Damien Hardwick pinches Tigers stalwart, life member Mark Opie from Punt Rd to join Suns
He’s been one of the longest-serving stalwarts at Punt Rd, but 24 years of service have come to an end for a beloved face at Richmond. However, the Tigers will come face-to-face with him in Opening Round.
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Richmond will confront another member of its premiership dynasty in Opening Round with life member and team manager Mark Opie reuniting with Suns coach Damien Hardwick on the Gold Coast.
Opie served the Tigers for 24 years and recently assisted football boss Tim Livingstone on match days running the interchange bench.
The part-time stalwart has long been considered part of the fabric at Punt Rd, but has bobbed up at Metricon Stadium in recent weeks.
The lifelong Richmond supporter has joined former Tigers Shaun Grigg (midfield coach), Alex Rance (leadership consultant) and Hayden Hill (football analysis manager) as part of Hardwick’s new regime.
But from that quartet only Hill and Opie were employed at Tigerland last year. Grigg was poached from Geelong while Rance had been living in Queensland and contacted Hardwick when he signed a six-year contract as Suns’ coach.
Opie was one of six “esteemed servants” awarded life membership at Richmond in 2021.
“Beyond the board man and team manager roles, Mark has made significant contributions to the growth of team morale and a strong culture,” the club said at the time.
“Mark is admired and respected by players and coaching staff. He performs his tasks with special competency and is considered by the current senior football staff as part of the group of people that represent the soul of the club.”
Opie would arrive three hours before the first bounce on match days and work with physical performance boss Luke Meehan to ensure pre-game meetings ran on time.
He was also tasked with choosing which end to kick to should the Tigers win the coin toss.
Opie was hired by former Tigers football manager Garry O’Sullivan in 1999.
It’s believed Hardwick’s top three off-field poaching targets when he joined the Suns were Blair Hartley (Richmond’s general manager of football talent), Danny Daly (Brisbane Lions’ general manager of football) and Hill.
Daly departed Punt Rd at the end of 2014 after a five-year stint under Hardwick as an assistant coach.
While Daly and Hartley stayed put, Hill was lured by Hardwick to the Suns.
Hill was replaced over summer by highly regarded Champion Data analyst Jacob Wilson.
Long-time Tigers property manager Giuseppe Mamone has also left the club.
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Originally published as Damien Hardwick pinches Tigers stalwart, life member Mark Opie from Punt Rd to join Suns
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