Damien Hardwick
Encyclopedia
Damien Patrick Hardwick is a former Australian rules football
er and the coach of the Richmond Football Club
.
in Ferntree Gully.
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.
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.
He played a big part in Port's premiership win of 2004, his niggly role in the Grand Final invaluable as he won three free kicks at crucial times, including a reversal against Jason Akermanis
which cost the incensed Lion a shot at goal.
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 was successful, in being appointed as the new senior coach of the Richmond Football Club
.
Two more wins followed, a 49 point thrashing of 2006 Premiers the West Coast Eagles
and a 13 point victory over the Brisbane Lions
at the Gabba, a venue Richmond have now not lost at since 2004.
Their best win so far, was a nailbiting 4 point victory over the Swans at the MCG, despite trailing by 33 points midway through the 3rd quarter. It also ended an eight-match losing streak against the Swans, which started with a 118-point hammering in round 7, 2006 and ended with a 55-point hammering in round 3, 2010.
Two further wins followed against and , keeping the Tigers away from wooden spoon contention.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and the coach of the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
.
Early life
He attended St Joseph's CollegeSt. Joseph's College, Ferntree Gully
St. Josephs College is a Roman Catholic boys' secondary school in the eastern suburb of Ferntree Gully, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-History:...
in Ferntree Gully.
AFL playing career
Beginning his AFL career with the Essendon Football ClubEssendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in 1994, Hardwick was known as a tough, solid defender. His aggressive nature sometimes got him into trouble at the AFL Tribunal
AFL Tribunal
The AFL Tribunal is the disciplinary tribunal of the Australian Football League .-Points system:Source: AFL Tribunal 2011 Guidebook...
. He was a crucial part of Essendon's 2000 premiership side.
He was traded from Essendon to the Port Adelaide Football Club
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
and played with the side in the twilight of his career, until his retirement in 2004.
He played a big part in Port's premiership win of 2004, his niggly role in the Grand Final invaluable as he won three free kicks at crucial times, including a reversal against Jason Akermanis
Jason Akermanis
Jason Dean Akermanis is an Australian rules football player. He is a Brownlow Medallist and triple premiership player who played for the Brisbane Bears, Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs...
which cost the incensed Lion a shot at goal.
AFL coaching career
In 2005 Hardwick began working as an assistant coach under Alastair ClarksonAlastair Clarkson
Alastair Clarkson is a former Australian rules footballer and current coach of the Hawthorn Football Club.- North Melbourne :...
at Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
.
In 2007 Hardwick was shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, however he was unsuccessful, with the position going to Dean Bailey
Dean Bailey
Dean Bailey is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon, a former coach of the Melbourne Football Club, as well as a former assistant coach at Port Adelaide.-Coaching career:...
. Following this application he was also shortlisted for the senior coaching job at Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
to replace the outgoing Kevin Sheedy however he was overlooked in favour of former Richmond captain Matthew Knights
Matthew Knights
Matthew Knights is a former Australian rules football player, having played in the midfield for the Richmond Football Club from 1988 to 2002. He went on to a coaching career, most notably as head coach of the Essendon Football Club from 2008 to 2010...
.
On August 25, 2009 Hardwick was successful, in being appointed as the new senior coach of the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
.
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; smashing Port Adelaide in extremely wet conditions in Adelaide by 47 points. They also set a new record for the most tackles ever made in an AFL match since records have been kept since 1999, and kept Port Adelaide to their lowest ever score.Two more wins followed, a 49 point thrashing of 2006 Premiers the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
and a 13 point victory over the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
at the Gabba, a venue Richmond have now not lost at since 2004.
Their best win so far, was a nailbiting 4 point victory over the Swans at the MCG, despite trailing by 33 points midway through the 3rd quarter. It also ended an eight-match losing streak against the Swans, which started with a 118-point hammering in round 7, 2006 and ended with a 55-point hammering in round 3, 2010.
Two further wins followed against and , keeping the Tigers away from wooden spoon contention.
Honours and achievements
- North MelbourneNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
Under-19s premiership side 1990, 1991 - EssendonEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
Best and FairestBest and FairestBest and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
1998 - EssendonEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
premiership side 2000 - All-Australian 2000
- International rules series 2000, 2001
- Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football ClubThe Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
premiership side 2004 - HawthornHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
assistant coach premiership side 2008