‘I would rather leave too early than too late’: Hardwick’s $1.5 million call

Damien Hardwick made his shock decision to abruptly quit as Richmond coach with a season and a half to go on his contract in the knowledge he was potentially walking away from $1.5 million.

Hardwick was contracted for next year on a seven-figure sum and the balance of this year’s contract. There is extreme goodwill towards Hardwick, so there will be amicable negotiations around the balance of this year’s contract.

While there is an expectation Hardwick will coach somewhere else as soon as next year there is no formal commitment or arrangement in place for him with another AFL club. He said he was taking leave and would decide later how long that break from coaching was for.

Hardwick said he had already resolved that this would be his final year as Richmond’s coach, and he had decided pre-season he would not go on next year for the final term of his contract. He took the decision to go now after the season did not pan out as he had hoped, and he felt his message was no longer getting through.

Despite that and the fact the Tigers have just three wins and a draw from 10 matches and sit in 14th, place six points and significant percentage outside the eight, he believes with a new voice delivering the message Richmond can still challenge for this year’s premiership.

With tears welling in his eyes, the three-time premiership coach called it quits after 13 completed seasons and 307 games at the helm. Respected long-term Tigers assistant and former St Kilda and Gold Coast player Andrew McQualter will take over as interim coach.

Hardwick’s decision to leave after 10 rounds gives Richmond a head start on other clubs in the hunt for a new coach, at a time when uncertainty hovers over the top jobs at Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and Carlton.

Having pondered over summer while watching The Last Dance – the documentary about Michael Jordan’s final NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls – if this would be his final season at Punt Road, Hardwick decided about a fortnight ago his time was up. It had become clear to him that he could squeeze no more out of his beloved players, who have delivered much success to the Tiger army.

The Tigers had just defeated the hapless West Coast, a week after a shock loss to Gold Coast. He considered pulling stumps for the clash with old rivals Geelong, which they won, but waited another week, so he could be part of the celebrated Dreamtime game against Essendon.

Though the one-point loss left the Tigers in 14th with three wins from the first 10 games, Hardwick remains bullish about the club’s prospects this year. A win this week against Port Adelaide could have them just half a game outside the eight.

Hardwick said he did not want an official farewell match as he was not a man of fanfare, and he did not believe it was appropriate to stick around if he was unable to commit wholeheartedly to the cause

“It’s a really important game for our footy club,” Hardwick said. “I still firmly believe this club is placed to challenge, and many people look at that, but I know the list that is here and the people that are here.

“It’s much bigger than one man, as we know. What we’ve got is a really, really capable playing list capable of doing great things. If we had a bit of luck along the way, a couple of bounces of the ball here, a couple of injuries here that didn’t go south, I’m still sure we’ll give it a fair shake.”

As the losses mounted last month, Hardwick began questioning if he was still the right person to lead the Tigers, knowing he would not be there next year.

Damien Hardwick has officially resigned as Richmond coach.Credit: Jason South

“I kept asking myself the question more and more. If you keep asking yourself the question, you know the answer,” Hardwick said.

“I had some conversations with some really key people around me just to make sure that I was in the right frame of mind to make that decision, and it became clear two weeks ago the time was about right.

“In all honesty I would rather leave too early than too late. The club means so much to me and I want to make sure that I leave the game loving the game, not resenting the game. But also want to make sure that I leave this place just with the best feelings.”

Hardwick fought back tears as he acknowledged what the club had done for his family, and the deep affection he held for his players, whom he addressed on Tuesday morning.

‘I’ve tried to cook the sausage 1000 different ways, and I couldn’t find 1001, so I think the players deserve a new voice that will hopefully give them that spark.’

Damien Hardwick

“From the bottom of my heart boys, I wish you all the very best,” Hardwick said. “I’m gonna miss ya, as always, I love you to death.”

Hardwick, who won premierships with Essendon and Port Adelaide as a player and completed his coaching apprenticeship at Hawthorn, said Richmond was “the love of my life”.

Richmond chief Brendon Gale, who along with the club board famously kept the faith in Hardwick after a disastrous 2016, spoke glowingly of the coach’s contribution but said the club would be an “attractive proposition” for a prospective coach.

“We’re a strong club, with a strong culture, we’re pretty confident we’ve got an environment a coach will thrive at our football club,” Gale said. “Because of this selfless decision it gives an opportunity to get ahead of that.”

Gale, who has been linked to a senior job with the AFL, said he was committed to and energised by the challenge of building Richmond’s next era of success.

Jack Riewoldt, Hardwick and Shai Bolton arrive at Punt Road.Credit: Andrew Wu/Paul Rovere

Hardwick started in 2010 when the Tigers were on their knees, lifting the club from the cellar to one of the great modern dynasties.

“There’s not a better place to be when things aren’t going well,” Hardwick said of the club. “There’s so much care and love in the place, it makes it a pleasure to be in.”

Camera crews had been camped out at Tigerland since before dawn, overseen by at least four security guards patrolling the entrance to the club’s headquarters.

Premiership stars Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Nick Vlastuin, Tom Lynch, Shai Bolton, Dan Rioli, Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo were among those to arrive early, as were prized recruit Tim Taranto and defender Robbie Tarrant.

Hardwick said he had called Riewoldt to impart the news, giving his forward a fright in the process.

“I rang the great Jack Riewoldt and said, ‘Oh mate are you available to chat?’ and of course, Jack made it all about him. He thought I was going to talk about him, and I said, ‘No mate, this isn’t about you for once in your life’,” Hardwick joked.

Hardwick said he hadn’t spoken to outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan about his decision to walk away. “I just had to make sure that the people closest to me, and the people at this footy club knew exactly what was going through my head,” he said.

“It was hard ... but I’m glad I did it the way I have.”

He ended the media conference by thanking Richmond staff, fans and players.

“I wish you all the very best. I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for the journey that I’ve had,” he said.

The coach was met with a long and loud round of applause as he walked away.

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