Damien Hardwick on the self reflection that helped him turn things around at Tigerland
IT was almost all over for Richmond coach Damien Hardwick at the end of last season, but the Tigers kept the faith and he’s opened up on how he turned things around.
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IT was almost all over for Richmond coach Damien Hardwick at the end of last season.
Languishing in 13th at the end of 2016, the Tigers dumped five assistant coaches as part of a sweeping review, but kept faith with their coach and are now reaping the benefits.
Hardwick opened up on The Footy Show about his struggles last year and how he turned things around, leading the Tigers all the way to the Grand Final — one he hopes will be a premiership.
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“Obviously last year, (it was) well documented how poor we were, to be frank,” Hardwick said.
“And, you know, the biggest part of my reflection over the course of the 12 months, I had to
go away and find out what makes me a great coach.
“I probably lost that, if I’m completely honest, with myself and my footy club.
“And I did a lot of self-reflection, worked my way through, sourced help where I needed it, got good people around me.
“And the rest is history so to speak.”
Hardwick said he blocked out the external noise and “went away and concentrated on me”.
“As a coach, you probably have a tendency to not seek help and it was OK, I found out, to realise I didn’t have all the answers,” he said.
“And that’s when I relied on a lot of people around me.
“But previous to that, I always felt like I had to have an answer for either the players, the board, my fellow coaches.
“But one of the greatest things I’ve learnt to say is listen boys, I don’t know.
“I haven’t got all the answers.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. And it’s worked well.”
Originally published as Damien Hardwick on the self reflection that helped him turn things around at Tigerland
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