News of Damien Hardwick’s choice to stop his function because the coach of the Richmond Football Club despatched shockwaves by way of the AFL world.
A textual content message was despatched to all Richmond personnel on Monday night time advising them of a gathering on Tuesday morning.
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It’s at this assembly that Hardwick is predicted to formally announce to the group his choice to step down from his function.
Hardwick took over the reigns of the Richmond teaching job again in 2010 and after coming near dealing with the axe, turned it round to guide the membership to a few premierships in 4 years.
He has a 12 months and a half remaining on his present contract.
The bombshell announcement caught followers of the sport fully offguard and left many questioning if the news was reliable.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae merely couldn’t consider it, saying he “went into shock” after being informed.
“His ability to back himself in and make strong decisions and play young players at the back of 2016 – he showed a lot of courage,” he mentioned on AFL 360.
“He copped a lot of flak for that.
“Is it real that he’s actually moving on?
“It’s a tough job, I’m not going to lie to you.
“It’s relentless, you get tired and you’ve got to find energy sources. You get home and you’re exhausted.”
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks mentioned Hardwick was an “inspiration” having come again from the brink to succeed in the AFL pinnacle.
“The success he bought to that footy club … (with) the amount of pressure – there’s pressure all the time and it’s a tough gig, that’s across the board, footy staff in general,” he mentioned.
“The head coach takes the brunt of it.
“What an outstanding coach (Hardwick is).
“He turned the game for Richmond – they stuck with him.
“He’s definitely one I’ve been inspired by.
“He stuck to his guns, he went through a really tough time – he was the one that stuck right through, the club backed him in.”
Brownlow Medal winner Gerard Healy was left perplexed by the timing of the choice, coming after spherical 10 within the season.
“It’s so unusual. It’s Round 10 and they’re still a mathematical chance to play finals. It’s an extraordinary announcement from Tom and it’s going to be interesting to the man himself (Hardwick) when he fronts the media tomorrow,” Healy mentioned on SEN.
The Herald Sun’s Mark Robinson mentioned the news got here fully out of left discipline and was a real bombshell.
“This is a bombshell. An absolute bombshell,” Robinson mentioned on AFL 360.
“They were a couple of bad decisions away on the weekend from keeping their September finals hopes alive.
“We don’t know the reasons until Damien Hardwick speaks.
“We’re all just surmising here.
“He may be burnt out.
“She’s a tough business AFL coaching.”
The news left footy followers reeling with Hardwick’s choice to step down anticipated to throw the teaching carousel into chaos.
Triple M’s Rudi Edsall wrote: “That’s a pretty emphatic way to put a full stop an era. More of an exclamation mark really. Bloody hell.”
AFL journo Ashley Browne wrote: “Reckon Dimma might have learned a lesson from his great mate about the right time to leave. Perfect timing for him and his club. No chance for the relationship to be soured. What a coach he has been.”
Source: www.news.com.au
