A traffic jam on the way to work has reminded Richmond coach Damien Hardwick of what his AFL team must overcome in Sunday’s massive clash with Fremantle.
The Tigers will go a long way to confirming their first finals appearance since 2001 if they beat the Dockers at the MCG.
Even without captain Matthew Pavlich (suspension) and small forward Hayden Ballantyne (injury), the stingy Dockers will be formidable opponents.
“When I was driving along Punt Road [this morning], I likened it to the Fremantle defence trying to make my way along Punt Road and trying to get through,” Hardwick joked to radio SEN.
“Many people say that with Pavlich and Ballantyne now out that they are easier to beat, but that’s not true.
“They are very well coached by Ross (Lyon) – they are a great systems side that certainly require some serious thought about how you go about beating them.”
While any Lyon-coached side is renowned for its defensive pressure, Hardwick also noted Fremantle are experts at not conceding turnovers when they have possession.
“Most people wouldn’t know this – they are very good at controlling the ball offensively,” he said.
“Most people think they’re a defensive side – which they are – but they control the ball through offence.
“The best form of defence … is generally offence (and) they do that very well.
“That’s something we have to take away from them this week.”
To that end, Hardwick has warned his players must raise their consistency to a new level.
They are sixth with 10 wins and a tough draw over the next month will have a massive bearing on where Richmond finish on the ladder.
Following Sunday the Tigers play Sydney away, then face Hawthorn, Brisbane at home and Carlton.
Richmond were found wanting against North Melbourne two weekends ago and Hardwick said they had to eliminate those sorts of lapses from their game.
“We thought we were past that stage of giving up easy goals,” Hardwick told SEN.
“There’s no doubt the consistency of our group is at a level – we have just got to raise that bar again.
“(We have) to make sure we continue the trend of getting the wins against the better sides.”