Hardwick admits Tigers failed the test
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After Fremantle lodged a giant stick in the spokes of Richmond’s bandwagon, Tigers coach Damien Hardwick admitted his AFL team had failed a finals-like test.
The Dockers stunned Richmond by 12 points at the MCG on Saturday, revelling in miserable, drizzly conditions and a physical, heavily contested game style.
The Tigers’ 12.6 (78) to 9.12 (66) loss was a far different match to the basketball-like goalfeast the previous week against St Kilda, which Richmond won to reset the bar towards finals.
But Hardwick believed his side’s failure to use the ball well enough against the Dockers and cope with the tricky weather conditions showed there was still plenty of work to do for his side.
“Last week was a finals-like intensity. This week was a finals-like intensity of a different matter,” Hardwick said.
“We ticked off last week, we didn’t this week.
“Two different game styles, two different atmospheres, two different intensity levels.
“One in close, last week was a free-flowing game. We failed today’s test.
“They outplayed us and outhunted us.”
Tigers skipper Chris Newman said the next test for his side was how they rebounded from the defeat, with their next match away to newcomers Greater Western Sydney ahead of the bye.
Richmond then take on top four hopefuls Adelaide in round 14, needing to convert their current 5-6 win-loss record into the 13 wins they’re likely to need to make the finals.
“The only thing we can do now is brush ourselves off, address what we need to and move on to GWS,” Newman said.
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The Crowd Says (6) | Page 1 of Comments
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- AFL, Fremantle Dockers, Richmond Tigers
June 10th 2012 @ 10:31am
The Cattery said | June 10th 2012 @ 10:31am | Report comment
Round 11 Crowds to date
Carlton v Geelong (Docklands) – 47,632
Gold Coast v St Kilda (Cararra) – 12,534
Richmond v Fremantle (MCG) – 43,801
Essendon v Sydney (Docklands) – 42,785
It’s the first time Freo has played in front of over 40k fans in Melbourne when sitting outside the top 8.
June 10th 2012 @ 2:37pm
Brewski said | June 10th 2012 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
Richmond was on a roll, and was going out to play dry weather football, on a half decent day weather wise, they would have flogged Freo IMO.
Freo’s win does not change my perception of where they are in the scheme of things, and that is not very good, but on the flip side, they are the best rugby team in the AFL !!!.
June 10th 2012 @ 9:07pm
Freo said | June 10th 2012 @ 9:07pm | Report comment
You are a joke mate! 4 points!!! freo have a better team than the tigers hands down,time will tell ….. How many draft picks can the tigers have with no success? Freo will be top six next year once game plan and morobito and fyfe play in midfield together all of the sudden that’s a dangerouse combination plus current midfielders who are lacking support not to mention interrupted pre seasons
June 10th 2012 @ 10:49pm
Brewski said | June 10th 2012 @ 10:49pm | Report comment
Lyons game plan attempts to turn every mid-fielder, into a inside mid, watch for ugly games, more injuries to Hill, Fyfe and such who are not this style of player.
If i want to watch rugby style mauls i can get a Western Force membership, i know plenty of Freo fans and members who detest this type of game.
June 10th 2012 @ 11:40pm
Docker from the hills said | June 10th 2012 @ 11:40pm | Report comment
No one used to complain about the Dons vs saints games, that were much more union like in their spectacle. The afl is evolving, don’t blame the teams for the leagues rule changes. 4 points is 4 points.
This is one member who is happy to have its first non rookie coach at the helm. I have the pride, loyalty and passion.
More than can be said for the real feral fans of the afl. Richmond supporters. Not to mention the grog squad.
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June 13th 2012 @ 1:54pm
The Cattery said | June 13th 2012 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
Patton expecting a tough debut against the tiges:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/top-draft-pick-jon-patton-expects-a-tough-debut/story-e6frf9jf-1226394351476?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HeraldSunAfl+%28Herald+Sun+%7C+AFL%29