On May 7, 2011, Richmond Football Club broke through a goal-to-goal round with Fremantle Football Club, emerging victorious in the last quarter ahead of their opposing team by 49 points.
Through it all, Richmond Football Club Coach Damien Hardwick was calm, collected and clear about his team’s goals. He stayed that way all throughout the first half of the season, even as his team lost game after game. He remained the same as the Richmond Melbourne Football team picked up their game mid season and started winning one game after another.
As the team scored what he calls “the best win in his time at the club” Mr. Hardwick admits the latest victory that the Richmond Melbourne team scored was a great win. “The great thing from our point of view is we beat a top four side which we haven’t been able to do since my time here so it’s a great win for us,” he says.
Mr. Hardwick explains that the highlights of the Richmond Melbourne game were the spread of the team’s goal kickers and Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio coming out of their shells and showing the team that they have much to contribute during this game. The two players helped make it possible for the team to win this match. “They battled through and made a real solid contribution in the last quarter to help get us over the line,” he states.
According to Mr. Hardwick, “The thing they do well is they compete and win one on one contests. The game now, with the substitution rule, is tightening up a little bit, so the contested ball and tackle effectiveness are becoming key indicators — and those guys do that very well. Then when the game does open up, those guys are very, very quick; they really get on their bike. We have been very happy with their seasons thus far.”
Mr. Hardwick also had much praise for the other members of the Richmond Melbourne team, saying that their efforts really paid off. Jack Riewoldt kicked four goals in yet another strong performance at full-forward while Trent Cotchin and Robin Nahas each kicked four and Tyrone Vickery kicked three. The Tigers had a total of 10 goal kickers.
“We went back to school and managed to find our way through it (the zone). Sometimes young sides do struggle with instruction but to their credit they battled on really well,” Mr. Hardwick relates.
The Richmond Melbourne team started off rocky but now they are battle-hardened and ready to tackle all their future opponents. Go team!