Embarrassing, dumb and devoid of dignity.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick pulled no punches in assessing his side’s 35-point loss to Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday night.
The heat was already on Hardwick after an underwhelming start to the AFL season and it proceeded to get hotter as Port triumphed 13.16 (94) to 8.11 (59).
The upset loss leaves the Tigers, who next face reigning premiers Hawthorn, with one win from the opening six rounds.
Not since 2010, Hardwick’s first season in charge, have Richmond started a season so poorly.
“It probably was (dumb football) … we really embarrassed ourselves tonight with the way we played,” Hardwick said.
“We’ve got to bounce back and play with some dignity next week. Because at the moment we’re well short of where we need to be.
“As a club we’re disappointed with what we’re presenting to our fans.”
Hardwick called on his charges to play some “respectable” football against the Hawks on Friday night.
“We’re missing kicks, missing handballs, missing tackles,” he said.
“Just the fundamentals of the game. Simple things that a local football side should be doing, we’re not doing.”
Hardwick temporarily coached from the boundary line after halftime, when Port enjoyed an 18-point lead, but couldn’t spark his charges.
A magnificent goal from Richmond’s returning vice-captain Brett Deledio reduced the margin to 14 points early in the third term.
It was as close as the hosts came to hitting the front after the major break.
An opening-quarter injury to Kane Lambert, who was taken to hospital after reporting breathing difficulties, left the Tigers one short on the bench.
It was a mitigating factor of sorts but couldn’t explain the way Port recovered from a poor start to take control of the contest.
The Power didn’t register a goal until the 17th minute but proceeded to score with relative ease.
Richmond’s defence was rudderless without suspended fullback Alex Rance, while they struggled to hit targets all over the field.
Port had been widely tipped to lose given the enforced omission of stars Robbie Gray, Jackson Trengove and Chad Wingard.
“We understand why we’ve been under a lot of pressure,” Port coach Ken Hinkley said.
“We’ve soaked that pressure up a little bit and the response of the group tonight, I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
big four sticks
Guest
Hardwick must be sacked now! He is not a Richmond man. We need a past club champion to coach us. Mick Malthouse is available so we should pursue him. We should lure Sheedy back to the club. We should also get Neil Balme in. Brendan Gale knows what he is doing as he is tigers through and through; he bleeds yellow and black. We need K.B down at the club, he could be our new list manager. Jealous opposition fans will call him Mr Magoo, but let me tell you he is no Magoo, he tells it like it is. Prestia wants to come to Richmond. We should get Travis Cloke, as his dad played for the Tigers. Tomlinson would also be good. We do not need to rebuild as we have a top list, a team of champions who are poorly coached by an Essendon man. Send Hardwick back to Bomber land where he belongs. All we need is a new coach, Richmond old boys running the club, and GWS and Suns cast offs to top up our magnificent list and we will be playing finals in no time. Big four clubs do not need to rebuild, that is for loser clubs like St Kilda. Might I add Yarran is yet to play, he will give us plenty of dash off half back.
mattyb
Guest
Richmond and Carlton are not only incapable of a rebuild they think as soon as any reject pulls on one of their jumpers they are terrific. They also over value the players on their lists. They think most players are worth a first round pick and they believe they should get a second or third round for players who should just be delisted. They never blame the club or players for being down the bottom,it's always the coach,I think they just blatantly refuse to believe they are poor clubs so it's hard to see them rising anywhere above mid table. Their boards certainly play on this,mid table gives dillusional fans hope,therefore the board members keep their jobs,and the cycle continues.
hal
Guest
Just listening to "the run home" and most Richmond fans don't want a rebuild. One even mentioned getting some Gold Coast players. Anything but a rebuild. It is amazing how Carlton and Richmond so often mirror one another. So often these clubs look to a messiah to get them out of their respective quagmires. Cousins worked out so well. They are out of step with the modern game and still live in the 1970's. It is not surprising that we are witnessing the demise of the big four clubs who still believe that luring a big name player or coach will fast track them to the premiership.
hal
Guest
Totally Mattyb. Statistics show that while Richmond claim to be a working-class club their average supporter is on a high income. There are many cheer squad (Tiger army) members who live in suburbs like Camberwell. Richmond has one of the lowest number of support bases in the Northern and Western suburbs. Northcote is the only Northern suburb that has a larger than average Richmond fan base, and I would be guessing a fair few of them are hipsters.The old recruiting zone for Richmond used to take in the old City of Malvern, that covered the eastern parts of Toorak, and Armadale, as well as encompassing Malvern, Glen Iris (south of Gardiner's creek), and Malvern East. Richmond drew in a lot of supporters from this area. I have a map that shows where supporters of each club live. Richmond fans are centered in the eastern suburbs. The funny thing about Carlton is that there is a real disconnect between their wealthy power broker supporters (more of whom live in Templestowe, than Toorak), and their average supporters who overwhelmingly live in the confines of the Cities of Moreland, and Hume. The average Carlton fan is actually on a much lower income than the average Richmond fan.
mattyb
Guest
Correct hal,the big four never rebuild and that's why the furthest they can go in recent time is mid table then back down again. Their born to rule boards bicker,their born to rule fans massively overate their average playing stocks and always blame the coach. The modern game has moved way past the born to rule clubs and their born to rule supporters have less of a clue than their born to rule boards.
hal
Guest
All the Richmond fans are saying "sack Hardwick" on "hungry for sport" this morning. It reminds me of when the Carlton fans were yelling "sack Ratten". One fan even said they should look at getting Malthouse. Hardwick has got the best he can out of this list. Overall it is an ordinary list. Now they don't want to use the term rebuild, instead it is a reaet (sic). That's right big four clubs never rebuild. Richmond could end up going after duds from the Gold Coast to avoid a rebuild. The reality is no big name players want to go to Richmond because they know the culture there stinks, and that losing three elimination finals in a row was the pinnacle of their achievement. This club is taking the express elevator back to the basement.
bobburra
Guest
I have said it before and I will keep saying it, the main problem at Richmond is it's recruiting,Richmond do not have quality players to "step up" when their "recognised star players", Cotchin, Reiwolt, Martin, Delidio are beaing beaten or out of the side through injury. Too many passengers. Hardwick may well be the 'casuality" but the recruiting department should and is in need of a major overhaul. The coach can only deal with the people he is given, he will make a choice relative to the options he has availableto him. The unfortunate part is that Hardwick may well be a good coach, but if he is sacked from Richmond, chances are he will carry the burden of being a "dud" coach because of a poor / below performance group. Such is the life of an AFL coach.
mattyb
Guest
Pretty brave effort from Cotchin to keep playing.
Slane
Guest
Cotchin broke his cheekbone in the opening minutes. Season gone for the Tigers.