Richmond’s senior coach, Damien Hardwick, believes his team has the capacity to unbuckle the Cats and he’s confident that two of the team’s key performers will return.

This week the Tigers Vice Captain and midfielder, Brett Deledio, and key defender, Alex Rance, will most likely rejoin the Tigers’ pack when they meet the Cats on Sunday afternoon at the MCG.

“Yeah (Deledio) will play, which is obviously great for us, and (Alex) Rance as well,” Hardwick told www.richmondfc.com.au

“They’ve both got to get through training but they’re available to play at this stage, which is exciting for us.”

Despite Richmond’s unpleasing start to the season with four losses and two wins, Hardwick has faith the Tigers can take their game to a higher level to compete against the Cats.  

“We know when we get our game up and going we are capable of beating anyone,” Hardwick said.  

“We unfortunately haven’t shown that this year really at any stage, there have been stages through our games, two or three quarters have been ok, but one quarter has let us down...

“So we’re looking to eradicate those mistakes… and get our good game up and going.

“We’re playing a good side, it’s going to be tough but we know we’re going to put our best game forward and play to the best of our ability, we’re a dead set chance.”

Hardwick admires how the Cats conduct their play and their strength to drive the ball through the middle. He suspects Sunday’s clash will be a contest full of changeovers, which he hopes the Tigers can pull their way.

“The thing with Geelong, they are so corridor-eccentric it is unbelievable to watch, it’s an exciting brand of footy and they’re going to come in there regardless whether you’re protecting that corridor or not,” Hardwick explained.

“There are going to be a lot of turnovers through the middle of the ground, we’re just got to make sure when those turnovers come we can score the other way, which is probably something we’ve struggled with this year.”

Hardwick confesses that Geelong’s brand of footy is a style that he encourages his players to replicate.

“(Geelong) back their players in one-on-one and that’s what happens when you have highly talented players, you’re prepared to kick to your player and back them in and that’s the way they play their footy… it’s something we’ve spoken to our boys about,” Hardwick said.

For the first time this year, the Cats plan to unleash their speedy forward Steven Motlop.

Hardwick says there’s no doubt that Motlop’s return to the Cats list will increase the Tigers heavy load.
“He’s an incredible player,” Hardwick admitted.  

“He has the ability to get the ball and make things happen, he’s an extraordinary player to watch - so we’ll certainly put some work into him.”

The Cats and the Tigers will come head-to-head at 3:20pm this Sunday at the MCG. Grab your tickets here.