Damien Hardwick

Damien Patrick Hardwick (born 18 August 1972) is an Australian rules football coach and former player. He has been the senior coach of the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) since 2010.[1] His playing career as a defender comprised 153 games for Essendon (1994–2001) and 54 games for Port Adelaide (2002–2004). He won premierships with each club, in 2000 and 2004 respectively. He later coached Richmond to the 2017, 2019 and 2020 premierships and is the longest tenured coach in Richmond club history.

Damien Hardwick
Hardwick in June 2017
Personal information
Full name Damien Patrick Hardwick
Nickname(s) Dimma, The Cougar
Date of birth (1972-08-18) 18 August 1972
Original team(s) North Melbourne U19's/Springvale F.C
Draft No. 87, 1992 national draft
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 82 kg (181 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1994–2001 Essendon 153 (13)
2002–2004 Port Adelaide 054 0(1)
Total 207 (14)
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
2010– Richmond 252 (145-104-3)

2020		 Representative
Victoria
1 (1–0–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2004.
3 Coaching statistics correct as of round 9, 2020.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

He attended St Joseph's College in Ferntree Gully. Hardwick was a key player in the school's football side, which was highly competitive against other private schools in the EIS sports program. In football, Hardwick was usually on the field for most of the game and known to be a tough, hard working, and versatile player who kept stability in play for his side. Although he was often outclassed by others on field, his all round abilities were vital to the side.

AFL playing career

Beginning his AFL career with the Essendon Football Club in 1994, Hardwick was known as a tough, solid defender. His aggressive nature sometimes got him into trouble at the AFL Tribunal. He was a crucial part of Essendon's 2000 premiership side.[2]

He was traded from Essendon to the Port Adelaide Football Club and played with the side until his retirement in 2004.[2]

He was part of Port's premiership win in 2004. In the Grand Final he won three free kicks at crucial times, including a reversal against Jason Akermanis which cost the Brisbane Lions a shot at goal.

AFL coaching career

In 2005 Hardwick began working as an assistant coach under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn.

In 2007 Hardwick was shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Melbourne Football Club, however he was unsuccessful, with the position going to Dean Bailey. Following this application he was also shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Essendon Football Club to replace the outgoing Kevin Sheedy however he was overlooked in favour of former Richmond captain Matthew Knights.

On August 25, 2009 Hardwick received his first senior coaching job when he was appointed as the senior coach of Richmond for three years.[3]

In March 2012, Hardwick agreed to a two-year contract extension.[4]

On 11 December 2013, club president, Peggy O'Neal, announced that Hardwick had accepted a two-year contract extension that tied him to the club at least until the end of the 2016 season.[5]

In 2016 Hardwick agreed to a two year contract extension to the end of the 2018 season.

In 2017, Hardwick coached Richmond to their first premiership since 1980 and their 11th overall with a 48 point victory over the Adelaide Crows.

In 2019, Hardwick coached Richmond to another Premiership and their 12th overall. Richmond beat GWS Giants by 89 points.

In 2020, Hardwick coached the Victoria State of Origin side in the one-off 2020 State of Origin match that was played on 28 February 2020 at Marvel Stadium.[6]

2010 season

Hardwick's first season at Richmond did not begin well, with nine straight losses to start the season as well as a few disciplinary issues arising at the club. However, in round 10 the Tigers had a breakthrough win; defeating Port Adelaide by 47 points in extremely wet conditions in Adelaide. They also set a new record for the most tackles ever made in an AFL match (142) since records began in 1987,[7] and kept Port Adelaide to their lowest ever score.[8] The club went on to win five more games making a total of six in Hardwick’s first season. They finished the season in 15th position.[9]

2011/12 season

Richmond over the next 2 seasons continue to show improvement winning 8 games and draw in 2011 improving that to 10 wins and draw in 2012.

2013 season

In 2013, Hardwick coached Richmond to its first finals series since 2001, and only its third since 1982. Carlton defeated Richmond by 20 points in the elimination final after the Tigers led by 26 points at half-time, eliminating Richmond from the finals series.[10][11]

2014 season

In 2014, Hardwick's team started the year very poorly, having a win-loss record of 3-10 at one stage. But remarkably, the Tigers went on to win their last nine matches of the home and away season to just make it into the finals. Richmond were however beaten convincingly by Port Adelaide by 57 points in the Elimination Final, finishing the season in eighth place.

2015 season

Hardwick began the 2015 season under pressure to make amends for their past two failed Elimination Finals. It didn't start well, losing 4 out of the first 6 before recovering to finish the season in 5th place with 15 wins, same ladder position and win-loss record as 2013. Richmond came up against North Melbourne in the Elimination Final, but once again failed and Hardwick's team suffered their third consecutive first week finals exit.

