Damien Hardwick would be the coach of Port Adelaide subsequent season, in response to Fox Footy’s David King, after his “perfect exit” from Richmond this week.
Speaking on SEN, King stated he believed Hardwick made the precise name in to step away from the membership he led for greater than a decade to “refresh” after getting “burnt out”.
And after time away from the sport, King believes the Port Adelaide job – at present held by an out-of-contract Ken Hinkley – can be his finest choice to return.
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 >
“I think this is the perfect way to do it, get yourself three months off, have yourself a break, refresh and then when the job comes up at Port Adelaide and Port Adelaide say ‘come and coach us, we’ve got this midfield’, the sell is easy,” he stated on SEN.
“I think he’ll be coaching Port Adelaide next year, personally.
“I think that’s a good thing for footy because the way he coaches is what we want to see.
“It’s highlights, it’s free-flowing footy, it’s aggression.
“He needs a break and they’ve (Richmond) been great for him.
“I think it’s really mature to walk in and say, ‘I’ve got the most out of this group. You know what? I could sit in this chair and pick up checks for another six months and probably 18 months’ and some would do that.
“Some would just sit there and fulfil their obligations knowing they’re short of 100 per cent but he hasn’t done that.”
Hardwick completed his enjoying profession at Port Adelaide, and is a premiership winner on the membership again in 2004.
King stated Hardwick’s choice to depart Richmond mid-season was the “perfect exit” for each himself and his veterans who he now doesn’t “have to retire”.
“It’s someone else’s team now,” King added.
“This is footy – this is reality. Nothing goes to script in reality TV which is AFL footy.”
Fellow SEN panellist Kane Cornes questioned how Richmond followers would reply if Hardwick have been to return to the sport so quickly after his exit, describing it as a possible “bitter taste”.
“Would you be a little bit disappointed if in 12 weeks time he’s got another job?” he stated.
“There’ll be job offers everywhere.”
“(Richmond fans could say) he said he’s burnt out and we’ve given up on the season 10 weeks in, but then he’s gone and coached Gold Coast or Port Adelaide a couple of months after.”
While Hinkley’s job was described by membership premiership skipper Warren Tredrea as “untenable” seven weeks in the past, the Port coach has solely gone from energy to energy since.
He’s led the facet to an unbeaten seven-game successful run and put them into real premiership speak.
But King stated a successful streak gained’t save Hinkley come season’s finish in the event that they don’t make it to the large dance in September.
“I think the assessments of Ken in-season are different to what we all thought starting the year,” King stated.
“The pass mark at the start of the year wasn’t winning seven home and away games in a row, or win 10 in a row, or win 15 in a row.
“The pass mark is all about the pointy end and we’re miles from the pointy end.
“If he makes a Grand Final, he’s fine and if he’s charging towards the prelim, probably there’s some pressure on him to re-sign (with the club).
“But they’ve got to deliver, they’ve been here before.”
The Power have missed finals simply 5 instances since Hinkley took cost for the 2013 season, making three preliminary finals alongside the best way.
But they’ve but to make a grand last since their 119-point belting by the hands of Geelong again in 2007.
Originally revealed as ‘He’ll coach there subsequent yr’: AFL nice backs ‘easy sell’ membership to lure Damien Hardwick
Source: www.news.com.au