Problem facing Gold Coast in their pursuit of Damien Hardwick

Problem facing Gold Coast in their pursuit of Damien Hardwick

Gold Coast chief govt Mark Evans is reportedly on his method to Europe within the hope of convincing Damien Hardwick to turn out to be the membership’s new coach.

Hardwick stepped down from his position at Richmond in May after guiding the Tigers to a few flags throughout his 13 years on the helm.

Repeatedly linked with the vacant job on the Suns, Hardwick is ready to be provided a five-year deal, in accordance with a report in The Age.

Watch each match of each spherical of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

The article states {that a} Gold Coast supply confirmed the membership had reached out to Hardwick final week, though there would nonetheless appear to be far between that and the coach deciding to take over the struggling enlargement facet.

Evans’ journey to Milan to meet up with Hardwick was labelled a “power move” by one media outlet within the membership’s desperation to lure him to Queensland.

Gold Coast have by no means reached the finals since they had been launched to the competitors again in 2011.

Stuart Dew was sacked final month after virtually six years on the helm of the Suns.

The AFL is determined for the membership to style some actual success and begin to construct a following within the rugby league-mad state and a longtime title like Hardwick may very well be the fitting match.

Hardwick has been the one title firmly linked with the position on the Suns to this point.

The 51-year-old shocked the AFL world when he introduced his choice to depart the Tigers with fast impact.

Richmond had been largely treading water since its final premiership in 2020 and Hardwick mentioned at his press convention in May he may not give the position 100 per cent.

“I had a fair indication of the start of the year that I would like this to be my last year,” he mentioned.

”And then when the season didn’t prove as I might have appreciated it, I began to query whether or not I used to be the fitting man for this job.

“I asked myself the question more and more and if you keep asking yourself the question, you know the answer.

“If I could not give 100 per cent, there was no way I was going to coach.”

The 51-year-old Hardwick has been having fun with his break, posting on social media his travels within the United States and Europe.

Speaking on AFL 360 on Wednesday evening, Herald Sun reporter Mark Robinson expressed his confusion over the necessity for Evans’ European jaunt to see Hardwick.

“I don’t know why it’s happening,” he mentioned. “They went to show Damien Hardwick they’re keen.

“But you could have done it over Zoom, couldn’t you?

“Everyone expected it to happen. Damien Hardwick might say no.

“Believe it or not, the Suns tell me, they did not sack Stuart Dew for Damien Hardwick.

“It just happened that Damien Hardwick, the three-timer, was available, so that’s handy.”

Source: www.news.com.au