Richmond unfazed by Cats’ changes

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has returned serve with a smile on Geelong counterpart Chris Scott ahead of their AFL preliminary final at the MCG tonight.

Scott has been provocative this week, saying Richmond were a better side before last year’s preliminary-final loss to Collingwood.

The Cats finished minor premiers, but will start underdogs after having to come through a semi-final.

In a huge blow, they have also lost All Australian key forward Tom Hawkins to suspension. Hardwick (above) was in a relaxed mood yesterday and laughed when asked about Scott’s comment.

“Chris is very good at giving you an insult without giving you an insult I reckon,” Hardwick said. “I love the way he goes about it. I love that football club, really.

“They’re probably something we’ve (aspired) to be – they’ve been an incredible performer over a long period.”

Geelong belted Richmond by 10 goals in Round 12 and, while Richmond are on a 10game winning streak, Hardwick said the Cats were a dangerous proposition.

“We have some work to do if we want to win this game,” he said.

Hardwick also has mixed feelings about playing Geelong without Hawkins.

“It’s a funny one as a coach – you love the predictability of what a Tom Hawkins brings, but I’m also very happy he’s out,” Hardwick said. “He’s an outstanding talent. “They will look different, no doubt, but … we’re still pretty happy with our defensive mix.

“We feel we can handle anyone.”

While Richmond suffered a major blow at the start to the season when they lost Alex Rance to a knee reconstruction, they look in a much better spot compared with last year’s preliminary-final loss to Collingwood.

They will take an unchanged side into tonight’s game and appear to have none of the injury or health worries that plagued them before Mason Cox ran amok.