Damien Hardwick

Damien Hardwick

Damien Hardwick (right) being interviewed by Seven Network commentator Tom Harley during an AFL match in 2013.
Personal information
Full name Damien Patrick Hardwick
Nickname(s) Dimma
Date of birth (1972-08-18) 18 August 1972
Original team(s) North Melbourne U19's/Springvale F.C
Draft 87th overall, 1992
Height / weight 180 cm / 82 kg
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1994–2001
2002–2004		 Essendon
Port Adelaide
Total:		 153 (13)
054 0(1)
207 (14)
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
2010– Richmond 134 (66–66–2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2004.
3 Coaching statistics correct as of Round 23, 2015.
Career highlights

Damien Patrick Hardwick (born 18 August 1972) is the senior coach of the Richmond Football Club and a former player with Essendon and Port Adelaide in the Australian Football League (AFL).[1]

Early life

He attended St Joseph's College in Ferntree Gully.

Fondly known as "Damo", back then: Hardwick, was always astute in the sporting field, over academic achievements He was a key player in the school's football side, which was highly competitive, against other private schools in the EIS sports program. St Josephs, has over the years produced a number of AFL players.

In football, Hardwick was always on the field, for most of the game, and known to be a tough, hard working, and versatile player, understanding the game well, who kept stability in play for his side.

Although he did not excel, at being the best, and fairest, quite often outclassed by others on field, his all round abilities were vital to the side. It came as a surprise that his AFL career flourished so well, where the careers of others who, got more attention, and achieved more on the field, never went on in the AFL ranks.

His team focussed, stable "always there" Demeaour, also carried on, off the field, by being a well liked friend, or acquaintance to all his school mates. He remained quiet, most of the time and rarely outspoken.

AFL playing career

Beginning his AFL career with the Essendon Football Club in 1994, Hardwick was known as a tough, solid defender. His aggressive nature sometimes got him into trouble at the AFL Tribunal. He was a crucial part of Essendon's 2000 premiership side.[2]

He was traded from Essendon to the Port Adelaide Football Club and played with the side in the twilight of his career, until his retirement in 2004.[2]

He played a big part in Port's premiership win of 2004. His role in the Grand Final was invaluable as he won three free kicks at crucial times, including a reversal against Jason Akermanis which cost the Brisbane Lions a shot at goal.

AFL coaching career

In 2005 Hardwick began working as an assistant coach under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn.

In 2007 Hardwick was shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Melbourne Football Club, however he was unsuccessful, with the position going to Dean Bailey. Following this application he was also shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Essendon Football Club to replace the outgoing Kevin Sheedy however he was overlooked in favour of former Richmond captain Matthew Knights.

On August 25, 2009 Hardwick received his first senior coaching job when he was appointed as the senior coach of Richmond for three years.[3]

In March 2012, Hardwick agreed to a two-year contract extension.[4]

On 11 December 2013, club president, Peggy O'Neal, announced that Hardwick has accepted a two-year contract extension that ties him to the club at least until the end of the 2016 season.[5]

2010 season

Hardwick's first season at Richmond did not begin well, with nine straight losses to start the season as well as a few disciplinary issues arising at the club. However, in Round 10 the Tigers had a breakthrough win; defeating Port Adelaide by 47 points in extremely wet conditions in Adelaide. They also set a new record for the most tackles ever made in an AFL match (142) since records began in 1987,[6] and kept Port Adelaide to their lowest ever score.[7] The club went on to win five more games making a total of six in Hardwick’s first season. They finished the season in 15th position.[8]

2013 season

In 2013, Hardwick coached Richmond to its first finals series since 2001, and only its third since 1982. Carlton defeated Richmond by 20 points in the elimination final after the Tigers led by 26 points at half-time, eliminating Richmond from the finals series.[9][10]

2014 season

In 2014, Hardwick's team started the year very poorly, having a win-loss record of 3-10 at one stage. But remarkably, the Tigers went on to win the last nine matches of the home and away season just making it into the finals. Richmond were however beaten convincingly by Port Adelaide by 57 points in the Elimination Final, finishing the season in eighth place.

