Richmond Tigers hand their reins to Damien HardwickGreg Denham | August 26, 2009
THE AFL's coaching merry-go-round will finally be settled today when Richmond announces Damien Hardwick as its new senior coach.
It is believed Hardwick will be appointed for three years.
The announcement will finalise all club coaching positions beyond this year after seven clubs started the season with experienced coaches who were coming off contract this year.
Runner-up for the Richmond coaching job, Geelong assistant Ken Hinkley, was told of his fate by the Tigers last night.
After an extensive search that took more than a month, Richmond chose the Hawthorn assistant, who played in premierships with Essendon and Port Adelaide.
Richmond president Gary March, who has been overseas on business for two days, arrives back in Melbourne today, and will make Hardwick's appointment public at a press conference.
Hardwick, who turned 37 last week, faces one of the toughest gigs in the competition at one of the league's worst-performed clubs in recent years.
Richmond has not played in finals since making a preliminary final in 2001, and has played in just three finals series since its most recent premiership in 1980 - its 10th since joining the AFL in 1908.
Over the past five years, including 4 1/2 under previous full-time coach Terry Wallace, the Tigers have won just 40 of 109 games.
Richmond is 15th with five wins this season and will be eligible for the third selection in the national draft. When the Richmond board met the final two candidates last Sunday, it was the fourth time Hardwick had won his way down to the final two, having missed the senior job at Essendon, which appointed Matthew Knights, and Melbourne (Dean Bailey) almost two years ago, before being pipped by Brad Scott at North Melbourne last week.
Despite conjecture during the season, especially at Port Adelaide and West Coast, five current coaches were re-signed, including premiership coaches Mark Williams by the Power, and John Worsfold by the Eagles, both for two more years.
Geelong extended the coaching contract of Mark Thompson, as did Collingwood with Mick Malthouse and the Western Bulldogs with Rodney Eade.
North Melbourne last week replaced Dean Laidley with Scott on a three-year term.
The Richmond interview process started with 11 assistant coaches, which was narrowed to four this month.
Essendon assistant Alan Richardson, who had support from several of the Richmond sub-committee to appoint the new coach, missed out on a final interview, as did caretaker coach Jade Rawlings, who despite being contracted at Punt Road next year, will not know his fate after this weekend until he meets Hardwick.
Richmond did not interview four-time premiership coach Kevin Sheedy, who originally wanted the job before controversially withdrawing, nor did the Tigers interview Nathan Buckley following several early discussions. Buckley chose to stick with Collingwood and agreed to a plan to succeed Mick Malthouse at the end of 2011.
Laidley withdrew his interest in Richmond last Sunday week even though the Tigers were willing to include him in their comprehensive interview process.
However, he may revisit discussions with Hawthorn over a coaching role, as the Hawks will be one short due to Hardwick's departure after five years under coach Alastair Clarkson.
Hardwick was the first candidate to have his second interview, while Hinkley was the last to present, last Thursday night.
After Hinkley's interview, the Tigers' eight-man coaching panel slept on their decisions before voting on Friday.
During the second interview stage with the four candidates, Richmond's panel consisted of general manager of football operations Craig Cameron, club psychologist Jeff Bond, former players Greg Stafford and Emmett Dunne, March and directors Tony Free, Rob Dalton and Don Lord.
New chief executive Brendon Gale, who started on Monday, was an observer at all four interviews, and was present on Sunday when Hardwick and Hinkley presented to the board.
Hardwick's preference last week was to win the Richmond position over a role offered to him by Port Adelaide, which presented him with a succession plan to replace long-standing coach Williams.
The Power interviewed the 2004 premiership player two weeks ago about its proposition, but made its offer more attractive last week at a presentation in front of president Brett Duncanson, chief executive Mark Haysman and general manager of football operations Peter Rohde.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25981830-2722,00.html
