Here's the report on the AFL site...Rawlings desperate to keep Richmond jobBy Mic Cullen Thu 16 July, 2009
JADE Rawlings has put his hand up to coach Richmond from 2010 and he's going to chase the position as hard as he can.
Rawlings was elevated from coach of VFL affiliate Coburg to the Tigers caretaker role when Terry Wallace departed at the start of June, and while he initially refused to talk about whether he wanted the position for real, that has all changed.
With the closing date for applications passed, Rawlings now feels free to discuss his burning ambition.
"You've seen reported (on Wednesday) that Wayne (Campbell, Richmond assistant coach) has pulled out unfortunately, but I'm going for it," Rawlings told afl.com.au.
The 31-year-old laughs a lot, and you can tell it's genuine, but he's also intensely focused and motivated.
He said his initial reluctance to discuss his aspirations was because he wanted the spotlight to remain on his players.
"I just didn't want to get drawn into talking about my long-term future, when it was about the group," he said.
"One of my first comments to the group was this: while I couldn't be more proud and happy taking over the role, it's not about me. This next journey isn't about how I go as coach, it's about you guys improving, and setting yourselves up for a bit of success in the next couple of years.
"I'm very passionate about what I'd like to think I could do with this group. I'd like to think I'm establishing a rapport and chemistry and trust with these boys but it's something I'm now committing to, going through the process.
"I'm in it head deep, and I want to come out the other side as Richmond senior coach."
Never speechless, Rawlings did struggle to explain both his enjoyment of and adjustment to the last five weeks.
"I'm having an absolute ball – I couldn't be any happier being in the position I'm in at the moment," he said.
"I consider myself really fortunate, in the short time I've been a coach, to be able to be lucky enough to be an AFL coach this soon in my career.
"I'd like to think I'm doing OK and I think I've got a future in it, and my actions and the reactions of the group around me will determine where that takes me in the future.
"But I couldn't describe to you how much I love doing what I do at the moment."
Rawlings is incredibly young for an AFL coach – he's just over half the age of Kevin Sheedy and a full decade younger than Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson – and said that was something he thought of when he took over.
"The first week it used to bob into my head quite regularly," he said.
"After the West Coast game, because it was two weeks before the next game, you'd just have moments where you're thinking, 'Gee, you're an AFL coach' and it seemed a bit overwhelming.
"But since then, those moments have decreased, I don't have as many of them, but still every now and then ... driving to the MCG on a Saturday afternoon to coach Richmond against Carlton you have these minor thoughts that, 'Gee, this is a fair old buzz for what you're about to go and do'.
"There is a realistic part of it, but it is a bit of a dream or it's an experience you didn't think you'd have at this stage."
Richmond plans to make an appointment in September.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/80750/default.aspx