Physical performance manager Peter Burge to lead Richmond in Damien Hardwick’s absenceHeraldSun
4 January 2021Richmond will return to training this week without coach Damien Hardwick, who is on extended leave. But the Tigers remain in good hands.
Richmond fitness boss Peter Burge will lead the Tigers’ training in the initial stages of triple premiership coach Damien Hardwick’s extended leave.
Hardwick announced in late October he would take a longer break from the powerhouse club, which is likely to be until February, after a “full on” few years transforming Richmond into an AFL juggernaut.
All AFL clubs will return to post-Christmas training on Wednesday, after first-to-fourth-year footballers completed a two-week block of training from December 7.
The delayed return dates owe to the extraordinary COVID-19 circumstances that resulted in a later finish to the season for everyone, including an October 24 Grand Final.
Most teams focus on fitness when they return from their off-season break, so physical performance manager Burge’s figurehead role at Punt Rd isn’t unusual.
Richmond fitness boss Peter Burge will lead the Tigers’ training in the initial stages of triple premiership coach Damien Hardwick’s extended leave.
Hardwick announced in late October he would take a longer break from the powerhouse club, which is likely to be until February, after a “full on” few years transforming Richmond into an AFL juggernaut.
All AFL clubs will return to post-Christmas training on Wednesday, after first-to-fourth-year footballers completed a two-week block of training from December 7.
The delayed return dates owe to the extraordinary COVID-19 circumstances that resulted in a later finish to the season for everyone, including an October 24 Grand Final.
The Tigers will have a new-look coaching structure in 2021, with prominent members Justin Leppitsch (break) and Craig McRae (Hawthorn) departing Hardwick’s flag-winning staff.
Hardwick confirmed his longer-than-normal absence on radio station 3AW the day after Richmond won its third premiership in four seasons.
“It’s been a pretty full on three-to-four years and we’ve done a hell of a lot of work and had a lot of success along the way, but sometimes you need to step back,” he said.
“I’m very lucky that I’ve got some terrific assistants.
“A couple of those guys will move on, but the coaching group and the people I have around me do a large amount of work and the reality is I sit at the top and manage those guys.
“But I’m very confident those guys can step up and fill those roles, because it’s been a tough year – professionally and personally.
“I’ll step back for a little while and won’t come back until maybe February … just to give myself a little bit of a break and a bit of breathing room, because I need it at the moment.”
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