Richmond break 37-year AFL premiership drought beating Adelaide by 48 points

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick had some special days as a player. But he says Saturday’s grand final win over Adelaide is on a whole other level. REACTION

RICHMOND produced its best on the biggest stage, according to coach Damien Hardwick.

Hardwick won two premierships as a player, but said leading his side to a 48-point victory over Adelaide at the MCG stood head and shoulders above his achievements from his former life as a footballer. Souvenir Grand Final edition of the Sunday Herald Sun with historic 32-page wrap Historic: Dusty completes perfect season ‘Incredible, Tiger Army you deserve this’ Drought over: Tigers secure stunning AFL flag “By far,” he said. “Even as an assistant coach when I worked with Clarko (Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn) in 2008, it was more special than as a player. I’m not quite sure of the reasons why, but I think generally because you see a group of men that you’re helping work to get something that you’ve achieved, it makes it really special. To see some of the young kids get the reward for an incredible season was a credit to our whole football club, our coaching staff … it’s just a great day.” Hardwick lauded premiership captain Trent Cotchin as a pending all-time great of Richmond, and described the year as “a phenomenal ride” that he didn’t want to end. “If you’d said we’d be up here collecting medals ... I’d say you’re kidding yourself,” Hardwick said. “Under Trent, Jack (Riewoldt) and Alex (Rance) and (CEO) Brendan (Gale) and (president) Peggy (O’Neal), it’s just been a phenomenal ride this year. It’s been really special. “You don’t want it to end — you’d be happy to play next week.” KILLING IT: JACK RIEWOLDT SINGS MR BRIGHTSIDE Saturday’s glory didn’t come without personal development for the coach. It was hard, he said, to recognise his flaws and learn to let go. Now that he has, there is no looking back. “What I’ve got a tendency to do is when things aren’t going well. I start to dig deeper and start to try and solve the problem myself,” Hardwick explained. “This year, I worked really hard on when things weren’t going well, on letting go of the reins. It was very hard, believe me. But I’ve got an outstanding bunch of assistant coaches. “They’ve inspired me with the way they go about their business. All of them have given me something.” Fittingly, the press conference was interrupted by a merry Alastair Clarkson, offering his mate and counterpart “a frothie”. Clarkson led Hawthorn to the 2008 premiership over Geelong, with Hardwick as an assistant. And the now-victorious coach said the similarities between that year and this one were “eerie”. “I was speaking to Clarko on Monday night and said that the eeriness to the 2008 Hawks (was there),” he said. “In 2008, the Hawks lost to Richmond in about Round 20, and then played their best football thereafter. “We lost to Geelong (in Round 21), and then we just went whack, whack, whack, whack. I remember thinking we learned a lot of lessons from the game that we lost, and we played our best footy when it mattered most.” RECAP ALL THE ACTION OF GRAND FINAL DAY IN OUR BLOG BELOW

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