Richmond’s list presents the opportunity for a new coach to compete with the best straight away

The Richmond coaching job is viewed as one of the best availanle in a decade. But, with the Tigers set to miss finals, the list is far from perfect. Where should Damien Hardwick’s replacement start?

Damien Hardwick announced he was stepping down as Richmond coach on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

Richmond’s list presents a rare opportunity for the club’s new coach.

Regularly when there’s a change at the top, the list is either in full rebuild mode and needs serious work such as Hawthorn and North Melbourne, or there are towering expectations to break a drought like when Michael Voss stepped into the Carlton hot seat.

But at Punt Rd, there is fertile middle ground.

And the new coach won’t see holes everywhere on the list; they’ll see stars. Especially in the midfield.

Whoever takes over the keys from Damien Hardwick will be handed an engine room containing five borderline A-Graders which helps make this job vacancy one of the most appealing gigs to pop up over the past decade.

There are no training wheels or L-plates on a midfield unit led by Shai Bolton, Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper and versatile pair Liam Baker and Jayden Short.

Yes, the Tigers handed over some prized early picks including their first choice in this year’s draft for Hopper and Taranto, and the critics have suggested the club has sold its future.

But the reality is Richmond thought it was a genuine top-four contender rather than a bottom-four side when they made the moves last year.

It is, in part, why Hardwick stepped aside. Richmond has so far underperformed in 2023 considering it has been top-four for age and experience this year and Hardwick said himself, he didn’t have a lot left in the tank.

Shai Bolton is ready to be a midfield star. Picture: Getty Images

But there remains considerable opportunity in this list, and those at Punt Rd continue to look at the talent stock with a glass half-full mindset.

This is a club, perhaps a bit like Geelong in 2015 or Collingwood in 2021, which does not want to be out of the finals mix for long.

There are some gaps in the list, clearly.

And it will be interesting to see what conversations take place with Dustin Martin, in particular, as clubs in the northern states will surely check in to see if he is interested in a fresh start out of the Melbourne spotlight.

That’s despite the club and those close to Martin confident he will remain.

Gary Ablett was 33 when he was traded from Gold Coast back to Geelong for a swap of first and second-round picks, and Martin, who turns 32 next month, will certainly receive enquiries.

But expect the Tigers to remain proactive in the exchange period as they circle GWS Giants’ swingman Harry Himmelberg after losing Mabior Chol (Gold Coast) and Callum Coleman-Jones (North Melbourne) in recent years and most likely Jack Riewoldt (retirement) at season’s end.

If Himmelberg joins forces with a fit Tom Lynch, powered by its talented midfield, and Josh Gibcus returns to the defence, then Carlton would once again have a battle on its hands in the blockbuster season-opener in Round 1 next year, under a new coach.

Some midfield speed will be on the wish-list to help compliment the muscle Hopper and Taranto provide inside. Daniel Rioli has been a stand-out this year creating the play alongside Baker.

And two players from the 2021 draft Tyler Sonsie and Tom Brown certainly have considerable upside.

Harry Himmelberg is on Richmond’s free agent radar. Picture: Michael Klein

Some more polish at ground level would also assist Richmond in the forward half as the connection and execution in attack has been arguably their biggest headache in 2023.

Hardwick looked like he had a heart attack when Rhyan Mansell’s attempted match-winning set shot failed to score in the final minutes against Essendon on Saturday night.

What a sliding doors moment it turned out to be.

But if the Tigers need another couple of quality small forwards and pacy playmakers, history shows they can still be found in the second or third rounds of drafts, and next year’s free agency crop is already looking like a bumper group.

There will continue to be golden opportunities in the free agency space for a destination club such as Richmond, considering its enormous off-field commercial powers and facilities.

Down back has been a problem in recent years, and Dylan Grimes is in the twilight of his career.

But the addition of Gibcus will be huge for the Tigers when he returns from a serious hamstring problem alongside Noah Balta and Nathan Broad, if he re-signs.

And when it comes to the ruck Samson Ryan has taken huge strides in the absence of Toby Nankervis.

Much has focused on what Richmond has lacked and how they have failed to fire under Hardwick this season, registering only three-and-a-half wins for the season so far.

But, unlike many new coaches who take over struggling teams, a quick bounce remains a distinct possibility for the yellow and black under a new coach next season.

Originally published as Richmond’s list presents the opportunity for a new coach to compete with the best straight away