Former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick will return to the club to farewell champions Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin as the Tigers back a sore star desperate to play in the send-off game.
Hardwick has arrived back in Melbourne after an extended overseas holiday following his resignation as Tigers coach and will be at the MCG when Riewoldt and Cotchin bow out against North Melbourne on Saturday.
It comes as Hardwick is strongly linked to the vacant Gold Coast senior coaching role, while Tigers caretaker coach Andrew McQualter prepares to interview to become his permanent replacement.
McQualter said his focus remained solely on the final two games of the season as his chances of winning the role were seemingly given a boost following the withdrawal of highly rated Power assistant Josh Carr from the process.
“Basically, over the next few weeks, they’ll start interviewing the candidates – for me, it’ll probably be when the season finishes, the interview process will start,” McQualter said.
“I haven’t spent a whole heap of time on it, I just haven’t had the chance at the moment.
“I’ve been supported really well by a bunch of coaches here and staff … that’s been my focus, really.”
McQualter said he had not spoken to Hardwick since his departure overseas but was looking forward to seeing the triple premiership coach at the emotional farewell game.
“He’ll come to the game on the weekend, he’s obviously been so influential to Trent and Jack,” McQualter said.
“We’ll see him at the game, which is awesome. I haven’t spoken to him personally, but I’m really looking forward to seeing him and catching up.
“It is a massive day … we’ve spoken about it to the players this morning – the guys in the room, they’ll talk forever about playing with these two players, so influential to the club and the game.
“And we get one more chance to honour them and play with them and for them.”
McQualter backed Cotchin to make it through his final game after calf soreness forced him out of the round 22 clash against St Kilda, while he said star halfback Daniel Rioli would be given “every chance” to line up alongside his treasured premiership teammates one last time.
Rioli trained on the outskirts of the group at Punt Road on Thursday and was expected to again do little on Friday as he battles an ankle issue that forced him from the field against the Saints.
“(Rioli) didn’t train that much yesterday and won’t do much today, but we’re confident he’ll get to the line,” McQualter said.
“We’ll give him every chance … he’s such an important player for us and he’s had such a long history with Jack and Trent as well.
“(Cotchin) is right to go – he hasn’t trained a lot in the last few weeks, but he’s pretty tough Trent, and we’ll just wheel him out there and I’m sure the competitive beast he is, he’ll get to work once the siren starts.”
