Damien Hardwick talks Gold Coast, Stuart Dew and why he had to leave Richmond

Damien Hardwick says he is indebted to Stuart Dew for his “incredible” work on the Gold Coast, but revealed he has not spoken to his former teammate since taking on the Suns job.

Damien Hardwick says his Richmond relationships remain strong despite his Gold Coast defection but he has still not broken bread with sacked Suns coach and former premiership teammate Stuart Dew.

Hardwick’s decision to accept a six-year deal with the Suns mere months after ending his 14-year run at Punt Rd proved polarising to portions of the Richmond fan base, while media reports suggested the move did not sit well with some key figures at the Tigers.

But Hardwick told this masthead that his “relationships with the Richmond family are great” and the split had ultimately suited both parties.

“At the end of the day we served each other well for 14 years. We rode our journey together and it was just time for a new voice,” Hardwick said.

“I felt towards the middle part of the year that the season probably wasn’t going the way that I liked or we wanted it to go and my voice was a little bit falling on deaf ears at times, as it does after 14 years, and it was just the right time (to move on).

“I could have sat there and seen out my contract for another two years or whatever it was, but I just felt it wasn’t the right thing to do for the footy club or for me.

“It was tough. I’ve got a lot of love for that footy club, for the people there and the fans there, and I think when the cut and thrust of it comes out it was the right decision for both parties.

“It was right for Richmond to move in another direction and they have a terrific young coach in Adem Yze that will take the club onwards and upwards; and I think it was the right decision for me to take a step back and look for another challenge.”

That challenge quickly firmed towards steering the perennially underperforming Suns to a maiden finals berth and, eventually, a premiership.

With Hardwick at the helm the club has boldly declared its candidacy for finals and flags in the not-too distant future — a challenge that none of his predecessors had been able to match.

Dew proved to be the most successful coach in the club’s short history, twice steering the Suns to 10-win seasons, though never a highly sought-after September berth.

And that ultimately brought him undone – coupled with the looming shadow of Hardwick in the background.

Damien Hardwick is relishing a fresh start on the Gold Coast. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Hardwick and Dew were premiership teammates at Port Adelaide in 2004.

After his unveiling as Suns coach, Hardwick said he had not spoken to Dew.

In September last year he said it was “something I have got to sit down (and do)”.

With less than a month until Opening Round, the new Suns boss said there had still not been a dialogue between him and Dew.

“No, at this stage we haven’t (spoken) – once again that’s a bridge I’ll cross at some point,” Hardwick said.

“He’s been a player – a teammate of mine – that I’ve known for a long period of time and we’ll work our way through it.”

Once Hardwick vacated his role at Richmond midway through last season the pressure continued to mount on Dew, who had failed to steer the Suns to the finals in five and a half seasons at the helm.

Damien Hardwick and Stuart Dew at Port Adelaide training in 2002.

Consecutive defeats to Collingwood and Port Adelaide in July spelt the end for his tenure.

Hardwick was unveiled as coach a month later.

“I think what people have got to realise is the job that Dewy did here was incredible,” Hardwick said.

“It went from a period where players were leaving to where players wanted to come and wanted to stay –— and that’s where I’m really in debt to Dewy with regard to the list that he’s given me (which) is really a gift.

“The harsh reality is it’s a performance industry and if you don’t make finals for a period of time it’s going to be hard to go through a rebuild. Not many coaches survive.

“But the road he has paved and will continue to pave with the players he has brought here is really important and should never be understated. What he has done for this football club is hard to forget, because he made it a club, which is really important.”