Hardwick the mastermind of a modern-day Tigers dynasty

Richmond couldn’t have been at a decrease ebb when Damien Hardwick took over as coach earlier than the 2010 season.

It had been three lengthy many years because the as soon as mighty Tigers had tasted the final word success.

And for many of these 30 years, Richmond had been the AFL’s equal to the punch-line of a foul joke.

No-one anticipated a fast turnaround in fortunes, even below the stewardship of a person who had loved the final word success as a participant at Essendon (2000) and Port Adelaide (2004) and as an assistant coach at Hawthorn below his nice mate Alastair Clarkson (2008).

Simply 9 video games into Hardwick’s tenure and the enormity of the duty had been laid naked – the membership once more sat in final spot on the ladder with an 0-9 win-loss document and a depressing share of 56.2.

They had been unkindly labelled “the worst crew since Fitzroy” in reference to the sorry Lions outfit that went 1-21 of their final season within the competitors in 1996.

Hardwick lastly masterminded his first win towards the chances away to Port Adelaide on a moist day at Soccer Park in spherical 10, 2010.

It might not have been clear then however the renaissance was underway eventually with an inventory that included loads of deadwood but additionally had Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Shane Edwards, all of whom would go on to grow to be triple premiership heroes.

The Tigers lastly ended a 12-year finals drought below Hardwick in 2013 – however it was to be the primary of three straight elimination closing defeats.

When the membership plummeted to thirteenth spot in 2016 there have been a lot at Punt Street calling for the coach’s head.

In years passed by, when the unofficial catch-cry of “Eat ‘Em’ Alive” too usually translated to “eat their very own”, it might effectively have grow to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

However president Peggy O’Neal, CEO Brendon Gale and prodigal son Neil Balme – lastly lured again as footy boss – caught fats with the coach.

It was an impressed resolution.

Twelve months later the Tigers had been celebrating their eleventh premiership, with the upset 48-point win over Adelaide ending a 37-year drought.

Additional flags had been received in 2019 towards GWS and in 2020 towards Geelong, with a trademark methodology of frenetic ball motion now favoured by groups such because the 2023 premiership favourites Collingwood.

For Hardwick, the 2020 victory was the perfect of all, coming on the unlikely venue of the Gabba in a season dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coach had initially railed towards the restrictions imposed on the golf equipment – and society as an entire.

“They’re all completely different, (however) this one I feel this one is further vital,” he stated after the Dustin Martin-inspired win over the Cats.

“What we needed to undergo to get right here, the 100-odd days in a hub, how onerous the AFL, Queensland Authorities, the folks in Victoria did it … it is simply an unlimited achievement.”

The Tigers missed the finals in 2021 and had been rolled by Brisbane in an nailbiting elimination closing in 2022.

With the golden technology of Cotchin, Riewoldt, Martin and Co nearing the top of the street, the membership loaded up for what they figured can be one other flag tilt in 2023, prising midfield bulls Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper out of GWS at the price of a slew of draft picks,.

Taranto has been among the many Tigers’ finest in 2023, however with key gamers resembling Tom Lynch and Toby Nankervis cruelled by harm, that they had slumped to 14th spot on the ladder by the conclusion of spherical 10.

By no means thoughts the pursuit of a 14th flag – even making the 2023 finals would now be a protracted shot.