Damien Patrick Hardwick (born 18 August 1972) is a former Australian rules footballer and the coach of the Richmond Football Club.

[edit] Early life

Attended St Joseph's College in Ferntree Gully.

[edit] AFL playing career

Beginning his 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.

He moved 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 3 free kicks at crucial times, including a reversal against Jason Akermanis which cost the incensed Lion a shot at goal.

[edit] AFL coaching career

In 2005 Hardwick began working as an assistant coach under Alistair 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.

Hardwick was also overlooked for the head coaching position at the North Melbourne Football Club, at the end of 2009, with the club favouring Collingwood assistant coach and former Brisbane Lion Brad Scott.

On August 25, 2009 Hardwick was successful, in being appointed as the new senior coach of the Richmond Football Club.

[edit] Honours and achievements

• North Melbourne Under-19s premiership side 1990, 1991
• Essendon Best and Fairest 1998
• Essendon premiership side 2000
• All-Australian 2000
• International rules series 2000, 2001
• Port Adelaide premiership side 2004

[edit] References

This biography of a living person does not cite any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. (September 2007) Find sources: (Damien Hardwick – news, books, scholar)

[edit] External links

• Damien Hardwick's statistics from AFL Tables

This Australian rules football biography of a person born in the 1970s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e