With Richmond set to advance its coaching search over the coming weeks, two of the game’s greats have mail on a left-field candidate for the role.
The Herald Sun reports the Tigers are set to ramp up their search by commencing the interview process, which will include Andrew McQualter, following triple-premiership coach Damien Hardwick’s shock mid-season resignation.
The report suggested Melbourne’s Adem Yze and Troy Chaplin, Sydney’s Don Pyke and Dean Cox, Carlton’s Ash Hansen, Essendon’s Daniel Giansiracusa, Port Adelaide’s Josh Carr, St Kilda’s Corey Enright and Collingwood’s Justin Leppitsch could be part of that process and named premiership Tiger now Cats assistant Shaun Grigg as a “wildcard.”
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Speaking on SEN Breakfast, former Demons skipper Garry Lyon noted “all the normal suspects are going to get trotted out” before both he and Essendon legend Tim Watson revealed they’d heard the same name as a contender — Magpies line coach Hayden Skipworth.
“There’s a lot of good people at Collingwood and Craig McRae deserves all the credit and Justin Leppitsch and Brendan Bolton get lots of credit. (But) I hear Skipworth has been enormous and anyone going down this path would be negligent (not to involve him in the process,” Lyon said on SEN radio.
“You and I both heard the name Skipworth. Watch this space.”
Skipworth, who played 55 AFL games for Adelaide and Essendon, first worked an assistant at the Bombers before moving to Collingwood in 2020.
Watson added: “I hear great things about him. He is a very engaging personality and terrific with people.
“I don’t know if he’s got his sign up outside ready to coach or not, maybe he thinks he needs more experience.
“His name has come through.”
Lyon also revealed Crows assistant Nathan Van Berlo as another name he’s heard linked to the role.
It comes after McQualter, who’s guided the Tigers to a 3-2 record since taking over as interim coach, said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 this week he’s yet to learn what the interview process would entail, but reaffirmed his eagerness to retain the role permanently.
“I just rang (Tigers general manager) Tim Livingstone over the break and said I’m loving the opportunity I’ve got, and I’m keen to have a crack at it,” he revealed.
“From there, the club will run a thorough process.
“They are very smart bunch of people. Whenever that begins, I’ll go with the flow and see what happens.”
