The best part of all this, the Tigers traded away their first rounder for this years draft
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Its actually two first-rounders, a second rounder and a future first rounder
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I agree, he wouldnt have got 3 without dusty.
On the other hand, he has managed to keep dusty on the straight abd narrow to win the flags.
Well maybe not totally but enough that he saved him from himself i reckon.
So he deserves credit for that
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Really? That’s fantastic
He looks like he’s out of a gimp museum
And the other 5 are psychopaths.
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Senior Assistant at Essendon thanks. Don’t care who he replaces.
Riiiiight. Who’s had more in the last 2 decades, them or us? Either way, glass houses and all that.
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I for one am looking forward to the Tigers returning to an era similar to their “Tivendale - Tambling” period
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i didnt mind tivendale, fiora on the other hand…
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Knights and Richardson Period for me.
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McQualter
Excuse you
Yeah nah. Moulded a group of not great players around a core of excellent players, changed how they played to suit the available player list and motivated them to be the best, just like every other premiership side. And did it three times. He’s deserving of the plaudits.
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if he took over in 2015 or 16 that argument might stand up
Added bonus of change in club culture, driven by CEO with experience as a Tiger player and as head of AFLPA, a committed and united Board with a quality President.
AFL 2023 Richmond coach contenders: Adam Simpson, Ken Hinkley, Nathan Buckley, Leon Cameron | Herald Sun
Former Richmond star and grand final coach Leon Cameron says his coaching itch “comes and goes” and is “probably a little bit” bigger than when he walked away from the Giants 12 months ago.
On Tuesday night Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale clarified his comment that the club would hunt “the next Damien Hardwick” was not an indication the Tigers would prefer an untried AFL coach.
“I just meant a new coach,” Gale said.
“We’ve got to really sit down and map out and define what we think are the key requirements. It’s coaching, there’s technical expertise, there’s more managerial, there’s a lot of advocacy … it’s such a complicated role, and it’s evolving all the time.
“So we’ve got to capture the immediate needs and the future needs.”
Leon Cameron spent six seasons at the Giants. Picture: Getty
That opens the door for the Tigers to consider experienced coaches in the ilk of Don Pyke, Justin Leppitsch, Cameron or a current AFL coach as well as the game’s most highly-rated assistants.
Cameron played 84 brilliant games for the Tigers from 2000-03 and led the club’s Brownlow Medal tally with 11 votes during their charge to the 2001 preliminary final.
The Giants won finals under Cameron in five out of six seasons from 2016-2021 to underline his coaching credentials.
“It’s a hard one to answer. It comes and goes, it absolutely comes and goes,” Cameron told SEN of his AFL coaching itch.
“(There’s) two parts of that. It’s having the confidence, yep, you want to go and do it. Can you think you can do it? And then you’ve got to be able to be in a position to do it.
The itch… could Leon Cameron be on his way back to the coaching ranks? Picture: Phil Hillyard
“The job is so rewarding – going to a footy club and being involved, bringing something through from start to finish and seeing young kids chase their dream.
“All the great things about it is the reason why we chase it and why we love it.
“But equally, it’s so demanding it can wear you down so much, which was what we’ve said with Dimma yesterday.
“Most coaches get worn down and that’s the really hard part about it, and clearly the public scrutiny is full-on. That’s just relentless.
“Is it (the coaching itch) getting bigger with me at 12 months on? It probably is a little bit.
“But I can’t tell you when that date is when you go, yep, I’m ready to launch back in.”
THE CONTENDERS: WHO WILL BE NEXT TIGERS COACH?
By Jon Ralph
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale says search for the “next Damien Hardwick” should attract an elite band of candidates as the Tigers spend the next four months in an extensive coaching search.
But the five pillars of the club’s extraordinary success could still be gone by the end of the year with Gale the preferred candidate for an all-encompassing AFL football role.
Gale made clear the era of Richmond success was not over on Tuesday despite the club farewelling their most successful modern coach.
The candidates will likely include Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley, former Richmond assistant Justin Leppitsch and assistant coaches including Don Pyke, Adem Yze, Daniel Giansiracusa and interim coach Andrew McQualter.
