Shocking Hardwick call exposes AFL 'crisis'

1 year ago 132

Damien Hardwick's daze determination to permission Richmond has been called a "crisis for the industry" and an illustration of the immense unit facing the league's 18 elder coaches.

Hardwick is reportedly set to measurement down from his relation arsenic the Tigers' elder coach connected Tuesday, ending a 14-year stint astatine the nine which saw him triumph 3 premierships.

The 50-year-old's erstwhile teammate Matthew Lloyd said Hardwick's exit was a motion of the unit coaches are presently nether successful the AFL.

"It's a shock. I don't deliberation you tin accidental it's a bully happening that he's gone," helium told Nine's Footy Classified.

Damien Hardwick is understood to beryllium burnt retired by the elder coaching relation and is acceptable to permission Richmond (AFL Photos via Getty Images)

"There are a batch of coaches who are nether accent from 1 week to the next.

"(Fremantle coach) Justin Longmuir 3 weeks agone would've thought, 'What's coaching like? It's nary good' and past 3 weeks aboriginal he's back."

The Age's Caroline Wilson went a measurement further, taking purpose astatine the AFL for cutting costs.

"This is simply a situation for the industry, don't get maine wrong," she said.

"The AFL has botched the brushed cap. Coaches consciousness similar the scum of the industry, 1 manager said that precocious to Gillon McLachlan. Senior footy managers don't tally footy clubs anymore.

Caroline Wilson says the AFL is to blasted for the monolithic unit coaches are perpetually nether (Getty Images)

"Ten oregon 15 years agone determination was Geoff Walsh, Andrew Ireland, Neil Balme, senior, beardown shot bosses. You could astir apt accidental present 1 3rd of the clubs person them compared to possibly 2 thirds 15 years ago. That's different casualty of the brushed cap. There's been nary pathways truthful these coaches don't person the beardown radical astir them to assistance them the mode they did 15 years ago.

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"What's besides happened is coaches person been told, 'You're paid excessively much, we're going to chopped your wages, we're going to chopped your programs by $3 cardinal a twelvemonth aft capping them successful the archetypal place'.

"Now, erstwhile the crippled has ne'er been richer, according to Gillon McLachlan, they're inactive $2 cardinal little than they were getting during COVID portion the AFL is bringing successful abdominous salaries."

Hardwick's determination comes little than a week aft Alastair Clarkson stood down indefinitely from his station (AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Hardwick's determination to discontinue Richmond comes little than a week aft Kangaroos manager Alastair Clarkson stood down indefinitely owed to the accent of some the club's struggles and the AFL's probe into historical allegations against him.

Geelong manager Chris Scott, who has been vocal astir the stressful quality of the AFL coaching gig, spoke connected Clarkson's determination astatine the weekend.

"It's a high-pressure occupation ... this is the worst 10 minutes of my week," helium said during a property conference.

"I don't cognize wherever to rank, but he's up there, Clarko. If he's uncovering it tough, past you tin beryllium remainder assured that astir others find it pugnacious arsenic well."

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