2015 Season

Hardwick began the 2015 season under pressure to make amends for their past two failed Elimination Finals. It didn't start well, losing 4 out of the first 6 before recovering to finish the season in 5th place with 15 wins, same ladder position and win-loss record as 2013. Richmond came up against North Melbourne in this years Elimination Final, but once again failed and Hardwick's team suffered their third consecutive first week finals exit.

Statistics

Playing statistics

[11]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team # Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
1994 Essendon 39 17 6 4 176 107 283 62 29 0.4 0.2 10.4 6.3 16.6 3.6 1.7
1995 Essendon 39 16 2 1 123 97 220 38 31 0.1 0.1 7.7 6.1 13.8 2.4 1.9
1996 Essendon 39 17 1 1 170 102 272 60 22 0.1 0.1 10.0 6.0 16.0 3.5 1.3
1997 Essendon 39 15 3 2 177 87 264 55 26 0.2 0.1 11.8 5.8 17.6 3.7 1.7
1998 Essendon 11 23 0 1 325 117 442 87 43 0.0 0.0 14.1 5.1 19.2 3.8 1.9
1999 Essendon 11 20 0 0 246 108 354 51 32 0.0 0.0 12.3 5.4 17.7 2.6 1.6
2000 Essendon 11 24 0 1 270 172 442 71 55 0.0 0.0 11.3 7.2 18.4 3.0 2.3
2001 Essendon 11 21 1 0 203 155 358 72 41 0.0 0.0 9.7 7.4 17.0 3.4 2.0
2002 Port Adelaide 11 20 0 1 182 121 303 58 50 0.0 0.1 9.1 6.1 15.2 2.9 2.5
2003 Port Adelaide 11 20 0 2 154 111 265 57 42 0.0 0.1 7.7 5.6 13.3 2.9 2.1
2004 Port Adelaide 11 14 1 0 80 86 166 34 27 0.1 0.0 5.7 6.1 11.9 2.4 1.9
Career 207 14 13 2106 1263 3369 645 398 0.1 0.1 10.2 6.1 16.3 3.1 1.9

Coaching statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2016 season[12]
Legend
 W  Wins  L  Losses  D  Draws  W%  Winning percentage  LP  Ladder position  LT  League teams
Season Team Games W L D W % LP LT
2010 Richmond 22 6 16 0 27.3% 15 16
2011 Richmond 22 8 13 1 38.6% 12 17
2012 Richmond 22 10 11 1 47.7% 12 18
2013 Richmond 23 15 8 0 65.2% 5 18
2014 Richmond 23 12 11 0 52.2% 8 18
2015 Richmond 23 15 8 0 65.2% 5 18
2016 Richmond 22 8 14 0 36.4% 13 18
Career totals 157 74 81 2 47.8%

Honours and achievements

Personal life

Hardwick is married to Danielle and they have three children, two girls, a Rioli and a boy.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Staff Members". Richmond Football Club. Richmond Football Club. 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2003). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (5th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 293–294. ISBN 1-74095-032-1.
  3. ↑ Vaughan, Roger (26 August 2009). "Hardwick appointed Richmond coach in three-year deal". Perth Now. News Ltd. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "Tigers re-sign Hardwick to new deal". ABC News. ABC. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "Damien Hardwick gets two-year contract extension". The Age. Fairfax Media. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Most Tackles In A Game (1987–2012)".
  7. ↑ Tigers maul Power
  8. ↑ 2010 results from AFL tables]
  9. ↑ Finals-bound Richmond has plenty to prove says coach Damien Hardwick, The Herald Sun, 16 August 2013
  10. ↑ Carlton knows Richmond out of finals with 20-point MCG win to qualify for AFL semi-final, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 8 September 2013
  11. ↑ Damien Hardwick's player profile at AFL Tables
  12. ↑ "Damien Hardwick's coaching profile". AFL Tables.
  13. ↑ Connolly, Rohan (19 June 2010). "What have I got myself in for?". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 April 2014.

External links

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