The contenders: Who could fill Dimma’s shoes at Richmond?
The Tigers will now work on establishing a process for a potential panel to hire their next coach and have the jump start on any other clubs which might move on their coach.
Gale made clear the Tigers were an “attractive proposition” as a stable club with a list in finals contention at a Punt Rd facility that will soon be upgraded again.
“This has all happened pretty quickly, so we will work through that and redefine the attributes to be the Richmond coach for the next 10 years. The game is evolving. We want to find the next Damien Hardwick,” Gale said.
“We think we are a pretty attractive proposition. We are a strong club with a strong culture. We are pretty confident that we have got an environment where a coach would thrive.
“Because of the selfless decision, it gives us the opportunity to get ahead of that.”
Brendon Gale (right) with Damien Hardwick as he announces his departure as Richmond coach. Picture: Michael Klein
Hardwick’s departure follows president Peggy O’Neal leaving last year, with Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin set to retire at year’s end.
Gale said on Tuesday the links to a key football role at AFL House were only speculation but the Herald Sun reported last month he was the preferred candidate.
Gale would be well aware of new AFL CEO Andrew Dillon’s determination to lure him ahead of AFL club bosses Simon Garlick (Fremantle) and Tom Harley (Sydney).
That role will only be filled at year’s end, so if Gale was keen he could help find a new coach then move on.
The AFL role for Gale would likely effectively make him the league’s chief operating officer with a portfolio including football and Tasmania.
Who will coach Richmond in 2024?
If the AFL’s broadcast, clubs and finances boss Travis Auld secures the Grand Prix CEO role Gale could even secure one of those hefty portfolios.
Gale was adamant despite Hardwick’s departure the Tigers were on such strong foundations they would flourish with a new coach.
“This is sad, don’t get me wrong. I love this man and a lot of people do. We will celebrate him and acknowledge his incredible contribution, but it’s onward and upward.
“We are looking forward to writing the next chapter of this incredible story of Richmond Football Club, incredible team on and off field and that’s a really exciting opportunity that will energise all of us.”
Glenn McFarlane rates the coaching contenders
Collingwood famously had 92 names on the whiteboard when the search for Nathan Buckley’s replacement started in late 2021 – and ultimately ended up with one, Craig McRae.
St Kilda and North Melbourne were “chips in” with only one candidate each – Ross Lyon and Alastair Clarkson – when they looked for a new coach late last year.
Now the Richmond Football Club will embark on one of the most expensive coaching searches as it looks to replace three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick.
Here are some of the names likely to be on the Punt Rd whiteboard in the weeks and months ahead as the Tigers look for their “next Dimma”.
LIKELY TARGETS
KEN HINKLEY
Port Adelaide has been steadfast in its commitment to not talk about a new deal for Ken Hinkley until August, but the Power mentor is arguably coaching better than ever in his 11th season. In the space of the past seven weeks, he has gone from a likely casualty to in-demand coaching option. Hinkley is so deeply connected to his Port Adelaide players that it would be hard to see him prised out of Alberton. The Tigers will almost certainly ask the question if he is interested, and the prospect of a four or five-year deal might be the coaching security he needs, if the Power doesn’t give him a medium to long-term commitment.
ADAM SIMPSON
Arguably the most under-pressure coach in the competition right now and heading for a wooden spoon after a disastrous last three seasons. But he is a premiership coach – he won the flag that Richmond thought was theirs in 2018 – so maybe a fresh challenge in a new environment might be the best thing for him and the Eagles. He is contracted until the end of 2024, but as we have seen so frequently in the past few years, a contract is often not worth the paper it is written on.
Ken Hinkley’s stocks are rising. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images
Would Nathan Buckley hang up the Fox Footy microphone for another coaching job? Picture: Michael Klein
NATHAN BUCKLEY
The former Magpie coach has consistently said coaching is not in his short-to-medium plans. He reiterated that on Tuesday, by saying his life balance has been so much better since stepping out of the coaches’ box. But the Tigers could ask him if he wanted to be a part of the process. He took the Magpies to within a kick of a premiership in 2018, as well as three preliminary finals. Will he be better as a second-time coach? Definitely. And does that hunger to finally taste premiership success still course through his veins? Maybe this could be a year or two too early for Bucks.
