Damien Hardwick has defined his shock determination to give up Richmond efficient instantly.
The three-time Tigers premiership coach confronted the press on Tuesday and was supported by the enjoying group.
His press convention comes after news first emerged on Monday night time that Hardwick’s tenure on the membership is over after 13 years, the longest serving coach within the historical past of the soccer membership.
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Highly rated Richmond assistant coach Andrew McQualter has been appointed interim coach efficient instantly and the membership is now seeking to discover its subsequent senior coach.
Hardwick stated he had been interested by stepping down for a while.
“It all just became a bit too much for me,” he stated.
“I wasn’t going to be the coach of Richmond next year and I made the fatal mistake of watching ‘The Last Dance’ (documentary) and I thought what may have been.
“Once I decided that that side of the equation was slipping away I started to question myself.
“As soon as I started to ask the question more, I started to understand what the question was going to be. If I couldn’t give 100 per cent, there was no way I was going to coach this football club.
“Once you’ve had more success, losses become harder, so I had a fair indication at the start of the year that I would like this to be my last year. As the season didn’t turn out as much as I would have liked I asked myself ‘am I the man for the job?’
“I’d rather leave too early than too late … I want to make sure I leave the game loving the game.
“It was time for a different voice. I’ve pushed every button I can and I’ve tried to cook the sausages 1000 ways.”
The veteran coach broke down in tears when thanking the individuals who have supported him alongside the journey.
“The way this club supported me, gave me the best support available, the best resources available, it’s a testament to what I think we’ve created and a legacy that will continue to go on,” he stated.
Hardwick was once more emotional when first addressing his senior gamers, mentioning Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Dylan Grimes and Dustin Martin.
“You all mean the world to me. I love you all,” he stated.
“I’ve enjoyed every aspect of being your coach, but I’ll enjoy every aspect of watching you go on with your careers and whatever you choose to do.
“From the bottom of my heart boys, I wish you all the best.”
Hardwick additionally wiped away a tear when addressing his household, which was sitting within the entrance row.
He singled out his ex-wife Danielle and new accomplice Alex.
The 50-year-old stated he’ll now take time away from the sport — and has no speedy plans to return to the soccer trade.
He stated he was contemplating recommendation from Martin to “go to Ibiza” for a vacation.
“I’m just looking forward to a break,” he stated.
“It’s been an incredible journey for 13-14 years but it is very consuming. The job of AFL coach is very, very tough. Don’t get me wrong I love it to death. But I need a break.”
Hardwick confirmed stories the demanding nature of the job was the actual motive for his departure and stated the introduction of the contentious soccer division “soft cap” — designed to chop down the prices golf equipment spend on coaches and help employees — made it even tougher to hold on.
“That will always be an issue,” he stated.
There have been rumblings in current weeks the membership is going through a bleak few years because it faces a re-build after so a few years on the prime of the desk.
There has additionally been criticism of the membership’s determination to make use of prime draft picks to recruit senior gamers lately, together with Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper.
Despite this, Hardwick stated his successor shall be nicely positioned to guide the membership to a vibrant future.
“We’ve got an outstanding group,” he stated.
“Whilst we did invest significant draft capital. We’ve brought in two players in Taranto and Hopper that are going to be outstanding players for the next 6-7 years. So whichever coach takes over is going to be in a very good place.
“This list in a very, very good place. This club is in a very good place going forward.”
Coupled with Alastair Clarkson’s transfer to take an indefinite break from teaching at North Melbourne, the Hardwick news had trade pundits questioning if there’s a larger problem among the many sport’s teaching fraternity.
Speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified, Caroline Wilson stated coaches have been handled appallingly since spending caps had been pressured upon golf equipment in the course of the Covid disaster.
“This is a crisis for the industry,” Wilson stated. “The AFL has botched the soft cap.
“Coaches feel like the scum of the industry, one coach said that recently to Gillon McLachlan.
“Coaches have been told, ‘you’re paid too much, we are going to cut your wages, we’re going to cut your programs by $3 million a year’, after capping them in the first place.
“And now, when the game has never been richer, according to Gillon McLachlan, they’re giving them $2 million less than they were getting pre-Covid, while the AFL’s (executives are) bringing home fat salaries.”
The mushy cap, often known as the soccer division tax, was carried out to equalise membership spending outdoors of the laborious wage cap.
It was solely late final week that Hardwick was requested about Alastair Clarkson, his mentor at Hawthorn, earlier than he turned a head coach on the Tigers. Clarkson final week surprised the sport by saying his untimely determination to step away from Kangaroos teaching duties.
More to return…
Source: www.news.com.au
