Hardwick Throws Hat In Another Coaching Ring
By Lou Sporlgett for spittle.com
AFL coaching aspirant Damien Hardwick has put his hand up for another coaching opportunity. The Hawthorn assistant coach, who was rejected by the Kangaroos but remains in the running for the senior coaching position at Richmond – and as a coach-in-waiting at Port Adelaide – has sounded out the Australian Cricket Board following Australia’s loss in the 2009 Ashes Test series in England.
“There’s a leadership vacuum in the Australian team,” Hardwick told spittle.com. “They didn’t rebuild properly after the retirements of Warne, Gilchrist, Hayden and McGrath, and now they’re left with a bunch of 30-year-olds who are overrated by the current coaching regime.
“If I was coaching Australia I’d cut anyone over the age of 30. Even Ricky Ponting. I know the fans love him but there’s no room for sentiment if you’re going to make your mark on an organisation.
“I’d also cut the entire coaching panel. And the selection committee. In fact, I’d cut the Australian Cricket Board if given half a chance.”
Hardwick said he was confident that his lack of cricket experience would not count against him. “I’ve done my bloody apprenticeship,” he said. “I want to coach, and I want to coach now!”
But Hardwick may face some stiff opposition if the coaching position of the Australian team comes up for grabs, with former Tigers coach Terry Wallace quick to put himself in the cricket spotlight. “I don’t think we have to bottom out,” Wallace said. “We have some good juniors to work with, and when I was at Richmond I really connected with the Generation Y kiddies. In fact, I’m the guy who pioneered coaching via text messages and Twitter.”
By Lou Sporlgett for spittle.com
AFL coaching aspirant Damien Hardwick has put his hand up for another coaching opportunity. The Hawthorn assistant coach, who was rejected by the Kangaroos but remains in the running for the senior coaching position at Richmond – and as a coach-in-waiting at Port Adelaide – has sounded out the Australian Cricket Board following Australia’s loss in the 2009 Ashes Test series in England.
“There’s a leadership vacuum in the Australian team,” Hardwick told spittle.com. “They didn’t rebuild properly after the retirements of Warne, Gilchrist, Hayden and McGrath, and now they’re left with a bunch of 30-year-olds who are overrated by the current coaching regime.
“If I was coaching Australia I’d cut anyone over the age of 30. Even Ricky Ponting. I know the fans love him but there’s no room for sentiment if you’re going to make your mark on an organisation.
“I’d also cut the entire coaching panel. And the selection committee. In fact, I’d cut the Australian Cricket Board if given half a chance.”
Hardwick said he was confident that his lack of cricket experience would not count against him. “I’ve done my bloody apprenticeship,” he said. “I want to coach, and I want to coach now!”
But Hardwick may face some stiff opposition if the coaching position of the Australian team comes up for grabs, with former Tigers coach Terry Wallace quick to put himself in the cricket spotlight. “I don’t think we have to bottom out,” Wallace said. “We have some good juniors to work with, and when I was at Richmond I really connected with the Generation Y kiddies. In fact, I’m the guy who pioneered coaching via text messages and Twitter.”
