Tigers’ midfielder upbeat on Hawks

RICHMOND midfielder Shaun Grigg says the Tigers’ best is good enough to match a red-hot Hawthorn.

He said Richmond would not be shying away from the “massive challenge” on Friday night, days after an excruciating loss to ladder leader Fremantle.

“If we turn up and play the way we want for long enough, then we’ll be in with a shot,” Grigg said.

A win over Hawthorn could see the fifth-placed Richmond leapfrog Sydney, which hosts Adelaide, but Grigg baulked at talk the Tigers already belonged in the top four.

“We’re in pretty good form (but) if we’re going to have a lapse against a quality team like the Hawks, they’ll probably put us away,” he said.

Hawthorn has emerged as clear-cut flag favourite after an 89-point win over Sydney and a record-breaking victory against Carlton.

But Grigg said the Tigers had embraced coach Damien Hardwick’s demand to play on the edge.

“We want to be hard and tough at the ball, to win contested ball and put a lot of pressure on the opposition as well,” he said.

Grigg backed defender Bachar Houli to continue taking kick-outs, describing his teammate’s late turnover that gifted Fremantle the win on Saturday as “one of a hundred mistakes” the Tigers made.

“That’s his job to take the kick-outs and I’m sure he’ll be the first one to take it this week,” Grigg said.

Some of those mistakes were the 18 behinds scored as the Tigers scuffed chances in front of goal.

But Grigg said there had been no extra goalkicking practice ordered and the Tigers were at least pleased they created so many opportunities against Fremantle’s defence.