DON PYKE
Took Adelaide to the 2017 grand final only to be denied by Hardwick and the relentless Tigers. Departed the Crows after being burnt out by the club’s ladder fall as well as the after-effects of the club’s controversial pre-season camp, but played a big role at Sydney as an assistant to John Longmire to take the Swans to last year’s grand final. Considered a very sound tactician, he has been reluctant to put himself into the frame for a senior coaching role. But could the opening at Richmond change all that?
JUSTIN LEPPITSCH
The former Brisbane senior coach and now Magpies assistant had two separate stints at Punt Rd under Hardwick, and knows the place well. Was thought to have lost his chance after the Lions’ coaching role ended badly, but he has consistently worked hard to rebuild his own coaching brand. Was a crucial part of the Tigers’ coaching staff in three flags in four seasons, and has only enhanced that as a highly-rated assistant under Craig McRae at Collingwood.
Justin Leppitsch played a key role in Richmond’s premiership run. Picture: Sarah Reed
THE WILDCARD
JOHN LONGMIRE
This could be 100-1 given Longmire is contracted until the end of 2025 and seems wholly invested in the Swans’ program. But he has been in the main chair there since 2011 – almost as long as Hardwick was at Richmond – and the Tigers would be derelict in not making the call to him. The answer would almost certainly be no, but it’s worth the price of a call. Chris Scott seems similarly entrenched at Geelong and is himself contracted until the end of 2024.
OTHERS WHO COULD BE IN THE MIX
ADEM YZE
Highly-rated assistant coach who came so close to winning the GWS role before Adam Kingsley knocked him off in the last interview. Was also in the mix at Essendon before Brad Scott won the job. Has had a strong coaching apprenticeship and is currently doing good things with Melbourne as the Demons look to chase a second flag in three years.
LEON CAMERON
Spent the second half of his playing career with Richmond after starting with the Bulldogs, so he knows the Tigers’ environment. He took the Giants to a grand final and three preliminary finals but his tenure ended there last year. Chose not to chase the Essendon job, instead taking on a role with Sydney’s academy, preferring to stay in the Harbour City with his family.
ANDREW McQUALTER
Jeff Gieschen famously won the Tigers job after impressing as caretaker coach 26 years ago when the fans urged the board to “Unleash the Giesch”. Could McQualter attract similar momentum in the second half of the season? It seems unlikely. But there is no doubt McQualter has a strong resume and has been Hardwick’s loyal assistant for 10 seasons.
Caretaker coach Andrew McQualter with Tim Taranto. Picture: Michael Klein
ASH HANSEN
Highly-rated assistant coach who joined Carlton this year as senior lieutenant to Michael Voss as well as forward line coach after a successful stint at the Bulldogs. Long considered a senior coach in waiting and will get his chance at some stage.
BLAKE CARACELLA
Considered one of most respected assistant coaches after successful stints at Collingwood, Geelong and Richmond before joining his old side Essendon. Helped the Tigers win two flags in 2017 and 2019, but has seemingly always shown a reluctance to go chase a main gig.
JAYMIE GRAHAM
Another who has been in the mix of coaching processes in recent years including at Collingwood when the Magpies appointed McRae. Stood in as caretaker for Justin Longmire for two games when the Dockers coach was in COVID-protocols.
DANIEL GIANSIRACUSA
Regarded as an AFL senior coach-in-waiting after building a strong resume as an assistant coach. Highly-regarded coach who has played a role in Essendon’s revival in 2023.
ROBERT HARVEY
Has returned to St Kilda and looks embedded back at Moorabbin under Ross Lyon after spending a decade at Collingwood and a recent stint at Hawthorn.
JOSH CARR
Insiders say his return to Port Adelaide alongside Ken Hinkley has played a part in the Power’s 2023 resurgence. Has developed a good assistant coaching profile across more than a decade.
No Truck?
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Wouldn’t have thought so.
I’d imagine he would need to do at least 2-3 years as assistant before being considered for another top job