AFL 2023: The latest on Richmond’s search for a new senior coach

A 2017 Richmond premiership player could be a wildcard for the 2024 coaching job, despite limited experience as an assistant. See the details here.

Richmond is about to move to the next stage of its coaching search with an interview process for aspirants which will see Andrew McQualter committing to the entire multi-step process.

The club’s football department and board have refined the criteria for their next coach after a series of meetings since Damien Hardwick walked away on May 22.

Chief executive Brendon Gale indicated recently the club would likely replace McQualter with a first-time coach given the trend that has seen only Mick Malthouse win a premiership in the last 20 years as a coach with previous senior experience.

In coming weeks, the club will start interviewing coaches after throwing open the job to those who are interested in applying, but will also make contact with specific candidates it feels could be perfect for the role.

Andrew McQualter will commit to the full process. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

McQualter has confirmed he is keen to be part of the process after a five-game stretch that has him boasting three wins and a fighting 10-point loss over Port Adelaide but also Richmond’s heaviest defeat since 2016, to Brisbane.

He and football boss Tim Livingstone have agreed he would be part of the full process – usually multiple interviews, psychological profiles and exhaustive presentations – rather than be fast-tracked to a final interview.

McQualter’s first step as Richmond’s interim coach was to ask the senior players if they believed the current game-plan needed an overhaul.

They made clear it was working, so while he has made subtle tweaks, his presentation would involve how he saw the game plan evolving in the future under the current list’s needs and future game trends.

Melbourne’s Adem Yze and Troy Chaplin, Sydney’s Don Pyke and Dean Cox, Carlton’s Ash Hansen, Essendon’s Daniel Giansiracusa, Port Adelaide’s Josh Carr, St Kilda’s Corey Enright and Collingwood’s Justin Leppitsch could be part of that process.

Richmond premiership player and Geelong assistant coach Shaun Grigg. Picture: Alan Barber

Richmond premiership player Shaun Grigg, now a Geelong assistant, could be a wildcard despite only four years as an assistant.

The last six premierships have been won by coaches appointed with four or less years of experience as an assistant before they were appointed, in 37-year-old Hardwick and 38-year-old Adam Simpson and Simon Goodwin.

Goodwin was appointed Paul Roos’ successor after four years experience at 39 years of age.

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said last month he did not believe the Tigers needed to poach a rival coach, with Ken Hinkley the obvious candidate if Richmond went down that track.

“My own intuition is that the need to get a premiership coach is a bit of a myth. It worked for Eddie (McGuire) and Mick but one of the great things about Damien was he was a smart coach and had great potential but he was able to grow with the team. That is a pretty important consideration. Damien really evolved and changed with the way you coach elite sport and it’s a matter of looking at the market and seeing which candidates might be attracted to the job at Richmond and we think it’s many.”