AFL 2022: Richmond coach Damien Hardwick admits to overstepping in abusing VFL player

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has spoken after being accused of verbally abusing a VFL player last weekend.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has been rebuked by his mum. Picture: Mark Stewart

Richmond premiership coach Damien Hardwick has conceded he overstepped the mark in an expletive-laden verbal spray of opposition players at a VFL match last weekend and said he “needs to be better”.

Hardwick was investigated by the AFL after allegedly calling Williamstown players “weak f***ing pricks” during the contest at Punt Road Oval last Saturday after an on-field incident between Tigers AFL-listed player Rhyan Mansell and the Seagulls’ Darby Henderson.

The triple-premiership winning coach was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Tigers, but the AFL launched a subsequent investigation and Hardwick gave them his version of events, although didn’t speak to the league directly.

He’s yet to apologise to the Williamstown player but conceded he was out of line.

“I understand in my position I‘ve got to be better than that,” Hardwick said on Thursday, speaking for the first time since the incident.

“I‘ve got to be probably judged to a higher standard, and I understand that. What I will ask is that (people remember) I am human.

“I‘m going to make mistakes and there’s no doubt that I overstepped the mark.”

Damien Hardwick says he overstepped the mark. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The incident included Mansell pushing Henderson over the boundary line into the fence during the opening quarter. Henderson then appeared to strike Mansell with an elbow to the back from behind, knocking his opponent to the ground.

A melee ensued and Hardwick, who was watching from the sidelines, got involved.

He refused to confirm what he said to the Williamstown players but put it down to being “very passionate about my players”.

“But as I said, I made a mistake, and the reality is I‘m going to make mistakes going forward,” he said.

“Hopefully, not too many, but I’ll always defend my players, you guys know that.

“I probably didn‘t need to lean over the fence and yell but that’s me.

“What makes me good makes me bad.”

While Hardwick has not been sanctioned by Richmond or the AFL, he said his mum let him know he’d misbehaved.

“Not from the AFL but my mum Pam, who gave me a very stern reminder about my behaviour,” he said.

“It‘s funny how you’re still scared of your mother at the age of 49.

“But look, the AFL asked for some clarification and we gave them that … they sought clarification, so whether that’s an investigation (or not), they haven’t spoken to me.

“I can’t control that, all I do know is I’m very passionate about my players.”