Port Adelaide forward Joe Richards says Sunday night’s Gather Round win was an important one in the context of the season so far. 

Heading into Round 5 with one win on the board, Richards said the group concentrated on their own strengths during their preparation, rather than the opposition.  

Speaking with the Adelaide media on Tuesday, the new recruit discussed the team’s form, gaining some confidence from the win, and condemned the racial abuse Willie Rioli has received since the game. 

Richards on closing Gather Round 
“It was a great night, yeah, obviously the AFL wanted it to be the last game of the Gather Round. And yeah, I thought it was a great show. Got a bit of that at Collingwood, but yeah, good to experience it at Adelaide Oval, and in front of the home crowd was great too. So it was a really good night.” 

Richards on his own game Sunday night 
“Yeah, I thought it was definitely one of my better ones and to produce it at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night was great, and good that we got the result that we did considering how we'd been going before then, obviously we were one and three. So it was important that we won.” 

Richards on the Hawthorn rivalry 
“Yeah, I hadn’t been a part of it, obviously, last year or the year before, but yeah, it definitely felt a bit like (a proper rivalry). Obviously, a few scuffles and whatnot. But yeah, as I said, regardless of whether it was a rivalry or not, we had to win for the context of our season. So yeah, I thought we played really well, and it was a good night.” 

Richards on whether the rivalry motivated the team 
“To be honest, there wasn't actually that much said about the rivalry or the opposition that were versing in Hawthorn (in the lead-up), it was more about, as I just said, we were one and three, and for our season going forward, it was almost, not do or die, but it was a very important game for us.” 

Richards on riding the momentum after a win 
“I think we definitely can. Even against St Kilda the week before, I thought for a half, we were really good, or even three quarters. We took some positives out of that game and we were able to bring that for, I guess, a good half or three quarters, and that was enough to win the game in the end against Hawthorn. But I think going forward we can produce that, and the messaging has been really clear on how we get these results and why we get these results. I think going forward we're starting to understand how we want to play, and hopefully we can keep producing that.” 

Richards on gaining confidence from the win 
“Yeah, they’re looking like a top four, maybe even top two team. So there's always a few queries, when you're one and three, if your game plan holds up against those sorts of sides, but you saw on the weekend that it definitely can and, yeah, it was good confidence booster heading into the next game.” 

Richards on the focus heading into the game 
“We had a big focus on stoppages and pressure as well. I think we got both of those right for a lot of the game, which allows us to play front half football, and then we were able to get some scores from stoppages or turnovers.” 

Richards on Willie Rioli 
“Yeah, I reached out to Willie just before, and he's doing alright. But, yeah, just with the racism (he has received), it's not acceptable. I can't even imagine how he’d be feeling right now, and that goes for a lot of our First Nations players. We don't stand for it at all. And yeah I feel for Willie and we’ll wrap our arms around him.” 

Richards on his relationship with Willie Rioli 
“Yeah, we get along with really well. He’s a laidback character and brings a lot of energy to the group. So yeah, he’s definitely missed today, and a lot of the boys get along with him really well, and he's a massive part of our group.” 

Richards on the racial abuse Willie Rioli has received this week 
“You just have to remember that he's human at the end of the day. He’s just like anyone else but he plays football for a living. So yeah, he's trying to go out and try and perform to the best of his ability, and it just makes it so much harder when he's dealing with this sort of stuff on the side. So yeah, I guess just be nice to people.” 

Richards on taking on Sydney at the SCG this weekend 
“Yeah, it is always tough going over there in front of their home crowd as well. And they’re the exact same as us, I know it’s still early in the season, but they're two and three as well. So yeah, it’s a pretty big game for both clubs.” 

Richards on Joe Berry being the sub the last two games 
“He's been fine, yeah, he's taken it all into stride, still jovial, and he's just happy to play a role for the team. I mean, he's 18. You can't expect that everything's going to be perfect, especially playing in the AFL. But he's been great, and just happy to do whatever he can for the team.  

“(As housemates) we try not to talk about footy too much at home, to be honest. But yeah, the sub role I was a couple times last year, so I can sort of give him a bit of advice around that. But yeah, we try to keep football talk here (at the club).” 

Richards on the competition for spots in the forward line 
“Yeah, there's big competition for sure. Ollie’s (Lord) been great since coming in. Darcy's obviously started the year really well as well. So yeah, glad I'm not the forward line coach or the in charge of picking the team this week, but yeah, I'd say Darcy will come in and we’ll see what happens with selection.” 

Richards on Connor Rozee’s performance in the backline 
“I think I would (play him there again), yeah, I thought he was great. Yeah, he really stood up when we needed him to. So I thought he was great back there.” 

Richards on Connor Rozee’s leadership 
“Yeah, he's still young. I think he's 25 and I've said this before, I had Darcy Moore as captain at Collingwood, and there's not too many differences between those two. I thought it was great that Connor stood up on the weekend. A couple of games he’s owned some efforts that he would like back, which I think is a captain is really important, but he's been a great leader for us and great leader for me. I think he's been great so far.”