The AFL world was rocked when news of Damien Hardwick’s decision to step down as head coach of the Richmond Football Club circulated around social media.
The news was broken by Tom Morris, who had recently stepped back into the sports journalism field after a string of personal matters.
The reports and rumours were confirmed early Tuesday morning, as Damien Hardwick announced he was stepping down as Richmond’s head coach, effective immediately.
Hardwick cited burnout and a less than full commitment to drive the team forward as the major reasons for his decision.
It ends an almost 14-year long tenure at the helm for Hardwick, who took over the top job back in 2010.
Ahead of the 2010 season, Hardwick took over a struggling and embarrassed Richmond team that had won just five games in 2009 and was one of the competition’s worst teams at the time.
NEW FACE: Damien Hardwick after being appointed Richmond coach ahead of the 2010 season.
Richmond’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the time, Brendan Gale spoke openly about the club’s desire to become a powerful on-field team in an interview on Footy Classified back in 2010, after Hardwick had just been appointed coach.
Among the club’s bold ambitions were for it to be debt free, to have at least 75,000 or more members and win three premierships by 2020. Gale was laughed at during the time for having unrealistic aspirations considering where the club was at.
Host, Garry Lyon scoffed at the idea and warned the footy club to aim lower.
“You’ve got to make the right decision mate, because you are talking about three flags by 2020,” he said.
Gale never wavered from the belief that all dreams could be achieved, responding strongly and defending the club’s 10-year plan.
“I make no apologies for the fact, we want to be the best football club,” he said.
“It starts with a vision, we’re not here just to compete, no one is. We’ve got a vision to compete and be the best. The best on the field, the best off the field.”
Richmond now has over 100,000 members for the seventh consecutive year, they are thriving financially off the field and as recently as 2020, the club delivered its third premiership in that time.
Just as the club set out to do. It has been a truly remarkable turnaround under Damien Hardwick.
Prior to Hardwick’s first game as coach, Hardwick said he was determined to bring a club with such a proud history back up the ladder. He recalls being nervous but excited to embark on a new era at Richmond.
“A little nervous, a little excited, hard to make the difference to be honest. I can’t wait, it’s an enormous opportunity for our blokes to set a new era for Richmond going forward,” he said.
Things did not start well as he lost his first nine games as coach, while preaching development and looking toward the future.
The football club had such a young side back then, but Hardwick saw something that would take it forward to form one of the strongest dynasties in football’s modern era.
Although the first three years of his tenure yielded just 24 wins, Hardwick’s team was on the rise and looked destined to cause some damage in future years.
The football club had come from humble beginnings, but Hardwick and Brendan Gale had big dreams ahead.
After years of developing young stars in Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt, the Tigers came out firing in 2013 as they successfully made the finals for the first time since 2001.
This sparked a run of three consecutive finals appearances; however, the club was unable to make it further than the first week of finals in that time.
An unexpected tumultuous year followed, as Richmond finished 13th on the AFL ladder and lost their final game of 2016 by a huge 113 points against the Sydney Swans.
The disastrous year threatened to tear the club apart on and off the field. Crippling criticism was coming from all angles towards Hardwick and his club. Everyone wanted him to quit.
But he didn’t.
He survived an intense internal review which was undertaken by the club’s board and committee to rise up and become Richmond’s greatest ever coach.
UNDER PRESSURE: Hardwick pictured during Round 23 of 2016, faced heavy scrutiny after a turbulent 2016 season that saw the club slump to 13th on the AFL ladder and the AFL world calling for his head.
In 2017, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, Hardwick brought a fun and positive atmosphere to the club.
He changed the way of coaching, encouraging vulnerability and connection across the whole club. His coaching philosophies created an inseparable bond amongst the playing group and was a major reason why they were successful for so long.
As well as the help of an excellent trade period, where the Tigers gained Dion Prestia (Gold Coast Suns), Toby Nankervis (Sydney Swans) and Josh Caddy (Geelong Cats), the club was able to deliver a drought-breaking 11th premiership, and the first since 1980.
DYNAMIC DUO: Damien Hardwick and Trent Cotchin hold the premiership cup aloft after their 2017 victory which ended a 37-year drought. Hardwick and Cotchin formed a great bond over the years and were pivotal in delivering a dynasty to Punt Rd.
The premiership was the result of a remarkable turnaround. From there, the club went from strength to strength, recording over 100,000 members for seven seasons straight. The Tigers went on to have another strong season in 2018, narrowly missing a Grand Final.
Hardwick’s men were able to bounce back from the disappointment of that loss, to go on and win a second and then a third premiership in 4 years, coming in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Hardwick had gone from close to being sacked by the club in 2016, to delivering a Richmond dynasty as part of one of the strongest teams of the modern era, whilst etching his name in history as one of the great coaches.
Possessed with a masterfully strategic brain, as well as driving a fantastic club culture and great relationships with his players, “Dimma” as he is affectionately known by so many, was able to put the pieces together to deliver on the goals the club set out to achieve at the beginning of his tenure.
As a Richmond fan, and I know I speak on behalf of all the Tiger faithful, Hardwick gave the supporters hope after a long period of pain and suffering. He took a group of young men from nothing, to a champion team that was heavily revered by opposition teams, players, coaches and supporters.
In Hardwick’s resignation press conference, he praised his players and the club for allowing his journey to be so enjoyable, as he held back tears.
“From the bottom of my heart boys, I wish you all the very best. I’m going to miss ya, as always, I love you to death and all the people that have supported me and been part of my journey,” he said.
“I thank you; I applaud you, and I wish you all the very best for your future endeavours and that’ll do me. See you tomorrow.”
When asked by the media what drove him to make the tough call to step away from the role, Hardwick explained that he had no energy and motivation left to give his playing group.
“I pushed every button I can, I tried to cook the sausage 1000 different ways, and I couldn’t find 1001…. I think the players deserve a new voice,” he said.
There has been an outpouring of tributes by coaches and player since the announcement. Former Richmond assistant coach and current Collingwood head coach, Craig McRae, gave a raving review of Hardwick from his time at Tiger land.
“He’s changed the game in a lot of ways. These memories last forever. I’m so fortunate for my time at Richmond and grateful to have worked with ‘Dimma’, he’s an incredible coach,” McRae said.
ADDRESS: Dimma speaks to the troops during the 2020 Grand Final in the 'Making Their Mark' documentary.
Richmond veteran, Jack Riewoldt, who has paired with Hardwick for 289 games together as coach and player, spoke emotionally on AFL360 about how much Hardwick had done for him and his career.
“He’s been the most important figure in my football career…. Richmond wouldn’t be the club it is today without him,” Riewoldt said.
In summarising his interview and career, ‘Dimma’ expressed gratitude towards his football club.
“By far, the Richmond Football Club has been the love of my life. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart." - Damien Hardwick
Hardwick walks away from the game having coached 307 games for the Tigers dating back to 2010, while taking them to three premierships. He will be remembered as arguably the greatest Richmond coach of all-time and one of the best to ever coach in the VFL/AFL era.
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