“I’LL SAY 100 PER CENT”: WILL RICHMOND GREATS FOLLOW HARDWICK OUT THE DOOR IN 2023?
With the Damien Hardwick era at Richmond over, Garry Lyon believes two other key pieces of their premiership era will also be done at the end of the year.
Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt went around again in 2023 on one-year deals and both have been regulars in the Richmond side, but the duo are clearly in the twilight of their storied careers.
Lyon believes the star veterans would already know that this is their final season.
“Riewoldt and Cotchin are done. They don’t have to tap either on the shoulder – they’re done,” the Melbourne great told SEN Breakfast.
“I don’t know (if they’ve already had the conversations), but I would say 99 per cent certain that they’re not playing next year – in fact, I’ll say 100 per cent.
“They’re done. I’m sure they’ve already had the conversation and know exactly where they’re at.”
Lyon is confident the Richmond coaching job will be heavily sought after, even if the club is out of premiership contention.
“The job is great because the club is great. This is a great football club of the AFL, they’re in the heartland of the sporting precinct, they’ve got their facilities sorted, they’ve got a supporter base the envy of most,” he said. “I think there’s work to be done (on the list). I don’t share the opinion of some that they’re going to be back contending really quickly. I think they’ve got a bit of work to do.
“They won three premierships in four years and everything clicked together … I think they’re (now) going to be middle of the table. “People will then go ‘Collingwood came back from 17th’ and that’s true and a coach can change things quickly, but they have got some of that generational talent around.
“Scott Pendlebury is not Trent Cotchin too. He’s still at the top level, while Cotchin’s magnificent career is coming to an end.”