Richmond AFL coach Damien Hardwick says he’s more concerned with stopping Gold Coast’s Brownlow Medal favourite Gary Ablett than pondering whether the Tigers have a Cairns hoodoo.
Sixth-placed Richmond’s deal to play a home game in Cairns against the Suns for three consecutive years so far hasn’t yielded dividends on the field, leaving the Tigers as the only club not to have beaten Gold Coast.
Do the Tigers have a Cairns hoodoo?
“Ha ha. I’m not sure,” Hardwick told reporters on Thursday.
“We’re probably the only side that hasn’t beaten Gold Coast.
“We don’t look too much into that.”
Hardwick says the 13th-placed Suns have improved greatly and the expected return on Saturday of Ablett after missing last week’s loss against Brisbane with a calf injury adds to Richmond’s headaches.
“They play a style of game that is similar to what North Melbourne play as well,” said Hardwick, whose side were shock losers against 10th-placed North last week.
Ablett, 29, is averaging 32 disposals in 2013 and is the hot favourite to win his second Brownlow Medal in September.
“I don’t think there’s a player over the history of the game who has improved every season,” Hardwick said.