TOM HAYES
FOOTBALL
By TOM HAYES
TRARALGON’S Andrew McQualter will take the reins of the Richmond Tigers following the immediate and unexpected departure of long-term senior coach, Damien Hardwick.
Hardwick joined Richmond in the middle of the 2009 AFL season, taking over from Terry Wallace.
He it took him four years to get the Tigers to their first finals series since 2001, doing so in 2013.
Hardwick led the Tigers to their first premiership in 37 years in 2017, when Richmond defeated Adelaide by 48 points.
He would win two more flags in 2019 and 2020 to cap off his 14-year coaching stint.
Local boy McQualter will take over as senior interim coach of the Tigers for the foreseeable future.
He was drafted to the Saints with pick 17 in the 2004 National Draft.
McQualter played 94 games in his AFL career at St Kilda and Gold Coast, between 2005 and 2012, playing in three Grand Finals; 2009, 2010 and 2010 Replay.
After his playing days, in 2014 he joined the Tigers as a VFL player and development coach.
Two years later he became an assistant and midfield coach for the senior side.
McQualter has somewhat recent local ties, despite his origin, playing in Rosedale’s premiership winning side of 2015.
Richmond currently sit 14th on the 2023 AFL ladder, with a record of 3-6-1, yet are just two wins from the top eight.
McQualter will remain in charge of the senior side until the Tigers make a decision on a new senior coach.
