Richmond AFL coach Damien Hardwick admits he couldn’t help cheering West Coast high-flyer Nic Naitanui’s game-stealing mark against North Melbourne.
Ahead of their clash with the Eagles at Patersons Stadium in Perth on Monday night, Hardwick said he was a Naitanui fan.
“He’s one of those players, as a coach, I love to watch.”
Hardwick said he caught the final two minutes of the round eight Eagles-North game, when Naitanui kicked a goal after the final siren to steal a two-point win for his team.
“I was one of that crowd that went up as one when he took that mark,” the Tigers coach said.
He’s obviously hoping that Naitanui doesn’t give Eagles fans much to celebrate on Monday night.
“I’ve got no doubt our boys will have something in store for him,” Hardwick said.
“But how we stop him remains to be seen.”
He said the Tigers needed to atone for a disappointing showing last round against Essendon, where they lacked their usual run.
Hardwick described it as their worst game of the year.
Richmond haven’t claimed a big scalp this season and have ear-marked sixth-placed West Coast at home as a real chance.
Hardwick said their one-point loss to Fremantle at Patersons Stadium in round five was one that got away.
“We haven’t performed to the level we’d like,” he said.
“We would like to perform better against the sides in the top four no doubt.
“We don’t think we’re out of reach of those sides and we’re capable, when we play our best, of beating those sides.”
Richmond have the bye after this round and will then welcome back emerging midfielder Reece Conca, who has battled a stress-related foot injury.
He will play for their VFL side, the Coburg Tigers, this Saturday against Bendigo.
“Conca will play 70 minutes at VFL level.
“We want to get some fitness into him.”