Damien Hardwick will be coaching Gold Coast in 2024.
That is according to Channel 9’s Eddie McGuire who says a deal for the three-time Richmond premiership coach to head to the Suns is basically done and dusted.
“Lock it in,” McGuire said on Footy Classified.
“He will be the coach.
“This is how far it has got - the Gold Coast Suns made an entreaty to the AFL to see if they could get some money for marketing reasons for Damien Hardwick.
“They received a flat ‘no’, but the bottom line is the deal is just about done.”
The interesting wrinkle is that Hardwick is reportedly keen to lure Brisbane’s GM of footy Danny Daly to the club, according to Damian Barrett.
Daly worked as Hardwick’s assistant at Richmond in his early days at Punt Road.
“He’s been doing a lot of thinking and a lot of that thought process has been around who will be his assistants both in the coaching and football departments,” said Barrett.
“One person in significant Damien Hardwick thought right now is Danny Daly, a person he spent a lot of time with at Richmond back when he started in 2010.
“He is someone who Hardwick would like to work with if the Brisbane Lions allow that to happen.”
McGuire also reported that Hardwick will not be on exorbitant money on the Gold Coast, preferring to leave some in the soft cap so the club can lure the appropriate football people to work alongside the Essendon and Port Adelaide premiership player.
“The thing I’m hearing out of the Gold Coast, which is gratifying really, is that Damien Hardwick isn’t shaking the bank upside down and keeping it all for himself,” McGuire added.
“My understanding is that his contract is very much within the realms of what they need to do to be able to have a strong football component.
“If you’re going after people like Danny Daly you need that in the soft cap. That is my understanding.”
A five-year deal for Hardwick is being widely reported.
"He will be the coach."
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 9, 2023
Exclusive details on Damien Hardwick's move to the Suns, including who he has already started to think about bringing to the Gold Coast, and the club's request for assistance from the AFL. #9FootyClassified | Channel 9 📺 pic.twitter.com/slxGx58CU1