Richmond CEO Brendon Gale says Richmond has time to get ahead of what could be a coaching merry-go-round at the end of the year thanks to Damien Hardwick’s decision to step away early.
Andrew McQualter has been standing in for Hardwick since Round 11 after the three-time premiership coach cited burnout in his decision to leave Punt Road.
While the Tigers don’t have a timeline to approach candidates, Gale says they’ll be at the front of the pack courtesy of Hardwick’s call.
“One of the benefits of Damien selflessly pulling up is it gives us time and space to get ahead of the game… it’s about getting the right process and if you get the right process you’re more likely to make a strong decision,” he told reporters on Tuesday night.
Gale – as the primary decision maker in Hardwick’s replacement – also confirmed the club would seek internal and external feedback before detailing the key traits Richmond needs in a coach.
“I think more than ever, emotional intelligence. Highly intelligent, have a great empathy and understanding and the ability to build relationships is becoming more and more important,” he stated.
But the Tigers might already have their next senior coach in the hot seat.
McQualter has coached two wins from his three games in charge, including a 15-point upset over Fremantle on the weekend.
A former St Kilda and Gold Coast player, McQualter had flown under the radar but is now seen as one of the leading contenders for the vacant job.
“He’s going well, he’s good. We were spoiled for choice and we had a number of coaches who had coached their own team at various levels, he was the only one who hadn’t,” Gale explained.
“So we thought it’d be good to have a look at him and he’s got great connection with the group and great connection with our club, so he knows what makes us us.
“We’ve got a bit of bounce and a bit of energy and we’re competitive and we're a bit more recognisable. It’s always nice to win.”
But the CEO added McQualter wasn’t expected to play a major role in the club’s list management.
With the Tigers’ improved form in recent weeks, Richmond is only a game and a half outside the eight and could be knocking on the door with a win over St Kida on Saturday.
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