kilda to follow, the Tigers could conceivably be pushing for a top four berth heading into the run home.

However, Hardwick cautioned that recent results such as the Blues' win over the Power showed the competition was so even that any side was capable of winning on any given day.

"If you don't come to play you will get beaten," Hardwick said.

"We play every moment on its merits. The ladder will take care of itself."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-06-27/damien-hardwick-postmatch

[TigerLand]

Really pleased with this. It's obvious we have a group that responds well to emotion. We can't be naive and expect them to perform independently. They need to be pumped up, they need stern words.

[one-eyed]

Dimma on the radio was asked more about the halftime "tough chat" prior to the 3rd quarter comeback. He said you can guess which individuals were singled out by who had zero tackles up to half-time. Their names were up on the board as they walked into the room.