Richmond will relish the big challenge confronting it at Patersons Stadium tonight, against a strong West Coast outfit, according to Tiger assistant coach Danny Daly.
The Tigers go into the match as clear outsiders, but Daly believes the experience gained from getting within one point of current fourth-placed Fremantle, at the same venue in Round 5, will hold them in good stead.
“Knowing that even though we didn’t win, to come away and play at ‘Subi’ and match it with ‘Freo’, who’ve shown some terrific form since that game, gives the boys some confidence coming over here. They trained well during the week and we spoke about that game . . . Hopefully, the boys can bring that back again this week,” Daly said.
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“The boys like the challenge of getting away. Our form-line when we travel interstate hasn’t been too bad. We went to Adelaide a few weeks ago and beat Port Adelaide.
“They enjoy each other’s company, they’re a young group, and I think the ground being so long helps our runners in the midfield, and our half-back flankers being able to spread hard and work hard forward.”
The midfield battle shapes as the key factor to the outcome of tonight’s big Round 10 clash, with both sides boasting considerable talent in this area.
“If our midfield can put enough pressure on their midfield and stop the supply inside 50 for them, it will make our defenders’ job a lot easier,” Daly said.
“We were pretty disappointed last week with our midfield. Essendon’s midfield obviously got on top of us. Being the midfield coach, I copped a bit of a whack from the senior coach.
“So, I’ve been into the midfield this week about the need to bounce back from a performance like that.
“If we can come out and have an impact through the midfield against West Coast’s strong midfield, it will go a long way to us getting the ball inside 50, but also not allowing them to get the ball inside 50 as well.
“So, it’ll be where the game’s won and lost, I reckon . . .
“It’s a big challenge for the players and if we can knock off a top four or five side, it will give us a lot of confidence for the second half of the year.”
