NEWS HEADLINES
Making his mark: Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is starting to put together his assistant team.
Hardwick team takes shape
17/09/2009 7:30:00 PM
New Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has wasted little time building his AFL support team, recruiting former Port Adelaide ruckman Brendon Lade and former Brisbane Lions assistant coach Justin Leppitsch.
Lade and Leppitsch will serve as assistant coaches at Punt Road in 2010, the former as midfield and ruck coach and the latter in charge of the backline, where he starred during his playing days.
Lade, whose 234-game playing career with the Power ended less than a month ago, will be reunited with Hardwick, a friend and former premiership teammate at Port.
Leppitsch's appointment came in the same week the Lions signed Jade Rawlings and Craig McRae as assistant coaches from Richmond, where Rawlings was interim coach over the second half of the season and McRae was development coach.
Richmond also announced another key signing in their quest to improve from this season's dismal 15th-place finish, with midfielder Ben Cousins penning a one-year contract to play on in 2010.
Cousins, 31, played 15 games in his first season with Richmond and was good enough to finish in the top five of the club's best and fairest count on Wednesday night.
Given the clean-out that has already begun at Richmond, Lade, 33, said he was pleased to get the chance to have an influence on so many young players.
"They're going to have a young list and when you have a young list you can create and manufacture something you want at a football club," he said.
"Manufacture the way they play and leave that stamp on the football club when and if you do leave.
"It's really exciting to get a young group to mould into what you want them to do."
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams was pleased for Lade, but said the Power would have considered appointing him as an assistant coach had they not just re-signed Matthew Primus.
"I would've loved to have Ladey, but that was dependant on Matty not staying," Williams told the AFL website.
"We're thrilled Matty has decided to stay and it's worked out nicely for everyone.
"Ladey's an outstanding get for Richmond and I'm sure he'll be great support for Damien."
Leppitsch, also 33, was a member of the Lions' premiership wins of 2001-03 and began as an assistant coach in 2007, after playing the last of his 227 games the previous season.
He was also keen on making a new start.
"I'm excited about the challenge, to join a group that is on the right path, and I'm really keen to work with a new group of coaches and players," he said.
"I've never been involved in one of the bigger AFL clubs before and I'm looking forward to learning about the history and tradition Richmond is famous for."
Hardwick was delighted to appoint both Lade and Leppitsch given their experience, leadership and standing in the game.
AAP
Lade and Leppitsch will serve as assistant coaches at Punt Road in 2010, the former as midfield and ruck coach and the latter in charge of the backline, where he starred during his playing days.
Lade, whose 234-game playing career with the Power ended less than a month ago, will be reunited with Hardwick, a friend and former premiership teammate at Port.
Leppitsch's appointment came in the same week the Lions signed Jade Rawlings and Craig McRae as assistant coaches from Richmond, where Rawlings was interim coach over the second half of the season and McRae was development coach.
Richmond also announced another key signing in their quest to improve from this season's dismal 15th-place finish, with midfielder Ben Cousins penning a one-year contract to play on in 2010.
Cousins, 31, played 15 games in his first season with Richmond and was good enough to finish in the top five of the club's best and fairest count on Wednesday night.
Given the clean-out that has already begun at Richmond, Lade, 33, said he was pleased to get the chance to have an influence on so many young players.
"They're going to have a young list and when you have a young list you can create and manufacture something you want at a football club," he said.
"Manufacture the way they play and leave that stamp on the football club when and if you do leave.
"It's really exciting to get a young group to mould into what you want them to do."
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams was pleased for Lade, but said the Power would have considered appointing him as an assistant coach had they not just re-signed Matthew Primus.
"I would've loved to have Ladey, but that was dependant on Matty not staying," Williams told the AFL website.
"We're thrilled Matty has decided to stay and it's worked out nicely for everyone.
"Ladey's an outstanding get for Richmond and I'm sure he'll be great support for Damien."
Leppitsch, also 33, was a member of the Lions' premiership wins of 2001-03 and began as an assistant coach in 2007, after playing the last of his 227 games the previous season.
He was also keen on making a new start.
"I'm excited about the challenge, to join a group that is on the right path, and I'm really keen to work with a new group of coaches and players," he said.
"I've never been involved in one of the bigger AFL clubs before and I'm looking forward to learning about the history and tradition Richmond is famous for."
Hardwick was delighted to appoint both Lade and Leppitsch given their experience, leadership and standing in the game.
AAP
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