Former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick desires to teach at AFL stage once more, admitting he already misses life within the sizzling seat.
Triple-premiership mentor Hardwick departed the Tigers final month after 14 years on the helm.
He has frolicked travelling the US however lengthy appeared destined to return to teaching.
“I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t see myself doing it,” Hardwick instructed the Dyl and Friends podcast, launched on Monday.
“I love it. I miss it. I’ve been out for two weeks and I wanted to miss it, if that made sense. But I needed to decompress for a while, I (needed) to go away, reflect, figure out things that make me good and things that can.
“I would like a little bit of time however I simply love the sport. Like everybody, I’ve identified it for a very long time.
“At some stage I will probably step back in. When that is, I’m not too sure.
“For me, a brand new problem – and no matter that appears like, I’m not too certain. But issues are thrilling like that.”
Hardwick’s declaration will undoubtedly spark interest from multiple clubs.
He has been consistently linked to Gold Coast despite his former Port Adelaide premiership teammate Stuart Dew being contracted until the end of next season.
Port mentor Ken Hinkley is out of contract at season’s end and both the Power and their coach have put off any talks until August.
West Coast have backed Adam Simpson but the premiership coach is under intense scrutiny amid their woes.
There is also uncertainty at North Melbourne, where Brett Ratten is caretaker while Alastair Clarkson remains on indefinite personal leave.
Hardwick admitted he’d struggled without the routine of AFL, after a long playing and coaching career.
“The one factor that footy does is (make you) actually routine-orientated and abruptly you’re taking that away and it is wonderful how rapidly (you miss it),” he mentioned.
“You benefit from the first couple of days however then it is like, ‘Oh, what am I going to do now?’
“… Footy was such a big part of my life and it sort of defined me in a way because I was in that cycle.”
Hardwick believed he had timed his exit from Richmond nicely.
“I wanted to go out feeling great about what I’d achieved and the club that I’d been at, rather than resenting the club – which I’d seen a lot of other coaches go out that way as well,” he mentioned.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
