Damien Hardwick [Merged]

[Feeling Tigerish]

Does anyone think any club would be poaching Damien as their head coach?

no

 

[CarnTheTiges]

All fair comment.
However, Hardwick never has been a risk taker, and probably never will be.
He is a process robot who flinches every time he strays out of his game plan straight-jacket, because his coaching instincts for team selection and intra game moves are poor and generally don't come off.
I too want a coach that takes risks, but unless Dimma travelled the road to Damascus in the off season, he ain't that guy.
Given this has been the case for most of his tenure, it's unlikely to change now that he is in the last year of contract.
But there is always that faint glimmer of off-season fools gold hope that, perversely, being in his last year might actually increase his risk taking in team selection and intra game moves.
He could maybe play fit players in form over "experienced" favourites that hardly trouble the statisticians (the number of which have thankfully diminished through retirement).

He could blood more youngsters and give them the experience they need whilst injecting the side with some pace and flair.
He could actually throw off the straight jacket and get on the offensive.
But that could be just off-season fools gold optimism.

You do make some good points and you're on the money with some of them. I do think he's occasionally shown that he can switch things up, the moves don't necessarily work (Rance to the midfield late against North and early against the Pies for instance), but at least he tried them. He also was the one who stuck with the idea of playing Jake King as a forward when he'd been previously played as a small defender, the same move didn't work with Morris. They are indications that he can sometimes think out of the box. He's switched game plans depending on the opposition at times as well, we saw this a few times last year. The early blitz against Freo stands out, no one saw that coming, least of all Fremantle. Some of what he does depends on personnel.
The drafting this year did show that there's a change in the thinking. We drafted for speed and excitement. The guys we picked up were more speculative, outside the solid citizen type we've been selecting in the past. Only seeing what is done in the H&A will tell, but I hope the wheel is turning a little and we'll see some more unpredictable football from the team and the coach. Unpredictable teams are very hard to match up on. Sheedy's habit of playing guys in what seemed odd positions often threw the opposition's plans into disarray and Dimma did play most of his football under Kevin Sheedy, so he must have learned a few tricks from him, as would have Mark Williams.

 

[Slinger]

sorry it offends you :hihi

Doesn't offend me in the slightest. :hihi :hihi :hihi

 

[Tigertough1974]

You do make some good points and you're on the money with some of them. I do think he's occasionally shown that he can switch things up, the moves don't necessarily work (Rance to the midfield late against North and early against the Pies for instance), but at least he tried them. He also was the one who stuck with the idea of playing Jake King as a forward when he'd been previously played as a small defender, the same move didn't work with Morris. They are indications that he can sometimes think out of the box. He's switched game plans depending on the opposition at times as well, we saw this a few times last year. The early blitz against Freo stands out, no one saw that coming, least of all Fremantle. Some of what he does depends on personnel.
The drafting this year did show that there's a change in the thinking. We drafted for speed and excitement. The guys we picked up were more speculative, outside the solid citizen type we've been selecting in the past. Only seeing what is done in the H&A will tell, but I hope the wheel is turning a little and we'll see some more unpredictable football from the team and the coach. Unpredictable teams are very hard to match up on. Sheedy's habit of playing guys in what seemed odd positions often threw the opposition's plans into disarray and Dimma did play most of his football under Kevin Sheedy, so he must have learned a few tricks from him, as would have Mark Williams.

Its funny how many people say good citizens or vanilla yet our culture was Scum like for 30 + years... You need these good citizens as ppl say to change culture and work hard etc...

I think the vanilla and culture is strong enough in % that they decided to take a few speculative and should they come off then we have some amazing players, but you need the core base of honest hard working types to keep these X factors types from straying IMO (and being honest hard working doesn't mean your s struggler, look at Rance, Jack, Lids etc - very honest hard working types but elite!)... We certainly have that now and as such have gone after our missing ingredient!

 

[DLR]

You do make some good points and you're on the money with some of them. I do think he's occasionally shown that he can switch things up, the moves don't necessarily work (Rance to the midfield late against North and early against the Pies for instance), but at least he tried them.

Not sure why, but I seem to recall the suggestion coming from Dimma's wife - that was offered up by him as a bit of a throw away line in a post match interview iirc. (or was that a Wallace comment on something in his past)

 

[CarnTheTiges]

Not sure why, but I seem to recall the suggestion coming from Dimma's wife - that was offered up by him as a bit of a throw away line in a post match interview iirc. (or was that a Wallace comment on something in his past)

The comment about Danielle (his wife) was made on On The Couch, she apparently called him an idiot for trying it in the first place. He did it during the North match, because we were getting flogged and had nothing to lose. He then repeated it at the start of the Collingwood game, but soon moved Rance back where he belongs when it became obvious that the backline were missing him.

