‘There would be suitors’: Hardwick ‘hand grenade’ sparks AFL coaching ‘merry-go-round’

Damien Hardwick’s shock decision to quit as Richmond coach has sparked an AFL coaching “merry-go-round” and it appears no one is safe.

Damien Hardwick has sparked a coaching merry-go-round.

Damien Hardwick’s shock departure from Richmond is expected to spark a coaching domino effect around the AFL.

In a bombshell report, news broke on Monday night Hardwick was set to quit as Richmond coach effectively immediately in a move that shocked the AFL world.

The announcement is expected to be made official on Tuesday despite Hardwick having a year and a half to run on his contract.

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Richmond have endured a rough start to the 2023 season having won only three out of their opening 10 games.

It’s unclear if Hardwick will coach a farewell game against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday.

Hardwick coached Richmond to three premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020 — breaking a 37-year premiership drought and creating a dynasty at Tigerland.

The 50-year-old was in his 14th season in charge at the Tigers and was the longest serving current AFL coach.

Damien Hardwick’s departure from Richmond shocked the AFL world. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Channel 7 reports highly rated Richmond assistant coach Andrew McQualter has been appointed interim coach effective immediately.

In 2019, David Teague and Rhyce Shaw were appointed as caretaker coaches of Carlton and North Melbourne, respectively, before being given the head coaching job full time.

But neither Teague and Shaw lasted in the top job long.

Hardwick becomes the second coach over the past week to step down after Alastair Clarkson departed his role at North Melbourne.

Hardwick’s future is unclear but the news of his departure is set to spark some coaching chaos.

Veteran footy journalist Caroline Wilson said on Footy Classified: “It’s thrown a hand grenade into the coaching merry-go-round.”

Asked earlier this month about Hardwick’s future at Richmond, Fox Footy’s David King told news.com.au the veteran coach would have no shortage of “suitors” if he was to leave the Tigers.

Andrew McQualter is set to take over as interim coach. Photo: Michael Klein

“If Damien wants to coach them (Richmond), of course he is (the right man for the job),” King said at the time.

“How can you question his credentials or CV in terms of what he’s done for Richmond. It’s just if he’s looking for a change or Richmond decide they need a change – a different voice, different message.

“Maybe Damien thinks he’s got the most out of this group, he’s run the rag dry. Only he would know the answer to that. And if he does feel that way, there would be suitors. It’s as simple as that.”

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is out of contract at the end of this season and despite the Power’s scintillating 8-2 start to the season, the club says it will wait until later in the year to make a call on his future.

Hinkley has been in charge at Port Adelaide since 2013, taking the Power to three preliminary finals.

Could Hardwick replace Ken Hinkley at Port Adelaide? (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Hardwick won two premierships as a player at Essendon in 2000 and Port Adelaide in 2004, and there’s a belief he might be open to coaching Port given they have a team ready to challenge for a premiership.

There is also mounting pressure on Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew, who is in his sixth season at the helm but yet to lead the Suns to a maiden finals appearance.

Dew is contracted until the end of the 2024 season.

Meanwhile, West Coast coach Adam Simpson is on borrowed time after the Eagles were thrashed by 116 points by lowly Hawthorn on the weekend.

Simpson’s deal runs to 2025 but any credits from winning the 2018 premiership have run out and his sacking is all but imminent.

Journalist Tom Morris, who broke the story, told SEN Hardwick’s decision to quit mid-season could prompt some coaching chaos.

“By Damien Hardwick doing this now, it has a trickle effect around the league. Once one domino falls, it rarely doesn’t ensue in a number of others,” Morris said.

“You have a smorgasbord of coaches that are ready to go.”

West Coast’s Adam Simpson is facing the sack. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew could also be on the chopping block. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Morris described the Richmond coaching gig as a “plum job” and prospective coaches would love to mentor the likes of Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper, Tom Lynch, Shai Bolton, Liam Baker and Daniel Rioli.

He added Simpson and Hinkley were experienced coaches “ready to walk into any club” if they were to be sacked.

A wildcard is former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, who will doubt be asked if he has a desire to return to the coaching fraternity.

“There’s no burning ambition for me to get back into a football club,” he said on Fox Footy last year.

“You try and assess it, how much you’re carrying. There’s always a little bit of resentment around the pressure that is brought to bear.

“I enjoy helping young men be better versions of themselves. The winning and losing part, I love winning but I’m probably not as ruthless around winning and losing. It’s more about the development of individuals and the development of a group of people that I really enjoyed in the last four or five years.

“I’m definitely not in the space (to return).”