See Damien Hardwick’s prophetic interview moments before coaching the Tigers for the first time
You know how it ends, that’s how it began: How Damien Hardwick spoke some prophetic words in an interview just before he first coached the Tigers
- In 2010 Andy Maher asked the coach about the future
- In 2023, Hardwick looked back on the past
- Coach stunned footy world by stopping
Outgoing Richmond icon Damien Hardwick’s emotional farewell speech on Tuesday ended the prophetic promise he made in an interview he gave minutes before his debut as the club’s coach.
On that day in 2010, Andy Maher of The Front Bar fame interviewed Hardwick as he casually sauntered to his seat in the Tigers box at the MCG.
“Finally it’s time, how are you feeling?” Maher asked.
“I’m a little nervous and a little excited. It’s hard to tell the difference between them,’ Hardwick replied.
“But look, I just can’t wait. It’s a huge opportunity for our guys to usher in a new era for Richmond in the future.”
A youthful Damien Hardwick predicted Richmond’s future when he interviewed Andy Maher just before kick-off in 2010 – his first ever appearance as a Tigers coach
On that very first afternoon, having inherited a team that had been on the back burner in his long life, Hardwick lost.
Richmond hadn’t been a contender for the last 30 years so it was a result the fans were used to – but that didn’t stop ‘Dimma’ from chasing that bright new era for the club.
A further eight games into his first season in charge, the Tigers had not won a single game and were unkindly labeled ‘the worst team since Fitzroy’, referring to the sorry Lions team losing 1-21 in their final season in the League. in 1996.
Victories eventually came, but it wasn’t until 2013 that Hardwick’s men made it to their first preliminary final.
They lost, but there was hope.
For the next two seasons, they made it to the same Preliminary Final and achieved the same result, before an injury-plagued year followed in 2016 as the team finished in 13th place.
Some on Punt Road wanted him kicked.
In his farewell address today, he referred to that year.
“It’s a tough job as an AFL coach, but by far the Richmond Football Club has been the love of my life,” he said.
“They gave me a chance, the best resources possible, and I can’t thank you enough in 2016 when you could have easily tipped me at any time.
“The trip we responded to afterwards is a testament to what we’ve made.”
In 2023, Damien Hardwick (pictured) was emotional at his farewell press conference, but his words from 2010 came true
Hardwick’s renaissance began the afternoon the Richmond board apprehended him after that disastrous campaign.
In 2017, the Tigerland faithful roared their approval as the 37-year premiership drought ended as Richmond upset Adelaide by 48 points.
More flags followed in 2019 and in 2020 with the signature Hardwick method over footy played at supersonic speed throughout the park, heavily influencing other teams.
And that was exactly the legacy he talked about on Tuesday.
In 2010, Hardwick could only imagine and aspire to the Tigers’ new era.
On Tuesday, during his last interview as a coach, he smiled, became emotional and even swallowed back tears after fulfilling the promise he made 14 years earlier.