Hardwick call 'simple'By Paul Daffey
Fri 16 Mar, 2012RICHMOND president Gary March says it was an easy decision to extend coach Damien Hardwick's contract.
While Hardwick's original contract was due to expire at the end of this season, his revised contract takes him through to the end of 2014.
The announcement was made at Richmond's season launch last night.
"At the end of the day it was a simple answer for us," March told SEN's Morning Glory this morning. "We knew we had the right guy and there was no reason to delay the decision.
"Rather than delay it, we thought we'd get on with it and add stability for him and the playing group in what is a pretty important year for us."
March said the club had spoken to coaches, players and administrators while conducting its review of Hardwick's performance.
"But most of the time was spent with Damien — what he'd done and what he planned to do in the future.
"We think we'd be thereabouts this year and certainly beyond this year we'd be expecting to play in finals on a consistent basis. "
March said that when Hardwick was appointed before the 2010 season he told the club he wanted to regenerate the list with young players and he wanted to change the game plan to a more defensive one.
"In the review of where he was at, we felt he ticked all those boxes. He's been outstanding in terms of leadership, teachimg, the way he conducts himself around club."
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