Damien Hardwick

[Nascent 9,215]

4 minutes ago, rumpole said:

Appointed to the Gold Coast post today.

[Maldonboy38 6,403]

I couldn't stand his thuggery and pretend tough man c**p when he played, and I didn't like his demeanour as a coach at the Tigers either. And all his jokes about "Mrs Hardwick" only for... you know what lowered him even further. Like many coaches in the past, his dodgy character does not carry over into his football.

He is an outstanding coach. When he finally had the list he wanted, he shifted the attitude, and formed a game plan around their strengths. He left on good terms with nothing more to give the Tiges. 

He is a great fit for the Suns. It might not click in 2024, but look out 2025. They have a great list.

[Macca 16,972]

If the Gold Coast can build an above average off-field crew to surround Hardwick, he and their team will have a chance

If he has to build the club up on his own, that's problematical.  Just hanging on to their young talent is a task in itself

O'Neil, Gale, Balme & Caracella were as much a part of Richmond's rise to success as Hardwick was.  Not forgetting Dustin Martin and his 3 Norm Smith medals

A 6 year deal?  Is part of the contract including the new caveat that only a 6 month payout is required upon dismissal? 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Macca

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,850]

Apparently he is not contemplating a list clear-out. 

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,248]

A rat who deserted a sinking ship ....

[Jaded No More 68,921]

 

🙄

[I'va Worn Smith 973]

Call me a cynic, but I believe Hardwick's actions to be mercenary in the extreme.  OK, he says he felt he had nothing left in the tank with Richmond and resigns.  I don't believe that the deal with the Suns occurred recently, but do believe, Hardwick was sounded out well before. 

It will be interesting to see how many Richmond players, current or recently 'retired', he takes with him.  I know footy is a business, but honesty and integrity, to me, takes primacy within any business in my view.

 

 

[DubDee 25,884]

Hardwick left the Tigers when it was clear they couldn’t make finals or least compete with the best. no interest is helping transition to another coach 

now he is accepting massive money to try to be the hero and get the Suns their first flag. 

he is a good coach for sure. the rest, that’s up forthe debate

[Fromgotowoewodin 1,606]

2 hours ago, SFebes said:

Knew he had the job months ago IMO. Very odd how he wanted a break yet signed back on before the current H&A season has even ended.....

I’m burnt out, lost the passion, need some time away from the.. sorry how much?? Ok I’m back

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,850]

Love to be a fly on the wall when he explains this away to bestie Stuart Dew.

[BoBo 2,941]

Dunno, He was at the Tiges for 7 years before they won a flag. Ended up winning them 3. Been with them since 2010. 
 

Goodwin started being head coach with us in 2017 and 4 years later he got us a flag. 
 

If in 2030, Goody gets us 3 flags, decides to leave to another club that’s on the up and we’re on the decline I’d be wishing him all the best. What more could you ask for from a coach?
 

Hardwick definitely left for money but let’s put things into perspective and be fair... In footy terms, Hardwick is nowhere near as much as a rat on a sinking ship as Ross Lyon. 
 

Gets handed Stkildas 00’s amazing list, leaves, gets handed a very good Freo list, leaves, gets handed an already developed St Kilda list AGAIN. 
 

Hardwick has done his time developing a list from scratch, Lion just walks into teams in the premiership window then leaves as soon as they show a glimmer of decline. 
 

Say what you want about Hardwicks character but at least he put in 7 years into developing a list of players and got 3 flags, unlike a certain other coach with ZERO premierships. 

[YearOfTheDees 3,266]

Watching Hardwick on 360 tonight and I just have no time for him anymore. Hope he fails and fails big time.

[Demonstone 22,558]

34 minutes ago, BoBo said:

If in 2030, Goody gets us 3 flags, decides to leave to another club that’s on the up and we’re on the decline I’d be wishing him all the best. What more could you ask for from a coach?

I think what annoys people is that Hardwick quit mid-season citing burnout, only to bob up not long afterwards with a seven year deal, presumably for big money, at an AFL expansion club.

[Jaded No More 68,921]

Look if Goody wins us 2 more flags he can go coach Tassie if he really wants. 

