Damien Hardwick’s job as an AFL senior coach looks to be on the line this season after Richmond CEO Brendon Gale yesterday said the Tigers wouldn’t necessarily look to offer him a contract extension before the season begins – and he’s not the only coach facing the chop in 2016.
Despite rumblings late last year that Hardwick was likely to soon sign an extension to his contract – which expires at the end of this season – it now appears probable that he will enter 2016 without a guarantee beyond the end of the year.
Gale had plenty of praise for Hardwick in his interview with SEN but actions speak louder than words. If Hardwick enters season 2016 without a contract extension sewn up it will be a pretty significant indication that the Tigers are seriously considering replacing him at the end of the year.
And why wouldn’t they? Hardwick has been arguably the most successful Richmond coach of the new millenium, but that’s only because the bar has been set so low by his predecessors.
While he returned the club to finals in 2013 after an absence of more than a decade, and has kept them there in the years since, his inability to guide the team past the first week of finals three years in a row has given Tigers fans plenty of headaches.
Had Hardwick led the Tigers to a finals win over North Melbourne in September last year he would probably have an extension by now – but he didn’t, and he doesn’t.
The Tigers have been patient with Hardwick despite only mild success in his six-year tenure as senior coach of the club – making him the equal-second longest tenured coach in the league, alongside Brad Scott and behind Alastair Clarkson – as the club focuses on maintaining a stable environment.
It wasn’t always so at Punt Road – there was a time in the 80s when the club was known for going through coaches faster than Chad Wingard goes through hair gel, and the constant change had such a noticeably detrimental effect on the club’s performance that Mike Sheehan went to the trouble of making a TV special about it.
The modern focus on stability is no doubt a response to that unfondly remembered era. It has made Hardwick the longest serving Richmond coach since the legendary Tom Hafey finished up in 1976. But if the Tigers get off to a bad start in 2016 – as they did in 2014 (3-10 after Round 14) and 2015 (2-4 after Round 6) – they may finally decide to let the axe fall.
Hardwick’s not the only coach under pressure in 2016 either, with four of his contemporaries also coming out of contract at the end of the season.
The fate of one of them, Paul Roos, is already certain – he will make way for his successor-in-waiting Simon Goodwin ahead of 2017, though what role if any Roos might have at Melbourne going forward isn’t clear yet.
Alastair Clarkson also comes out of contract this year but for obvious reasons would have no concerns about losing his job. Although he has been responsible for the occasional off-field controversy over the past few years, the Hawks are bound to make him an offer, and he hasn’t given any indication that he’s considering retirement.
That leaves two, Justin Leppitsch and Nathan Buckley, who could be in a bit of trouble this year if they can’t get their sides to perform to the level expected.
There were a handful of news reports for both suggesting they were close to signing new contracts over the off-season, but so far that hasn’t materialised for either – and that’s not a good sign.
Leppitsch has only been in charge of the Brisbane Lions for two years and his tenure so far has been wildly unsuccessful with seven wins in 2014 and just four in 2015. Injuries have been partly to blame, but a coach can only make excuses for so long.
The real failure of Leppitsch has been his failure to stem the flow of talented players asking to leave the club, the same problem that ultimately ended the tenure of his pre-decessor and premiership teammate Michael Voss.
I said last season when Jack Redden walked out on the Lions that Leppitsch had to follow him, and I stand by that. The Lions need a complete outsider who can come in and transform their club, not another throwback from their long-passed premiership era content to do more of the same.
Buckley is a wholly different kettle of fish. He controversially replaced Mick Malthouse at Collingwood in 2012 despite the fact that Malthouse had just coached the Magpies to two consecutive grand finals including a premiership in 2010.
In his four years at the helm Buckley has seen the Magpies slowly slip down the ladder. They lost a preliminary final to Sydney in 2012, lost an elimination final to Port Adelaide in 2013, and have missed finals completely in the last two years.
In both 2014 and 2015 the Magpies had excellent starts to the year that had them looking like probable finalists at the halfway point of the season, only to collapse in the second half of the year.
In 2014 they were 8-3 after Round 12 but won just three more games for the year to finish eleventh and in 2015 they were in the same position after Round 11 but had just two wins in the latter half of the season and finished twelfth.
Coming into the new season fans are going to be expecting the club’s investment in youth over the past few years to start paying off.
Collingwood were also very successful in last year’s trade period acquiring Adam Treloar, James Aish and Jeremy Howe, but impressive as that haul was, it also heaps pressure on the Magpies to perform in the 2016.
For mine, I’ll back Buckley in to coach Collingwood to finals this year, and earn a contract extension while he’s at it.
What’s often forgotten in looking at the Magpies’ poor record in the second half of the year is that it began with some very competitive efforts against top teams Fremantle (lost by 7) and Hawthorn (lost by 10), and another against Sydney (lost by 9) late in the year.
I expect Collingwood to improve in 2016 and justify a contract extension for Buckley. But if things go poorly, his head might be the first to roll.
Richard
Guest
Our coach has has failed to deliver. He's gone way past his used by date. Also think the CEO > BG is weak and is reluctant to make hard decisions and also needs to step down. Enough is enough. RFC are loosing money,fans and trust in this club. If this were my business there would be changes from the top - down, we have nothing more to loose so why not give someone else the opportunity to rule get rid of BG and DH. TAKE a look at how Hawthorn and lately Carlton have have rejuvenated so please Do Something NOW. Mo more fluffy rhetoric from BG. Guaranteed 2017 18 and 19 will be the same if not worse.
