Damien Hardwick

In 2020, Hardwick coached the Victoria State of Origin side in the one-off 2020 State of Origin match that was played on 28 February 2020 at Marvel Stadium.

In 2019, Hardwick coached Richmond to another Premiership and their 12th overall. Richmond beat GWS Giants by 89 points.

In 2019, Damien Hardwick became a two time premiership coach by guiding Richmond to their second premiership in three years and twelfth overall with a resounding 89 point win over GWS Giants.

In 2018, Damien Hardwick followed up his successful 2017 season by coaching Richmond to their first minor premiership since 1982. However, Richmond fell short in the Preliminary Final by 39 points at the hands of Collingwood.

In 2017, Hardwick coached Richmond to their first premiership since 1980 and their 11th overall with a 48 point victory over the Adelaide Crows.

In 2017, Hardwick coached Richmond to their eleventh VFL/AFL premiership, defeating the Adelaide Crows by 48 points. After becoming the first coach in 37 years to guide Richmond to a Grand Final win in the 2017 AFL grand FInal, Hardwick was chosen as the AFLCA Coach of the Year. He joined a very small group to win three AFL premierships with three clubs as player and coach and ending a 37 Year Drought.

In 2016 Hardwick agreed to a two year contract extension to the end of the 2018 season.

2016 was not a successful year for Hardwick as the Tigers finished the season with just 8 wins from 22 games. The highlight was the round 8 win against the Sydney Swans when Sam Lloyd kicked a goal after the siren. They finished 13th on the premiership ladder, their worst ladder position in four seasons.

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 the Elimination Final, but once again failed and Hardwick's team suffered their third consecutive first week finals exit.

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 their last nine matches of the home and away season to just make 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.

On 11 December 2013, club president, Peggy O'Neal, announced that Hardwick had accepted a two-year contract extension that tied him to the club at least until the end of the 2016 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.

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

Richmond over the next 2 seasons continue to show improvement winning 8 games and draw in 2011 improving that to 10 wins and draw in 2012.

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

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.

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

He was traded from Essendon to the Port Adelaide Football Club and played with the side until his retirement in 2004.

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

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.

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, and kept Port Adelaide to their lowest ever score. 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.

Damien Patrick Hardwick (born 18 August 1972) is an Australian rules football coach and former player. He has been the senior coach of the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) since 2010. His playing career as a defender comprised 153 games for Essendon (1994–2001) and 54 games for Port Adelaide (2002–2004). He won premierships with each club, in 2000 and 2004 respectively. He later coached Richmond to the 2017 and 2019 premierships.