Why Richmond's Damien Hardwick is the coach of the seasonWayne Carey
The Age
15 June 2017Right now, Damien Hardwick is the coach of the year.
More than any team, Richmond has exceeded the expectations just about everyone had for them during the pre-season. For the Tigers to sit in the top-four after 12 rounds is quite remarkable, and it's Hardwick who deserves credit for transforming the way they play.
Whether you barrack for the Tigers or not, they're now a team that's enjoyable to watch. While they made the finals three years in a row by playing a dour brand of football, Hardwick identified that this would only take the club so far.
Now, they're taking the game on. This wouldn't have been possible without the backing of the board, who've given Hardwick the freedom to focus on what's important: getting things right.
The pressure on players and coaches because of the saturation of what we do in the media has a profound impact. But because of the two-year contract extension Hardwick was given at the start of last season and the further backing he received after last year's review of the football department, the pressure was lifted.
It's allowed Hardwick to avoid the kind of scrutiny Nathan Buckley has been facing, amid constant questions about his tenure and whether he'll survive. With Collingwood currently undergoing a review of their own, they should look no further than what has been achieved at Punt Road in just a few short months.
We saw when Geelong backed Mark Thompson after the Cats had a full-scale review in 2006 that it ultimately paid dividends with a premiership. I can see many similarities with Richmond.
Going on the body of work they've produced this year, there's no doubt they can play finals. Not only that, the Tigers are capable of winning one. Because of the evenness of the competition, the sky is the limit for them and the club should be ambitious.
It's a far cry from the 113-point beating Richmond copped at the hands of Sydney in round 23 last year. Since then the Tigers have identified what was required. They brought in Neil Balme, who seems to have success follow him wherever he goes after stints at Collingwood and then Geelong.
More importantly, the club then recruited really well, with Toby Nankervis a massive addition in the ruck, alongside Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy in the midfield. Their presence has allowed Dustin Martin to spend more time forward. But those inclusions haven't made the difference on their own. Hardwick has backed his current group on numerous occasions and they're repaying his faith.
When the coach sat on one of the footy shows last year, he declared the Tigers' list was as strong as he'd seen, and they were capable of bouncing back into finals this year.
The looks he got were those of someone who needed a reality check. With Tyrone Vickery on the way out and Ben Griffiths struggling to hold down his place for various reasons, there were obvious doubts about the support for Jack Riewoldt in the forward-line.
But part of the Tigers' evolution has been the improvement of their smaller brigade, who have made a huge impact in terms of pressure. Daniel Rioli continues to mature, while Jason Castagna, Dan Butler and more recently, Shai Bolton have all added pace to Hardwick's 22. It has meant the Tigers' defence now begins in attack.
The Dogs also proved last year you don't necessarily need two big forwards to be potent inside 50 and to kick a winning score consistently.
And Trent Cotchin's leadership shouldn't be forgotten. Often criticised over the years, Cotchin has set the tone for the entire team. Analysing the Tigers further, their 7-4 record could be even better if not for those close losses. They've arguably been the most consistent team of the year, given Adelaide and GWS have been smashed in certain quarters.
While Hardwick's men were criticised for the way they set up in the final minutes of those tight defeats, if you look at those games in their entirety, the Tigers were the better team. It was poor kicking for goal that cost them and I'm sure Hardwick and his coaching group would have looked more at the bigger picture than just the last minute.
Some will argue the Tigers' draw hasn't been as challenging as others, or that they don't have the depth of the Dogs, Crows or Giants. And that's probably the case.
But in every premiership tilt you need an element of luck. If they can keep their list healthy, then there's no doubt Richmond can go deep into September.
It will be a tough test against the Swans on Saturday, and Alex Rance will have his hands full after Buddy Franklin bagged seven goals last time these two sides met. But given the Tigers' progression they should believe in their own minds that they're good enough. While it might be a roller coaster ride barracking for the Tigers, when they are playing well and winning, Melbourne does seem to come alive.
The footy world can be very quick to say get someone new in as coach, but the grass is not always greener on the other side. Now, following a few tweaks from Hardwick, Tiger fans – and the club – could be set to reap the rewards of their patience.
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