He spent years building Richmond to the point where we could be contenders Then delivered on 3 flags.
I reckon he didn't want to do it again, imagine the work and the pressure he was under for all of those years. I reckon he had just had enough at Richmond and knew the whole thing was getting a bit stale. Plus, coaching a big Melbourne club is a lot more stressful than GC.
So, he left and decent timing really. The players ageing, lower draft picks etc. Not sure Hardwick or the club would have benefitted from trying the next rebuild with the same coach.
GC have a good list, plus, it is a young good list with some good prospects coming through their academy (what's with academies, do we even have one, did they find the worst academy just for us?) so the prospects there are good.
Good luck to him, nice job, warm climate, some decent prospects with their list. I reckon he will do well. Stuart Dew won't get the credit but he is the one who got them to this point where they are a decent team. GC have won some good games this year and should improve anyway. Dimma is a good coach and they will get a bounce next year and should be in finals.
Won't hear a bad word from me about the guy who got us 3 flags after 37 years of pain.
DS