Port puts Hardwick to testMichael Gleeson | August 20, 2009 THE coaching picture, which had seemingly become clearer with Brad Scott's appointment to North Melbourne, has suddenly become murkier after Damien Hardwick flew to Adelaide yesterday to meet Port Adelaide officials about a succession plan to take over from Mark Williams.
The move slightly clouds the process at Richmond, where Hardwick is in the final four candidates to take over as senior coach, and is equally favoured for the job with Geelong assistant coach Ken Hinkley.
Hinkley will make his second presentation to the Richmond selection committee tonight - the last of the four candidates to do so. Jade Rawlings presented earlier in the week and Hardwick and Alan Richardson made their pitches last week.
Tigers president Gary March will be overseas for a few days early next week, so the preferred candidate - or two as the case may be - is not likely to front the club's board before late next week.
Geelong said yesterday that Hinkley would be required to continue with the Cats through the finals, even if he were successful in securing the senior coaching role at Richmond.
The Tigers are understood to be comfortable with that.
Collingwood, despite being in premiership contention, immediately released Scott from his responsibilities when he was named coach of North Melbourne earlier this week.
Hardwick is considered, like Hinkley, a strong prospect for the Tigers job, but the Port offer now slightly complicates matters.
A former Port Adelaide premiership player, Hardwick is understood to be attracted to coaching his old club and to the fact that he is familiar with the club and its people.
Hardwick remains contracted to Hawthorn as an assistant coach for next year, and it is understood the Hawks would only consider releasing him from that contract if he were to go to a more senior position elsewhere - such as the guarantee of being senior coach at Port Adelaide in two years.
Critically, Hardwick knows Williams well and is familiar with how he operates. It is believed yesterday's discussions centred on the mechanics of how a succession plan - such as the Michael Malthouse-Nathan Buckley and Paul Roos-John Longmire situations - would operate.
It is uncertain if Port has yet made a formal offer.
Hardwick was the only candidate being considered for both the North Melbourne and Richmond positions, but was overlooked for Scott by the Roos.
Hardwick only interviewed once at North Melbourne, for 2½ hours, and did not present his ideas on a game plan. That was to occur at a subsequent interview but that presentation, along with meeting chairman James Brayshaw, was scrapped when the North sub-committee concluded that it was unnecessary to proceed with that interview as they were unanimous that Scott was the ideal candidate.
It is understood that one influencing factor was that North sensed Hardwick had yet to decide which job he preferred.
No one from Port Adelaide could be reached for comment last night.
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