Richmond up for big pay out if it was to sack coach Damien HardwickJON RALPH
Herald Sun
May 4, 2016 7:00pmRICHMOND has no get-out clause for Damien Hardwick’s contract that doesn’t see them handing the veteran coach a significant payout.
The Tigers conducted a series of reviews into Hardwick’s future over the off-season then endorsed a two-year extension through to 2018.
Recent reports suggested the club could easily extricate itself from Hardwick’s contract without real heartburn or financial cost.
But it is understood Hardwick has a base contract then a series of incentives that would reward finals appearances and victories.
If the Tigers did decide to cut ties with Hardwick they would have to pay most or all of the deal, which has nearly three seasons to run.
Failure to make finals in 2016 would not represent a deal-breaker that would allow them to cut ties with Hardwick.
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale continues to throw his weight behind Hardwick as the club tries to extricate itself from its current predicament.
The Tigers would now look totally reactive if they moved on Hardwick at year’s end after such a comprehensive review.
Richmond president Peggy O’Neal said earlier this year the club was adamant Hardwick was the man.
“We asked whether we were at the point where this is as far as he’s going to take us. Is it time for someone else to come in and take over? In the end the answer was no,” she said.
The Tigers have denied they are conducting a review of recruiting but have big decisions to make on their next list management move.
For all the criticism of the club’s recruiting many of the successes were garnered by sacrificing very little.
Troy Chaplin was a free agency acquisition, Bachar Houli was a pre-season pick, Ivan Maric was secured for pick 37, Anthony Miles was a rookie and Shaun Grigg was taken for the loss of Andrew Collins.
What is of more concern is the lack of development of the juniors, with Richmond’s VFL side battling at 1-3 with few real winners this year.
Much-spruiked tall Liam McBean had four possessions in last weekend’s loss, the no. 33 pick in the 2012 draft still not yet ready to play AFL.
Ben Griffiths looks ready for an AFL recall after battling injury after taking five contested marks and kicking two goals.
Jayden Short, who kicked three goals in his AFL debut, had 26 possessions off half back.
But the club’s midfield recruits in the off-season — Jacob Townsend and Andrew Moore — are battling away in VFL with Chris Yarran still 4-6 weeks away.
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