Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says his AFL team can’t afford to be too “Buddy-minded” when they host a resurgent Sydney at the MCG on Saturday.
Written off by many, the Swans have been the early season surprise packets, one of five teams, including the Tigers, who are unbeaten heading into the third round.
Hardwick was gushing about Sydney’s form and some new faces who have been key to their bright start.
“It’s amazing how they have an influx of players – some of their young talent is scintillating,” Hardwick said on Thursday.
“You sit there watching the tapes of the first two games they’ve played and they’re just dynamic the way they go about.
“They move the ball, still through composed possession, but it’s really, really quick.”
“Their forward line is changing, it’s emerging, it’s really exciting and we’re going to have our work cut out for us so we’ve got to bring pressure and lots of it.”
Sydney superstar Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin made his long awaited return from injury last week, kicking three goals in their 33-point win over Adelaide.
But Hardwick said the new threats in the Swans forward line mean Franklin won’t be their only focus.
“The easy thing is to concentrate on Buddy and don’t get me wrong, he’s a wonderful player,” he said.
“But Buddy is just one part of a very dynamic forward line, they’ve got some good young talent down there who are capable goal-kickers so we will have a match-up for Buddy but we’re very system-orientated so it will be a match-up dictated by where he plays.”
“We’ve got to have, not so much a Buddy focus but a Sydney Swans forward line focus as they can score goals very quickly.”
Nick Vlastuin (knee) won’t play but can at least celebrate a new five-year deal which was announced on Thursday.
Hardwick also ruled out fellow defender Bachar Houli, saying he is set to return from his calf injury through the VFL.
In career-best form, Vlastuin was off contract at season’s end but is now tied to Richmond until at least the end of 2026.
Hardwick said that with the Tigers offering less money than rival clubs, Vlastuin deserved a long-term contract.
“To play at our footy club players will take less so we’re prepared to give them a longer term to get them what they probably deserve,” he said.
“Nick could walk out the door and have a life-changing contract but he wants to stay at our footy club and is prepared to do so for less which sums up Nick.
“He’s such an important player and we love the way he goes about it.”