AFL great Brendan Fevola has floated a wild theory over where departed Richmond coach Damien Hardwick might end up.
Hardwick officially announced his decision to depart as Richmond’s head coach on Tuesday after news broke over the bombshell move on Monday night.
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The three-time Tigers premiership coach faced the press on Tuesday and delivered the reasons behind his decision to walk away as he fought back tears.
“It all just became a bit too much for me,” he said.
“I wasn’t going to be the coach of Richmond next year and I made the fatal mistake of watching ‘The Last Dance’ (documentary) and I thought what may have been.
“Once I decided that that side of the equation was slipping away I started to question myself.
“As soon as I started to ask the question more, I started to understand what the question was going to be. If I couldn’t give 100 per cent, there was no way I was going to coach this football club.”
Highly rated Richmond assistant coach Andrew McQualter has been appointed interim coach effective immediately and the club is now looking to find its next senior coach.
Hardwick’s decision in the middle of the season is expected to spark a coaching domino effect around the AFL.
And Fevola has thrown out exactly where he believes Hardwick should end up.
The suggestion from the superstar forward is none other than his old stomping ground with a major piece of intel those inside the Blues walls may have already placed a phone call.
The Blues after a barnstorming start to the season have crashed back to reality with current coach Michael Voss’ seat growing hotter with every passing round.
“I think that there is one spot that he may be coaching, and I don’t necessarily want this to happen, but the Carlton Football Club are struggling,” Fevola said on his Fox FM breakfast show.
“I may have a little knowledge that maybe some high Carlton people have got wind and reached out to Hardwick to see where he’s at. It’s not just me thinking this.”
Carlton president Luke Sayers moved to ease pressure on Voss, declaring he’ll “absolutely” continue as coach even if the Blues miss the finals this season.
Fevola said the formula for Voss to remain in the role was simple, he has to put wins on the board.
“He can turn that around by winning games, and then he won’t sacked. That’s what happens, you win games, you keep your job,” Fevola said.
“If Carlton can turn it around, I think Vossy will be there for a long time but if they keep going down the road they’re going and losing games, that seat might open up. With Carlton, they can sack a coach pretty quick, and they’ve been known to do that. It’s a hot chair.”
Hardwick won’t lead the side out this Sunday with his almost 14-year tenure coming to an end effective immediately.
The coaching carousel is expected to go into overdrive with a number of current coaches facing the axe come season’s end.
