AFL St Kilda v Richmond: All the news in the build up to huge clash at Marvel

There is no surprise that a high-profile candidate has landed on Richmond’s short list to replace Damien Hardwick, after contenders were told on Friday about who has made the cut.

Interim Richmond coach Andrew McQualterhas made it on to the short list to take up the full time job at Punt Road, even as he remains on task in keeping the club’s slim finals hopes alive.

Richmond is keen to lock in a replacement for Damien Hardwick by the end of the season to allow the new coach full access to player movement post-season and informed candidates on Friday it had trimmed down its list of contenders.

Port Adelaide assistant Josh Carr has been raised as a potential candidate for the Tigers, along wise Melbourne’s Adem Yze and Collingwood’s Hayden Skipworth, with Richmond leaning towards hiring a first-time coach.

McQualter made that short list, having guided the Tigers to a 6-4 record in his 10 games in charge since Hardwick stepped away.

“It’s progressed and I got some information yesterday that I have been short-listed for the job and the next stage and we will figure out where it goes from there,” McQualter said on Saturday.

But the stand-in coach said he was still focused on getting Richmond to the finals, with the Tigers needing to win each of their final three games to be a chance.

Andrew McQualter works the board. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

That run begins with a clash against St Kilda on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.

“It can’t (distract me), I just don’t allow it to,” McQualter said.

“It is not about me. We have just got a job to do as a team and a club. We have a great coaching staff and we are working together each week to help the team and I just can’t make it about me right now.”

McQualter put the heat on his players to lift on Sunday after a “disappointing” first quarter led to a 55-point belting against the Western Bulldogs last week.

The Tigers recalled co-captain Dylan Grimes, superstar Dustin Martin and in-form youngster Thomson Dow to face the Saints.

“We are not in the space to talk about finals right now, we had a game last week that was disappointing, particularly in that first quarter,” McQualter said.

“The message is we have to turn up and play better than that, especially the effort we gave in that first quarter, and the result will look after itself.”