Richmond premiership 'surreal' but no guarantee for next year, says Damien Hardwick
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Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said he was “stunned” by the Tigers’ “surreal” premiership but declared there was no guarantee his team would even play finals next year.
The Tigers washed away 37 years of frustration, anger and despair when they stormed to a 48-point win over the Adelaide Crows on Saturday, ensuring what will be a long week of celebrations.
Damien Hardwick with his family. Photo: Wayne Ludbey
The ferocious on-field pressure they have exerted for most of the season, and particularly through the finals, was on full display in helping secure the club’s 11th VFL-AFL premiership before a crowd of 100,021.
“It does feel surreal. It will sink in more as the night goes on. It’s been an enormous month for our football club,” Hardwick said. “The contest itself was wonderful to be a part of.”Hardwick had experienced premierships as a player with Essendon and Port Adelaide, and as an assistant coach with Hawthorn. He said this flag was “by far” his most rewarding.
“I still maintain when I was an assistant coach with Clarko (Alastair Clarkson) in 2008 that felt more special than as a player,” he said.
“I am not quite sure of the reasons why but generally it is because you see a group of men that you are helping to get something that you have already achieved – it makes it really special. To see some of the young kids get the reward for an incredible season is a credit to our whole football club, our coaching staff – it’s just a great day.”
The Tigers, whether that be with or without the ball, were able to quell the Crows’ run, and booted 14 goals to four after quarter-time to send the Tiger Army into unbridled joy. Their speed and desperation overwhelmed the Crows, who too often panicked and had little input from several of their star players.
Club president Peggy O’Neal, chief executive Brendon Gale, who endured years of pain as a player, and club great Matthew Richardson were in tears with less than 10 minutes to go as the magnitude of the achievement began to dawn.
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This time last year O’Neal and her board faced a fight from a rival ticket, while Hardwick was under tremendous pressure to retain his job. But the O’Neal board would win out, agree to changes, secure experienced football manager Neil Balme and retained faith in Hardwick.
Complete with a new game plan, the Tigers – having only the one key forward in Jack Riewoldt – embraced an ethos that was built on manic pressure and speed.
“I was confident that if we played our best, we would make finals. If you had asked me if we would have been … collecting medals and a premiership cup, I would have said you would be kidding yourself,” Hardwick said.
Hardwick had declared on Friday his young team would be able to handle the pressure – and that they did. They held the league’s best scoring side to their lowest score of the season.
“We mightn’t get back next year. That’s as even as the competition is and that’s as brutal reality as it is. Many people liken us to the Bulldogs, and we saw the trials and tribulations they had this year. The competition is brutal.”
– Richmond premiership coach Damien Hardwick
The Tigers would have many heroes. Jack Graham, youngest afield and in only his fifth game, was superb. He booted three goals when the contest was alive and was praised for blanketing Rory Sloane after quarter-time.
Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin (28 disposals, two goals) was almost unstoppable up forward, Riewoldt had two goals and three big pack marks, while Dion Prestia and skipper Trent Cotchin were steady through the midfield. Key defenders Alex Rance and David Astbury were like a wall, while Dylan Grimes fulfilled a variety of roles. “It’s a dream come true. This is the best thing in the world. I am proud of each and every player. It’s awesome,” Martin said.
Added Riewoldt: “I am so proud of the guys. We had a process in place. We have learned a lot of lessons over the year.”
Hardwick, who has shown greater faith in his assistant coaches this year and given them greater say, said it had been a “phenomenal ride this year”, and praised what Martin, the first man to be a Brownlow medallist, Norm Smith medallist and premiership player in the same year, and Cotchin had delivered.
He also thanked others at the club for their help, including right-hand man, Tim Livingstone, and noted how a game plan that had used offence as a form of defence was now purely defensive based. He also praised the recruiting staff who had secured Graham, the South Australian youngster who was taken with pick No.53 in last year’s draft.
However, there was a warning about what would be required next year. “We mightn’t get back next year. That’s as even as the competition is and that’s as brutal reality as it is,” he said.
Article source: http://smh.com.au/nsw/northern-beaches-model-bree-keller-identified-as-third-sydney-crash-victim-20170912-gyg7uh.html
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