Tigers maintain season still up for grabs after Hardwick resignation

Richmond’s co-captains say the club is in a “good spot” and still wants to push for the finals following coach Damien Hardwick’s shock exit.

Richmond players are determined not to make up the numbers under caretaker coach Andrew McQualter and say they will try to push their way back into the top eight.

Damien Hardwick’s bombshell mid-season resignation has shocked the Tigers’ playing group, but co-captain Dylan Grimes says the club is better placed than most to have encountered this situation in the past.

Grimes had glowing praise for McQualter, a Tigers assistant and former St Kilda and Gold Coast player, saying he remained excited for what the club could accomplish in 2023.

“I think it’s rare that a coach leaves a club, particularly mid-year, and the club is not in turmoil,” he said.

“It definitely doesn’t feel like we’re in that position … the season is still up for grabs for us; if we win this weekend we’re two points out of the eight.

“I’m certainly excited about what’s to come, even though (Hardwick) is not going to be there.”

Grimes said McQualter’s strengths were his astute tactical knowledge and excellent communication with the players.

Tim Taranto embraces Tigers interim coach Andrew McQualter at Punt Road after Damien Hardwick announced his resignation in front of players and staff on Tuesday. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

“I think he’s been a senior coach-in-waiting for a number of years now. Mini has got one of those technical brains that really continues to surprise you by the detail he sees in the game,” he said.

“I think being a senior coach is about managing people and communicating the complex in a simple way, and Mini does that almost better than anyone.

“I think he’s been chomping at the bit for the opportunity, so it’s great to see him get it.”

Grimes said he had hoped news of Hardwick’s impending departure was “all a big joke” when he first caught wind of it on Monday.

“The first emotion was shock, and I think straight afterwards it was just a celebration of the journey.

“He’s been the only coach I’ve had since 2009 … he’s been, it’s sounds cliched, but a father figure for so much of what we’ve built here.”

Tigers players watched on at Damien Hardwick’s emotional press conference on Tuesday morning at Punt Road. Picture: Michael Klein

Fellow co-captain Toby Nankervis became emotional as he described the impact Hardwick had on him as a person.

“The confidence and belief he instilled in me … what he was really big on was just a love for the game – he allowed us to really enjoy the game … and to have fun again,” Nankervis said.

“The footy club is a place he’s created where we want to show up every day and see each other, and we always leave with a smile on our face win, lose or draw.”

Hardwick insisted he was leaving Richmond in a “very good place” despite trading out important draft capital to bring in Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper from GWS over the off-season.

“While we did invest significant draft capital, we’ve brought in two players in Taranto and Hopper who are going to be outstanding players for the next six, seven years,” he said.

“It’s only one person, a senior coach. We’ve got an outstanding group of assistant coaches.

“So whichever coach takes over is going to be in a very good place.”

Originally published as Tigers maintain season still up for grabs after Hardwick resignation