The type of coach Richmond should hireJake Niall
Chief football writer, The Age
June 9, 2023 — 11.50amIt would be surprising if Richmond hadn’t already held some informal discussions about the type of coach they want to steer the Tigers into their next phase.
The Tigers enjoyed astonishing success with Damien Hardwick for a variety of reasons. One was that the hierarchy backed him in – especially after a seven-year itch of 2016 – when they might have buckled. Another factor, obviously, was the quality of players and staff at Dimma’s disposal.
Shortly after Hardwick arrived, a taciturn teenager called Dustin Martin was drafted from the Bendigo Pioneers.
The philosophy that underpinned the Hardwick era, from the day of his appointment in 2009, was that the Tigers were willing to be patient and to take a long-term view, eschewing the quick fixes and jerking of knees that had seen serial failure at Tigerland.
Consequently, Richmond is a vastly different entity to the one that Hardwick took over nearly 14 years ago. They’ve turned from fiscally fragile to powerful, from a club Brad Ottens fled to one that attracts quality players, from a raging tempest to a calm sea.
Hardwick delivered success, yet was never viewed as the Messiah. In his time, the Tigers learned that a coach, while crucial, is merely a leading part in an ensemble; Hardwick extracted the most from his players, in part, because he kept his role in proper perspective. He became an uber coach by not trying to be one.
If much has changed within the game and Punt Road, the same philosophy that the Tigers adopted in 2009 should prevail again when looking for a senior coach.
They should be looking wide and having an open process that canvasses several candidates, rather than chasing a name.
And they should be focusing largely on landing a first-time coach, instead of recycling or head-hunting a proven senior coach.
It made sense for North Melbourne, given their challenges, to go hard for Alastair Clarkson. Brad Scott’s appointment at Essendon – which still came after a process that he entered late – also fitted the needs of that faction-riven club at that particular time.
Richmond is in a much healthier position, culturally, than North or the Bombers were last year. They have abundant experience in leadership positions, headed by CEO Brendon Gale, and football department bosses Blair Hartley (list/recruitment) and Tim Livingstone (performance).
If Gale leaves his role in the short term – and he has no need to – the club will remain stable at board level, too.
So, Richmond doesn’t need a coach to show them what a decent, united organisation looks like or to reinvent the club.
What they need is a coach who can be at the helm for at least five years and preferably longer (which would mean they’re back in the premiership frame). Logically, this points to a first-time coach, to a current assistant coach who best suits Richmond’s needs.
Andrew McQualter, serving a lengthy audition as caretaker and renowned as a people person, will clearly be a candidate. But the field ought to be wide, counting the highly regarded Daniel Giansiracusa (Essendon), Jaymie Graham (Fremantle) and Adem Yze (Melbourne). McQualter will provide an excellent benchmark for comparison.
If the process is as rigorous as 2009’s search, the Tigers have every chance of identifying serious candidates who’ve never been considered for senior jobs. Remember that Craig McRae, then nearly 48 and as primed to coach as anyone, wasn’t on clubs’ radars pre-2021.
But once he was in the hunt, McRae seemed as bleeding obvious as Tommy Hafey’s game plan, given his mix of Richmondand Hawthorn, and Collingwood pedigree. Most flags are coached by coaches in their first senior gig.
Richmond should be viewing this appointment as having pick No.1 in the coaching draft.
Ken Hinkley, whom Hardwick beat for the Richmond job, is a fine coach. If he and Port can’t come to terms despite a possible top-four finish, he could be available. At 57 in September, however, it’s doubtful that Hinkley would be feasible for a long-term.
There might be other senior coaches, too, willing to come to Tigerland to take over a playing list that’s far from fully replenished and which will lose Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, Martin, Dylan Grimes and maybe Dion Prestia relatively soon, having already lost Shane Edwards, Bachar Houli, Kane Lambert and David Astbury from the 2017-2020 crew.
Richmond, thus, will likely be fielding significantly younger teams in 2024-2025 and while they mightn’t agree, the Tigers should be viewing the next two years as developmental, rather than contention-focused. Tom Lynch is certainly a transformational player, but regaining Lynch – and Josh Gibcus – will not be sufficient to prise open the premiership window.
The new coach should be afforded time to build a team, game style and ethos that can withstand fluctuations in performance. Another small factor favouring a first-timer: it will cost less in a limited footy budget (soft cap) at a club that has attacked the AFL for their cuts to football spending.
Richmond’s is an established program that needs re-energising rather than revolution, and is made for a first-time coach who’s done his dues and who aspires to be the next Damien Hardwick.
Essendon assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa, Richmond caretaker coach Andrew McQualter, and Melbourne assistant Adem Yze CREDIT:GETTY IMAGES
Assistant coach Jaymie Graham addresses the Fremantle group. CREDIT:AFL PHOTOShttps://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/young-and-bold-the-type-of-coach-richmond-should-hire-20230608-p5df71.html
