Hardwick backs Tigers defence to beat Blues

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Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has identified his team's defensive structure as the key to overcoming Carlton in Sunday's elimination final.

Carlton stunned the Tigers by 10 points in Round 21, continuing a run of three games between the two teams that have been decided by less than two goals.

Hardwick claimed Richmond's loss just under three weeks ago came down to a lack of defensive discipline, while some of the Tigers' key players produced uncharacteristically poor performances against the Blues.

But the Tigers coach believes his side have tightened up in the two games since they last met Carlton, having conceded just 42 points to the Giants and 65 to Essendon.

"(The loss to Carlton) was a good kick up the backside," he said.

"Even though we kicked eight goals in that first quarter we were defensively not to the standard we needed to be ... so, I think our record has been pretty good since then, defensively as a side, it's an area we improved enormously.

"Not only over 12 months but three to four years and we certainly look forward to taking that into the elimination final this week."

Speaking on Tuesday, Hardwick predicted another tight game between the Blues and the Tigers with the last three matches having been decided by 10, five and four points.

"The game is going to be a great contest," Hardwick said.

"Contested ball, a tackle fest and that's what we're looking forward to.

"We've played Carlton in those sort of games before and the last three have been decided by, I think, under two kicks.

"So it's probably going to be a similar type of game on the weekend."

Hardwick expects key forward Jack Riewoldt and former Tigers captain Chris Newman to play for Richmond on Sunday after they both missed the final-round encounter with Essendon, while dashing midfielder Matt White is rated '50-50' to take the field.

Newman holds the AFL record for the most games played without featuring in a final and Hardwick is thrilled for the 232-game veteran, who he considers 'a lock' to play against the Blues.

"It is exciting for him, there's no doubt," Hardwick said.

"He's played 230-odd games without experiencing a final and, you know, there's no player that I've had a greater feel for, in that I think he deserves to play (finals).

"He's been an outstanding contributor to our footy club, a previous captain of our footy club.

"He's an outstanding character, so look, it's just reward for an outstanding individual."

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