 

[yandb]

I took a look at the first half of the North v Richmond game in Tas for the first time. (I recorded it but didn't have the heart to watch it)

The game style was fast and flowing but I noticed that certain personnel struggled with the decision making for this game style.
Houli
Morrris
Hunt
Gordon (from limited opportunities)

Hardwick decided to move away from this game style and go to a more controlled game style which looked good until we hit the Finals.

Maybe if Hardwick was to revisit this game style with a change of personnel he may find that the result may be different.

One thing that didn't change from this game to the EF was that our forward line tactics were as pathetic in the 1st half of this game as in the EF.(why do we have the same forward coach going into next year)

I will look at the second half to see if we made changes to personnel or tactics in the next day or two.

 

[Sintiger]

Other than Caro writing it ... no.

She didn't write it.

 

[houdini]

I agree with your comment, the coach always cops it in the throat.

But there are a number that need to improve not just the coach.

bollocks the butt stops with the coach he has had 6 years to build a list and if the players are not up to it then it is 100 PERCENT THE COACHES FAULT PERIOD

 

[toby64]

I blame Captain Cotchin 9 kicks, Edwards & Brandon Ellis no shows in final against North for not taking the next step not the coach. So you may as well get rid of them then. You can only drag a horse to water!

Yep. And a few others.

The finals *smile* up was down to way more than Dimma's coaching.

As it has been the past three years.

 

[TigerMasochist]

bollocks the butt stops with the coach he has had 6 years to build a list and if the players are not up to it then it is 100 PERCENT THE COACHES FAULT PERIOD

The buck stops with the coach, but he might feel like he's getting it in the butt if our season collapses. Would have thought it's the recruiting depts. fault if the players aren't up to it. Francis n Blair are the ones that pick the draftees n trade players, all the coach does is set a type of player that best fits coaching / game styles.
Dimma will be the one with the proverbials on the line all season, because he's the coach. If our season does go pear shaped then it will be time for a massive review n rejig of all aspects of the club, not just Dimma. Recruiting, trading, coaching n management should all be under the pump as the whole football agenda the club has set up over the last seven years would be seen to be inadequate for ultimate success.

 

[Bullarto Tiger]

The buck stops with the coach, but he might feel like he's getting it in the butt if our season collapses. Would have thought it's the recruiting depts. fault if the players aren't up to it. Francis n Blair are the ones that pick the draftees n trade players, all the coach does is set a type of player that best fits coaching / game styles.
Dimma will be the one with the proverbials on the line all season, because he's the coach. If our season does go pear shaped then it will be time for a massive review n rejig of all aspects of the club, not just Dimma. Recruiting, trading, coaching n management should all be under the pump as the whole football agenda the club has set up over the last seven years would be seen to be inadequate for ultimate success.

Good post, TM.
Your thoughts might prove very profound should things go pear-shaped in 2016.
here's fingers-crossed that RFC and the Tigers have got their collective stuff together, finally, and are ready to gel and combine as never before.
Still think the list is a few short of being top-tier, but there is sufficient potential with this list that the Tigers should really start to believe that they can seriously challenge for the top four.

 

[Tiger Ghost]

According to the HS will have his contract extended before round 1

 

[leon]

According to the HS will have his contract extended before round 1

And now reported on AFL website too but no mention of length/years? Prompted by Norf's extension of Scott. Looks like he doesn't have RFC backing if he is left suspended in 2016 and will cause a media frenzy. Little choice but to act, such a bad look.
I can accept this but think it should only be for 2017 as, if things go pear-shaped in 2016, need to cut our losses.

 

[Carter]

Performance triggerz

 

[asian tetley]

Oh that's right Peggy, Damien's done a good job apart from the slight hiccup of being out coached in 3 successive elimination finals.
Let's extend his contract again and become the leagues laughing stock.

Peggy and Benny what a comedy. :clap

 

[Puntrd64]

Great message an extension, tells the players the coach doesn't have to perform, why should you ?
(By comparison, after six years Hafey had two premierships and a runners up and was about to go back to back, for 4 cups in 8 years). But hey ho he was never "locked away" because of his results.

 

[Mappa]

Don't see the alternative at the present.

Extension with performance clauses sounds the right answer.

If we need to move on to a new coach we need to do it with as little financial pain as possible.

 

[waiting]

I agree with the extension as it will take pressure of the coach and club during the season, BUT there has to be clauses in place if things go bad, we don't make finals or make a EF and lose again. There just has to be.!

I personally wouldn't give 2 or 3, but 1 year extension, so to end of 2017 and access. He has deserved that right as we were a bottom club, poor list and he has rebuilt it with a good culture.

Now it's about delivering something to us long suffering and loyal supporters. He has 2 years to do it!

 

[Rancey18]

1 year extension with performance clauses in place regarding our performance in 2016.