Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is searching for the solution to the poor starts that have dogged the Tigers in their past two matches.
They managed only one behind to Hawthorn’s 5.3 in the first quarter of last night’s Round 3 clash at the MCG.
The previous week against Collingwood, they also managed to register just one behind in the opening term, while the Magpies scored 4.1.
That makes it the first time since 1961 Richmond has been held goalless in consecutive first quarters.
“It’s been disappointing both times, and just easy goals, too. A couple of free kicks that were there (last night), but we’ve just got to get better at making sure we nullify those simple goals that you give the opposition . . . to give up easy scores like that, it’s really demoralising,” Hardwick said.
“They got one late on the siren, as well, to make us five goals down . . . and it stays that for the remainder of the game.
“We’ve got to look at something, it’s not working for us at the moment . . .
“We’re not doing anything that’s dissimilar from last year, but we’ve got to reinvigorate and find something that’ll get us up and going.”
Hardwick also addressed the Tigers’ overall disappointing form since the 2020 season resumption.
“A lot of things that we’re not executing are in our control,” Hardwick said.
“The opposition’s the opposition, but we still pride ourselves on the way we play and we’re just not doing it.
“That’s on me as a coach and the players stepping up and performing . . . At the moment we’re well short of that.
“Do we want to be playing our best footy now? No. Do we need to play a hell of a lot better? Absolutely.
“We’re well off it at the moment.”