2016 season

2016 was not a successful year for Hardwick as the Tigers finished the season with just 8 wins from 22 games. The highlight was the round 8 win against the Sydney Swans when Sam Lloyd kicked a goal after the siren. They finished 13th on the premiership ladder, their worst ladder position in four seasons.

2017 season

In 2017, Hardwick coached Richmond to their eleventh VFL/AFL premiership, defeating the Adelaide Crows by 48 points. After becoming the first coach in 37 years to guide Richmond to a Grand Final win in the 2017 AFL grand FInal, Hardwick was chosen as the AFLCA Coach of the Year.[12] He joined a very small group to win three AFL premierships with three clubs as player and coach and ending a 37 Year Drought.

2018 season

In 2018, Hardwick followed up his successful 2017 season by coaching Richmond to their first minor premiership since 1982. Richmond lost to Collingwood by 39 points in their Preliminary Final.

2019 season

In 2019, Hardwick became a two-time premiership coach, guiding Richmond to their second premiership in three years and twelfth overall with a resounding 89 point win (Richmond AFL/VFL Grand Final win record) over GWS Giants.

2020 season

In the 2020 season, which was significantly affected by COVID-19, Hardwick coached Richmond to their third premiership in four years and became a three-time premiership coach. Richmond finished third on the ladder at the end of the home-and-away season (with a record of 12 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw).[13] They lost to the Brisbane Lions (10.9.69 to 8.6.54) in their qualifying final, defeated the St Kilda Saints (12.8.80 to 6.13.49) in their semi-final, and defeated Port Adelaide (6.10.46 to 6.4.40) in their preliminary final. They defeated the Geelong Cats by 31 points (12.9.81 to 7.8.50) in the Grand Final at The GABBA - the first Grand Final to be played outside Victoria and the first night-time Grand Final.

Statistics

Playing statistics
[14]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1994 Essendon 39176417610728362290.40.210.46.316.63.61.7
1995 Essendon 3916211239722038310.10.17.76.113.82.41.9
1996 Essendon 39171117010227260220.10.110.06.016.03.51.3
1997 Essendon 3915321778726455260.20.111.85.817.63.71.7
1998 Essendon 11230132511744287430.00.014.15.119.23.81.9
1999 Essendon 11200024610835451320.00.012.35.417.72.61.6
2000 Essendon 11240127017244271550.00.011.37.218.43.02.3
2001 Essendon 11211020315535872410.00.09.77.417.03.42.0
2002 Port Adelaide 11200118212130358500.00.19.16.115.22.92.5
2003 Port Adelaide 11200215411126557420.00.17.75.613.32.92.1
2004 Port Adelaide 111410808616634270.10.05.76.111.92.41.9
Career 207 14 13 2106 1263 3369 645 398 0.1 0.1 10.2 6.1 16.3 3.1 1.9

Coaching statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season[15]
Legend
 W  Wins  L  Losses  D  Draws  W%  Winning percentage  LP  Ladder position  LT  League teams
Season Team Games W L D W % LP LT
2010 Richmond 22616027.3%1516
2011 Richmond 22813138.6%1217
2012 Richmond 221011147.7%1218
2013 Richmond 23158065.2%518
2014 Richmond 231211052.2%818
2015 Richmond 23158065.2%518
2016 Richmond 22814036.4%1318
2017 Richmond 25187072.0%318
2018 Richmond 24195079.2%118
2019 Richmond 25196076.0%318
2020 Richmond 21155173.8%318
Career totals 252 145 104 3 58.1%

Honours and achievements

References
  1. "Staff Members". Richmond Football Club. Richmond Football Club. 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  2. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2003). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (5th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 293–294. ISBN 1-74095-032-1.
  3. Vaughan, Roger (26 August 2009). "Hardwick appointed Richmond coach in three-year deal". Perth Now. News Ltd. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  4. "Tigers re-sign Hardwick to new deal". ABC News. ABC. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  5. "Damien Hardwick gets two-year contract extension". The Age. Fairfax Media. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  6. Cleary, Mitch (15 January 2020). "Mate v mate: How the Vic v All Stars teams will be picked". Australian Football League. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  7. "Most Tackles In A Game (1987–2012)".
  8. Tigers maul Power Archived 1 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  9. 2010 results from AFL tables
  10. Finals-bound Richmond has plenty to prove says coach Damien Hardwick, The Herald Sun, 16 August 2013
  11. Carlton knocks Richmond out of finals with 20-point MCG win to qualify for AFL semi-final, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 8 September 2013
  12. McFarlane, Glenn (26 September 2017). "Damien Hardwick caps amazing Tiger turnaround by being named AFL Coach of the Year, following up with victory in the 2017 grand final against the Adelaide Crows". Herald Sun.
  13. "AFL Ladder". afl.com.au. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  14. Damien Hardwick's player profile at AFL Tables
  15. "Damien Hardwick's coaching profile". AFL Tables.
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