Former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is said to have his sights on luring a rival club's football boss to the Suns.
The three-time premiership coach has been linked with the Gold Coast Suns following his departure from the Richmond Tigers in May after a Round 10 loss to Essendon.
Since former Suns coach Stuart Dew's departure, the ex-Tigers coach has been seen as the frontrunner for the job. Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans flew to Italy where Hardwick was on holiday and has reportedly tabled a five-year deal to the champion coach.
Hardwick spent 13 years at the helm of Richmond and led them to an astounding three premierships in four years, a feat only two other coaches (Leigh Matthews and Alastair Clarkson) have accomplished in the modern era.
The former Richmond head coach is reportedly looking at current Brisbane Lions GM of Football Danny Daly to assist him in turning the Suns around.
Speaking on AFL Daily, reporter Damian Barrett revealed that Hardwick is considering bringing in a coaching team of his choice and an administration department to aid the revitalising Suns.
“He's putting together in his head his off-field team and how that looks from an assistant coaching perspective. Equally important for someone as experienced and successful as Damien Hardwick is how the actual administration of the department looks,” said Barrett.
Daly of Brisbane is a target for Hardwick as the duo share a history together from their days at the Tigers. The pair worked together at Richmond from Hardwick's first year as head coach in 2009 to Daly's departure to Brisbane in 2014.
Daly spent much of his time at the Tigers in coaching positions, but it's unclear if he would work for Hardwick in a coaching role or in administration.
“His (Daly) credentials have been sound for a very long time, they do have a close relationship and it wouldn't surprise me if the planets aligned that Danny Daly would go and work with Damien Hardwick,” Barrett said.
Daly stepped into his GM of Football role at the Lions in 2020 after spending six seasons on the coaching panel. Between 2016 and 2020, Daly was the head of strategy, directly working with head coach Chris Fagan.
According to Barrett, Hardwick's discussions with his preferred coaches and administration are signs that the Gold Coast deal is well on its way to completion.
“The fact that Damien Hardwick is now having these conversations with and around the people he wants to have with him, it just goes to show that bit by bit, day by day, this deal to have him at the Gold Coast Suns is taking shape," said Barrett.
If Hardwick does take the coaching role with the Suns, it won't be an easy ride for him. However, if there's any coach that can turn the club around, the man with three flags is the one for the job.
