Damien Hardwick

Damien Hardwick (b: 18 August 1972) is the Richmond Football Club senior coach for seasons 2010-2012 (inclusive)

Hardwick played for the Essendon Football Club from 1994- 2001, for 153 games and 13 goals. He won their Best and Fairest for season 1998 and was a member of the 2000 Premiership side.
He transferred to the Port Adelaide Football Club from 2002-2004, where he played 54 games, for 1 goal. He ws a member of the 2004 Premiership side.
His total playing career statistics are 207 games , 14 goals. He was selected for the ))All-Australian Team(( in 2000.


Hardwick was the Hawthorn Football Club's assistant coach from 2006 until August 26 2009. He was part of the coaching panel that was successful in bringing the 2008 Premiership to to Hawthorn.
He applied for both the Melbourne Football Club and Essendon Football Club senior coaching roles in 2007.
In 2009, he applied for the North Melbourne Football Club senior coaching role.


On Tuesday, 25 August 2009, Hardwick was advised that he was successful in his application for the Richmond Football Club senior coaching position.
This decision was officially announced at a press conference held at the Punt Road Oval on Wednesday, 26 August 2009 by President Gary March.
Hardwick replaced Jade Rawlings who was the Richmond Football Club senior coach from Rd 12 2009 until the end of the season.


All below quotes are attributed to Damien Hardwick
"I think I can deliver a blueprint for success that's going to take the Richmond football club to their 11th premiership in the not-too-distant future, hopefully,''
..."Every club I've gone to has had a great team-first culture and that's something I believe very strongly in,"
..."I was coached by my old man, who was a good coach but a very hard coach...I don't think he ever gave me a best-and-fairest vote throughout my whole career. ''
..."The great thing about your life is the journey you take,"... "There's going to be players who go through their careers and taste success wherever they go. But probably the greatest thing I've found is I have had a lot of kicks in the guts.''
... "I've been at three different football clubs, I've been overlooked for two different jobs, you learn a lot about yourself. "You become a better person and I think a better coach."

During the press conference, 89 year old Kathleen Dunne interrupted the announcement from behind the journalists asking them to 'lay off' Hardwick and to 'give us (Richmond) a go'. Kathleen, it was reported, has been a Richmond Members since 1947 (apart from a brief period of two months).