RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick was wondering what the hell he was going to say this week as luck seemed to be conspiring against the Tigers once again at various stages during the Dreamtime at the 'G game on Saturday night.
He had watched a contentious free kick and an unlucky bounce cost the Tigers two goals as the lead changed nine times in the first three quarters of a see-sawing encounter.
With three consecutive losses by less than a goal in the past three rounds, Hardwick knew there was not much margin for error.
"I must admit it is one of those things that goes through your head. I am throwing water bottles and smashing phones at one stage and Balmey's [football manager Neil Balme] rubbing my back there trying to calm me down," Hardwick said.
Despite the pressure the coach kept his nerve, willing the tide to turn.
"I was pretty confident our boys were playing pretty good footy and the luck of the gods might have been with us at some stage," Hardwick said.
His faith in his team was rewarded when the Tigers kicked two goals to zero in a tense final quarter to run out 15-point winners and stay ahead of the pack with six wins and four losses after 10 rounds.
"[The win] is important for their general confidence in what we are doing, because a lot of things we have been doing we have been doing really well but just haven't quite got the outcome we desire," Hardwick said.
This time the Tigers did get the outcome they wanted with Dustin Martin outstanding with 30 disposals and Trent Cotchin leading from the front with 15 contested possessions among his 30 disposals.
Hardwick said determining whether to leave Martin in the midfield or throw him forward was hotly debated in the third quarter as they needed a goal and knew he could provide them with one if the Tigers got the ball forward and he was playing inside 50.
"You sort of need two of him.”
Hardwick said despite the disappointment of the tight losses, the signs were positive with the Tigers in nine of the 10 games it had played.
"Our best footy is still ahead of us," Hardwick said.
"We play a good brand of footy that I think is going to trouble a lot of sides."
