VAFA: Ormond grabs grand final berth after inspirational talk from Richmond coach Damien Hardwick

RICHMOND premiership coach Damien Hardwick had two key messages for Ormond’s players when he spoke to them on the eve of VAFA finals last Thursday night.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick spoke to the Ormond players last Thursday night. Picture: Daniel Pockett

RICHMOND premiership coach Damien Hardwick had two key messages for Ormond’s players when he spoke to them on the eve of VAFA finals last Thursday night.

Hardwick, whose son Ben plays for the Monders, gave an insight into how Richmond approached last season’s AFL finals series and urged the Ormond boys to play with a sense of freedom.

“There were probably two key messages,’’ Ormond coach Ash Lever said.

“One was to embrace the imperfections of the game. Not everything goes right…and understand that and just move on.

“And the other one was definitely enjoy the day and not allow the scoreboard to dictate the way you feel about the game.

“I mean you’ve got a premiership coach talking to you so the boys pay attention pretty closely.

“He’s always down but it was probably the first time he’s spoken to the group in that tone and they took it on.’’

Ormond players celebrate after beating Hampton Rovers in the second semi-final.

Hardwick’s advice paid off, with Ormond producing a dominant display to beat Hampton Rovers 13.19 (97) to 9.14 (68) in the Division 1 second semi-final on Saturday to secure promotion to Premier C next year and book a place in the grand final on September 8.

Under 19 star Max Kennedy had 37 touches — he was everywhere in the third quarter — and Jake Lever performed an important lock down role as the Monders set up victory with a 6.7 to 1.2 third term, dashing to a 49-point lead.

Jack McCartney, Travis Hine and Sam Mason kicked two goals apiece.

“Across the board we had no passengers,’’ Lever said.

“The boys, their pressure was huge. We would have dominated the possession count and as a team, defensively, we laid 98 tackles.’’

Ormond, though, lost key player James Landman to a hamstring strain and it will be touch and go whether we can get up for the grand final.

But the Monders will be boosted by the return of Matt Hine for the big game.

Ormond will face the winner of the preliminary final between Hampton Rovers and Oakleigh, which beat Therry Penola by a point in the first semi-final.

Ormond’s reserves also won through to the grand final with a 14.5 (89) to 11.8 (74) win over Hampton Rovers in the second semi-final.