See Damien Hardwick’s prophetic interview moments before coaching the Tigers for the first time

The emotional farewell speech given by departing Richmond icon Damien Hardwick on Tuesday put a full stop on the prophetic promise he made in an interview given just minutes before his debut as the club’s coach. 

On that day in 2010, Andy Maher of The Front Bar fame interviewed Hardwick as he casually strolled toward his seat in the Tigers’ box at the MCG.

‘It’s finally here, how are you feeling?’ Maher asked.

‘I’m a little nervous and a little excited. It’s hard to make the difference between them,’ Hardwick replied.

‘But, look I just can’t wait. It’s an enormous opportunity for our blokes to set a new era for Richmond going forward.’

A youthful Damien Hardwick predicted Richmond’s future when he interviewed moments before kick off by Andy Maher in 2010 – his first ever gig as Tigers coach

On that very first afternoon, after inheriting a team that was at an all-time low ebb in its long life, Hardwick lost.

Richmond hadn’t been a contender for most of the previous 30 years so it was a result the fans were used to – but that didn’t stop ‘Dimma’ from chasing that bright new era for the club.

Another eight games into his first season at the helm, the Tigers hadn’t won a single match and were unkindly labelled ‘the worst team since Fitzroy’ in reference to the sorry Lions outfit that went 1-21 in their last season in the competition in 1996.  

The wins came eventually but it wasn’t until 2013 that Hardwick’s men made their first preliminary final.

They lost, but hope was on the horizon.

For the next two seasons they made the same preliminary final and got the same result, before an injury-plagued year followed in 2016 when the team finished in 13th spot.

Some at Punt Road wanted him punted.

In his farewell speech today he made reference to that year.  

‘It’s a tough gig being an AFL coach, but by far the Richmond Football Club has been the love of my life,’ he said. 

‘They gave me an opportunity, the best resources possible, and I can’t thank you enough during 2016 when you could have easily tipped me out at any stage.

‘The journey we responded to after that is a testament to what we created.’

In 2023 at his farewell press conference, Damien Hardwick (pictured) was emotional but his 2010 words had come true

Hardwick’s renaissance began the afternoon the Richmond board kept him on after that disastrous campaign.

In 2017 the Tigerland faithful roared their approval as the 37-year premiership drought ended when Richmond upset Adelaide by 48 points.

More flags followed in 2019 and in 2020 with the distinctive Hardwick method over footy played at supersonic speed all over the park heavily influencing other teams.

And that, right there, was the legacy he spoke about on Tuesday.

In 2010 Hardwick could only imagine and strive for the Tigers’ new era.

On Tuesday, in his final interview as coach, he smiled, became emotional, even choked back tears after delivering on the promise he made 14 years earlier.