Grockadoc
Brownlow Medallist
- Jul 25, 2008
- 25,234
- 48,148
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- Fighting Furies, Man Utd, Cavaliers
DAMIEN HARDWICK RESIGNS, RFC APPOINTS UNKNOWN COACH FOR 2016:
The Richmond Football Club has been thrown a curveball with the resignation of Damien Hardwick during the preseason of 2016 and sprung a surprise appointing previously unknown Lachlan Smith as head coach of the playing squad on a two year contract, set to expire at the end of the 2017 season. Richmond CEO Brendan Gale spoke at the press conference naming Smith as coach, and had the following to say.
"The Richmond Football Club prides itself on character, and it's professionalism. This was evident in our search for a new head coach, after Damien Hardwick resigned from the position citing emotional fatigue. First and foremost, I and the rest of the Richmond Football Club would like to thank Damien for his work at the RFC over the last 6 years. He started out in arguably the most difficult job in football, and has steadily improved the club each and every year he has been at the helm. He has done a fantastic job considering from where he started to where the club is at now. We also wish Damien all the best in whatever he chooses to pursue in the future.
With Damien's resignation on the eve of the 2016 season, we had to turn our attentions to finding a replacement after Mark Williams advised us he wouldn't consider taking over as head coach. We interviewed many fantastic applicants, each one providing a dedicated powerpoint presentation highlighting their thoughts on the club, the playing list and it's strengths and weaknesses, and what they believe the next step for this club is and how they intend to go about that.
Many of these applicants had immaculate credentials, but their personalities and dedication were not what we, as a club, are about, or expect from those involved with it. That is, until Lachlan presented his powerpoint. His thoughts on the club were honest and based on facts and stats. He didn't tell us what we wanted to hear, but rather what we needed to hear. He outlined his plans for the playing list to combat weaknesses and how to complement the strengths of it. Having worked as a head coach at TAC cup level, and working part time as an opposition analyst, he identified some players that he believes would allow the RFC to take the next step in winning a premiership.
He highlighted the game plan he will have us working on, and each players individual roles and what he expects of them, not just on game day, but off the field as well. Despite his obvious football prowess, it is his endeavour, his character and professionalism that assures us he is the right man to bring the Richmond Football Club it's 11th premiership. We are happy to have Lachlan on board, and wish him the best for the next two seasons as the head coach of the RFC."
The Richmond Football Club has been thrown a curveball with the resignation of Damien Hardwick during the preseason of 2016 and sprung a surprise appointing previously unknown Lachlan Smith as head coach of the playing squad on a two year contract, set to expire at the end of the 2017 season. Richmond CEO Brendan Gale spoke at the press conference naming Smith as coach, and had the following to say.
"The Richmond Football Club prides itself on character, and it's professionalism. This was evident in our search for a new head coach, after Damien Hardwick resigned from the position citing emotional fatigue. First and foremost, I and the rest of the Richmond Football Club would like to thank Damien for his work at the RFC over the last 6 years. He started out in arguably the most difficult job in football, and has steadily improved the club each and every year he has been at the helm. He has done a fantastic job considering from where he started to where the club is at now. We also wish Damien all the best in whatever he chooses to pursue in the future.
With Damien's resignation on the eve of the 2016 season, we had to turn our attentions to finding a replacement after Mark Williams advised us he wouldn't consider taking over as head coach. We interviewed many fantastic applicants, each one providing a dedicated powerpoint presentation highlighting their thoughts on the club, the playing list and it's strengths and weaknesses, and what they believe the next step for this club is and how they intend to go about that.
Many of these applicants had immaculate credentials, but their personalities and dedication were not what we, as a club, are about, or expect from those involved with it. That is, until Lachlan presented his powerpoint. His thoughts on the club were honest and based on facts and stats. He didn't tell us what we wanted to hear, but rather what we needed to hear. He outlined his plans for the playing list to combat weaknesses and how to complement the strengths of it. Having worked as a head coach at TAC cup level, and working part time as an opposition analyst, he identified some players that he believes would allow the RFC to take the next step in winning a premiership.
He highlighted the game plan he will have us working on, and each players individual roles and what he expects of them, not just on game day, but off the field as well. Despite his obvious football prowess, it is his endeavour, his character and professionalism that assures us he is the right man to bring the Richmond Football Club it's 11th premiership. We are happy to have Lachlan on board, and wish him the best for the next two seasons as the head coach of the RFC."