Don Freo
Guest
It's never been surprising to see how well Freo does each year.
The Original Buzz
Guest
I love the preseason for that very reason, the sometimes illogical and unreasoning opinions of fans (me included), media and experts alike before a ball has touched the hallowed ground of the field. The last few years have proven that it is difficult to see how a team will perform before they take the field in battle. Bulldogs and Freo recently and Port Adelaide under Hinkley before them are good examples.
The Original Buzz
Guest
That would be good, Malthouse could destroy another team and lift Carlton off the bottom.
berrlins
Roar Pro
I agree that his finals record is terrible but his home and away record is excellent, and when he took over the club was hopeless, He is a big part of why they are challenging for the top four now. and if they decide not to extend his contract, who else could they get? although I do hear Malthouse is looking.
The Original Buzz
Guest
I agree on Hardwick, I think they will need to be in the top 6 around mid season for his job to be safe.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Ben Hudson is the ruck/forwards coach - that in itself is revealing and could explain why the small forwards didn't do as well, given Huddo is a big tall bloke. Not sure if he was working with Green and Co. though, could have been one of the other coaches, such as Simon Black. Basically what the club is saying in giving him rolling one year deals is much as it was in Starship Troopers... "Leppa - we need a coach. You're it until you're dead, or until we find somebody better."
Gecko
Guest
Perhaps the Board, by extending Leppa's contract, were saying the horrific 2015 season was mostly beyond his control. The midfield was decimated. Most of their on-field leadership / inspiration in 2014 came from Hanley and Rockliffe and these two missed big chunks of 2015. The club hasn't found a key forward to replace Jonathan Brown or a key backman to replace Patfull. The only thing that perhaps should have worked better in 2015 was their small forwards. Who was the forward line coach?
Josh
Expert
I can see the logic of where you're coming from but no, I don't think it's a serious possibility. Technically at this point Lyon is the most successful coach in the history of the club, taking them to both their first grand final and first minor premiership. They'll back him in to bring more success longterm, I think.
Josh
Expert
I don't reckon Eade was a great appointment but to suggest he deserves a sacking is a fair way off I think. He had about half a fit list last year and has put in significant work cleaning up a very unprofessional culture that had developed at the club.
Paul D
Roar Guru
If Worsfold or Bolton get the sack within the next 3 years it will be a disgraceful failure by the boards at both clubs. They went through a lengthy process to find the best candidate, now they need to stick.
Gecko
Guest
I'm actually surprised that so few coaches' heads are on the chopping blocks in 2016. Jeez we can't even put Carlton or Essendon coaches on the chopping blocks... yet.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Frankly most things are beyond our ability to afford at the moment.
Josh
Expert
Trust the Lions to reinstate Leppa for another year literally the day after I wrote this. I still maintain he could be in trouble this season but might be beyond their ability to afford sacking.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Reports in the news today that Leppa is going to given a one year extension to take him to the end of the 2017 season. The obvious conclusion to draw is that the club still has doubts, but they’re opting for stability and the hope Leppa continues to improve – as opposed to further upheaval by sacking the coach and starting again. In the absence of any outstanding candidate presenting themselves, I think this is the best option. I know a lot of people (myself included) think Leppa can’t coach, but honestly, I’d rather we just focus on the team on the field, and see if he can get them playing. If he flops horribly during this season they can always cut him adrift without too much of a payout figure. If the club didn’t extend him before the season starts, our tough beginning to the season would have all sorts of people calling for his scalp. All we Lions fans can do is hope, rather like Mr Micawber, that something comes up, and we slowly pull ourselves out of the mire.
mattyb
Guest
Now that is laughable. The kids further stymied comment though is the funniest. You seem to have one wild imagination.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Rubbish. You clearly don't follow AFL too closely or know much about the current RFC Administration under Benny Gale. Even when Tigers were equal last in 2014 after Round 14 the administration and the club as a whole was united. There was no talk of coach sacking inside the club. This is not the same club that ate its own in the late 70s and 80s.
bob burra
Guest
So what you are implying is that if by some chance that at the half way mark of the season if Richmond is sitting as 5/6 or 6/5 that the board WOULD NOT be looking at Hardwicks' position as Senior Coach. If you believe that, that would make you nearly as blind as the Essendon tribe who believe that the 'Dons did nothing wrong
Milo
Roar Rookie
Just one point on Eade. He strikes me as someone who has the nous and ability to reinvent himself and change and adapt to suit the times and the situation. I saw a different Rocket last year when the chips were down than the one who coached Swans and Bulldogs. Full complement this year and GCS will be knocking on the door of 8 if not in it.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Coaching contracts at RFC are worth more on the intangibles side now given their history. Not only do they want to ensure a coach at least coaches out his tenure to avoid paying out dead money, but they need to ensure that potential coaches have comfort that they will be similarly looked after and treated with respect at the end in order to attract the best coaching talent at Tigerland. Go back to when Spud the Dud was picked in 1999; no-one else wanted the job. I remember Bomber knocked it back too. So that was a legacy of GR that needed to be dismantled. I read this morning that Leppa may get a year's contract which is what I thought may happen at RFC so apparently its not outside the rules. But my feeling now is that Dimma will get another two years and this will happen prior to Round 1.