[Sir Why You Little 37,045]

I think Hardwick was offered the Gold Coast job last Summer 

he had to play the game to get there. Richmond have 3 Flags, he owes them nothing 

Cut Throat Business 

[BoBo 2,941]

6 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

I think what annoys people is that Hardwick quit mid-season citing burnout, only to bob up not long afterwards with a seven year deal, presumably for big money, at an AFL expansion club.

Yeah that’s fair, I guess from my perspective, I don’t really care if he is being duplicitous as he has 3 flags behind him and he also spent 7 years developing a very middle of the road list.

 

I don’t like Hardwick at all, but in pure footy terms, there’s not much more he could’ve done for that club and if him being burnt out actually means ‘I can’t be fahked spending another 7 years developing a list again’, then I get that. 
 

I have respect for any coach that can take a list, develop it over a number of years then win premiership with it. If you win 3 premierships after developing a team then hell, do what you want. 

[IRW 1,387]

11 hours ago, Demonstone said:

I think what annoys people is that Hardwick quit mid-season citing burnout, only to bob up not long afterwards with a seven year deal, presumably for big money, at an AFL expansion club.

What should annoy people is that if it was a done deal then it was the way they dumped Dew that was disgraceful.

Hardwick quit early enough for the Tigers to get organised fir their big rebuild

 

 

[layzie 33,813]

Slight dirty feeling about this. Tigers fans have a right to feel aggrieved.

But I'm not a Tigers fan so who gives a trip.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,783]

11 hours ago, Demonstone said:

I think what annoys people is that Hardwick quit mid-season citing burnout, only to bob up not long afterwards with a seven year deal, presumably for big money, at an AFL expansion club.

I can fully understand that the burnout associated with the Richmond job disappeared when offered a new job. I know that over my working life, every time I've changed jobs I have felt re-invigorated, even if I was still essentially doing the same thing. To use a cliche, a change is as good as a holiday. 

[Bates Mate 4,487]

13 minutes ago, IRW said:

What should annoy people is that if it was a done deal then it was the way they dumped Dew that was disgraceful.

Hardwick quit early enough for the Tigers to get organised fir their big rebuild

 

 

Will be tougher for the tigers given they gave up 3 first rounders and a second for Taranto and Hopper. Giving away valuable future picks and then doing a runner Mid season would annoy me as a tiger fan. Taranto has been good but where do the tigers finish on the ladder this year without him? Maybe one or two rungs lower. But with great hands in a really good draft

[Diamond_Jim 12,590]

1 hour ago, Bates Mate said:

Will be tougher for the tigers given they gave up 3 first rounders and a second for Taranto and Hopper. Giving away valuable future picks and then doing a runner Mid season would annoy me as a tiger fan. Taranto has been good but where do the tigers finish on the ladder this year without him? Maybe one or two rungs lower. But with great hands in a really good draft

Good points.... Will be interesting how they approach their rebuild. Most clubs try to avoid bottoming out and with the Tasmanian entry it's even more complicated. Geelong face the same problem but at least they haven't traded their primary draft picks yet.

There's even an argument for hiring a cheaper coach and increasing your number of skills assistants for say three years

[Demon17 5,188]

13 hours ago, Demonstone said:

I think what annoys people is that Hardwick quit mid-season citing burnout, only to bob up not long afterwards with a seven year deal, presumably for big money, at an AFL expansion club.

He never said burnout. Others did. He said he couldn't get any more from the list. True and has allowed times to have a measured   and timely coahing search.

[SFebes 4,884]

14 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

He never said burnout. Others did. He said he couldn't get any more from the list. True and has allowed times to have a measured   and timely coahing search.

So why didn't he trade and draft accordingly and have a big clean out and go again? He was offered this job long ago, hence him quitting Richmond.

[Deebauched 1,220]

Assuming he's on 1m p /a x 6y plus possibly finals bonuses where is all the money coming from not to mention enticements to keep talent at the GC?  They attract miserable crowds year in year out.  Few real members.

AFL HQ?

 

[Smokey 4,389]

On 6/26/2023 at 11:57 PM, KingDingAling said:

It’s not even gutsy. We fluked a flag and have since looked like sh*t. Hardwick coached lesser talent to multiple flags. If he is available and wants the gig we’d be remiss to not ask the question. We’re a bottom 8 side in 2023.

 

@KingDingAling Hilarious