AFL 2023: Highly regarded assistant Justin Leppitsch rules himself out of senior vacancies
As the fields for both the Richmond and Gold Coast senior coaching jobs firm, the second favourite for the Tigers’ role has ruled himself out.
Richmond
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Highly-rated Collingwood assistant coach Justin Leppitsch has revealed he is unlikely to pursue the vacant senior roles at Richmond and Gold Coast, saying he plans to remain at the Magpies next season.
Leppitsch said he would never say never about having a second crack at a senior AFL coaching position, but stressed his focus was on sticking with Collingwood in 2024, where he is head of strategy and forwards coach.
Asked if he would pitch for the Tigers’ role – where he is a $5.50 second favourite with TAB behind caretaker coach Andrew McQualter ($1.80) – Leppitsch said: “Not at this stage, my intention is to stay doing what I am doing and working with Collingwood.”
“I haven’t had any other conversations. I don’t like to answer yes or no (on coaching) … all I need to tell you is my mind is firmly fixed on staying at Collingwood, and keep doing what I’m doing.”
It comes as the Tigers released the coaching selection panel that includes CEO Brendon Gale, general manager of football Tim Livingstone and general manager of football, talent Blair Hartley.
The club’s vice president Henriette Rothschild will also be on the panel as will former player and Football Australian performance director Paddy Steinfort and Melbourne Storm general manager of football Frank Ponissi.
Leppitsch, 47, coached the lowly Brisbane Lions for three seasons from 2014 to 2016 before he was sacked after winning only 14 of his 66 games.
But Leppitsch’s footy IQ and his exceptional man-management skills came to the fore when he played a key role in Richmond’s three flags (2017, 2019-20), working as an assistant coach to Damien Hardwick, while he has also made a huge impression at Collingwood working alongside Craig McRae since late 2021.
“I want to keep growing (as a coach) and to see what that looks like,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you are never going to be a senior coach one day, and it may come sooner than later. Look at someone like Chris Fagan, who has done it a lot later in life.
“Football coaching has become a lot more about management now and my role at Collingwood is definitely a lot vaster than what it was at Richmond.
“There is a bit more responsibility in the strategy space as much as what we do on the field.”
McRae has consistently credited the work of his former triple Brisbane Lions premiership teammate Leppitsch and his fellow assistant coaches including Brendon Bolton, as being part of the Magpies’ revival across the past two seasons.
Hardwick is considered the overwhelming favourite to take over Gold Coast at the end of the season, while McQualter’s 6-2 run since taking over as Tigers’ interim coach has put him in a solid position at Punt Rd.
Port Adelaide assistant Josh Carr is another who could be in the mix with the Tigers.
Who are the left field choices to pick Tigers’ next coach?
– Jon Ralph
Richmond’s coaching selection panel will include Melbourne’s Storm’s football boss and a former Tigers player used by the Boston Red Sox in high performance.
The Tigers announced on Thursday the club’s search for Damien Hardwick’s replacement will include CEO Brendon Gale, football boss Tim Livingstone and list boss Blair Hartley as well as vice president Henriette Rothschild.
The Tigers decided against asking a former AFL football star to be on the panel after Essendon had Robert Walls and Jordan Lewis as part of their coaching search.
Instead Melbourne Storm football boss Frank Ponissi and Football Australia performance director Paddy Steinfort will be part of the panel.
Ponossi is highly regarded in sporting circles and has been approached over recent years about joining an AFL club given his experience as Craig Bellamy’s lieutenant.
He has been the Storm’s general manager of football since 2007.
Steinford didn’t play an AFL game in his five seasons at the Tigers due to injury and after time at Adelaide football club as their high performance manager moved to America as a consultant.
He has worked with Boston, the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Eagles and wrote the book Breakfast With Bails about his experiences with former Melbourne senior coach Dean Bailey during their time at Adelaide.
The club will continue to accept nominations for the senior coaching position until 5pm on Friday before developing a short-list of potential applicants to interview.
Port Adelaide assistant Josh Carr and Essendon’s Daniel Giansiracusa would be strong contenders alongside current interim coach Andrew McQualter.
Richmond president John O’Rourke said on Thursday the club would move forward with interviews in coming weeks.
“Since Damien Hardwick resigned, the Club has spent significant time clarifying exactly what attributes and skills we are looking for in our next senior coach. This process has been completed and we will now move to the next stage of developing a short-list of candidates to participate in panel interviews,” he said.
“We look forward to providing further updates as the process unfolds. While there is no firm timeline on appointing our senior coach, we anticipate the process to be completed by September.”
McQualter said on Thursday he was happy to be involved in the next stage of interviews after he and the club confirmed this month he would need to go through the entire coaching search process.
“I think the applications close tomorrow so we will just go from there and see what happens. This club has been a really strong club for a reason and they are going to run a full process which I fully support and encourage so you know, it’ll happen and whatever happens will happen.”
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Originally published as AFL 2023: Highly regarded assistant Justin Leppitsch rules himself out of senior vacancies
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