In the wake of Richmond’s announcement that it had extended Damien Hardwick’s coaching contract for a further two years beyond 2016, the Tigers’ supposedly ruthless reputation for replacing coaches is surely now dead and buried.
Yes, there was a time when the Club operated under a coaching merry-go-round system.
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From the time Tommy Hafey decided to depart Punt Road at the completion of the 1976 season after a decade in charge, up until the end of the 20th century, Richmond had 10 coaching changes – Barry Richardson (1977-78), Tony Jewell (1979-81), Francis Bourke (1982-83), Mike Patterson (1984), Paul Sproule (1985), Tony Jewell’s second stint (1986-87), Kevin Bartlett (1988-91), John Northey (1992-95), Robert Walls (1996-97), Jeff Gieschen (1998-99).
Since then, over the past 16 years, the Tigers have had just three permanent coaches – Danny Frawley (2000-04), Terry Wallace (2005-09), and Hardwick from 2010 onwards.
Only three league clubs have had fewer coaches during that period – Hawthorn, Geelong and Collingwood, all with two.
The fact that Richmond’s past three coaches now feature in the top-10 list of all-time coaching longevity at the Club – Hardwick, third on 135 games, Frawley, equal sixth on 113 games, and Wallace ninth on 99 games, undoubtedly highlights the security of tenure for coaches at Tigerland in recent times.
