Opinion
Four years ago, almost to the week, Shaun Grigg stepped up in front of his Richmond teammates and called time on his AFL playing career.
Knee and hip injuries had prevented Grigg from playing so far in the 2019 season and it was clear to him that it would be a long road back to fitness.
The then 31-year-old was contracted until the end of the year, but with the AFL’s new mid-season rookie-draft on the horizon, he made the selfless decision to step away early and open up a spot on Richmond’s list.
“I can’t help on the field this year, but this might be my gift in helping the club off the field… although it’s difficult to make the decision to call time on my own career, it may give the club a chance to provide someone else an opportunity,” Grigg said in his announcement.
With that pick in the rookie draft the Tigers selected Marlion Pickett, who four months later went on to poll third in the Norm Smith medal, on debut, in Richmond’s 2019 Grand Final triumph.
After the game, Grigg and Pickett embraced at the centre of the MCG. Two men who will forever be inexplicably linked by courage and sacrifice.
This morning, Damien Hardwick follows in Grigg’s footsteps, by stepping away from his position as head coach of the Richmond Football Club.
Hardwick will go down as one of Richmond’s greatest all-time coaches. 307 games, 170 wins, 10 finals victories and three premierships in the yellow and black.
However, Hardwick’s on field prowess is rarely more than a footnote when he’s talked about by his players and staff.
Revered for his ability to create genuine relationships and trust with those that he works with, Hardwick is more often praised as a teacher and mentor rather than just a tactician – of which he is undoubtably proficient.
President of Richmond, John O’Rourke echoes a similar assessment of Hardwick’s kind and nurturing nature.
“While his three Premierships will be the headline, he has given this club so much more. He taught us about genuine care, connection, and the power of storytelling. He loved his players, and they loved him,” he said.
Damien Hardwick (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
After winning three flags for the Tigers, Hardwick has earnt the right to tell his own goodbye story. Despite relatively poorer results over the last few seasons, he has always had the support of the board, players and supporters alike.
The Tiger Army wouldn’t have felt aggrieved if Hardwick were to run out the season and a half left on his contract in one last push for a final taste of ultimate glory.
Instead, Hardwick has granted his faithful an 18-month jump start on the next chapter of the Richmond Football Club.
“It is a measure of the man that he has made this decision in what he sees as the best interests of the Club. Selflessness is one of his great qualities; for that, Damien is and always will be revered as a Richmond man,” says O’Rourke.
Hardwick is recognising within himself that he longer has the drive to compete at the highest level. He says himself that he feels like he’s given all he’s got, and tried everything he can.
“I’ve pushed every button I can, I’ve tried to cook the sausages a thousand different ways, and I couldn’t find a thousand and one,” he says.
By stepping away now, Hardwick is raising the football club above an individual, giving them his permission to look into the future, without the fear of disrespecting a legend of the present.
Like Grigg, one last act of selflessness will assuredly link him with any success Richmond enjoys in the near future.
A courageous sacrifice by one of the Tigers’ most revered stalwarts.
Farewell, Damien Hardwick.
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