David King believes Damien Hardwick has the chance this season to become perhaps the best coach of the modern era.
From the last 50 years of VFL/AFL history, King has current North Melbourne and former Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson as the best to do the job having won four flags with the Hawks from 2008 to 2015.
Currently sitting on three premierships with Richmond, King believes that if Hardwick wins a fourth in 2023, he can go past Clarkson as the “best coach we’ve seen since Norm Smith”.
If Hardwick does win another flag, he’ll join the likes of Allan Jeans, Tom Hafey, David Parkin, Ron Barassi, Leigh Matthews, Dick Reynolds and Clarkson with four to their name.
“I’ve done some research on this, I believe if Damien Hardwick wins the premiership in 2023, he’ll overtake Alastair Clarkson as the best AFL coach we’ve seen since Norm Smith,” King said on SEN Breakfast.
“That’s in the last 50 years, he would go to four flags alongside Alastair Clarkson, but I think he’s done it with less.
“I’ve done the research, there’s been less top 10 picks, less top 20 picks.
“This is no slight on Alastair at all, and it shouldn’t be received that way, because we’re talking about the pointy end of the coaching fraternity, the top guns.”
Placing their resumes next to each other, King first explained how he felt Hawthorn became so dominant with master coach Clarkson at the helm.
“Clarko coached for 17 years, five Grand Finals, four flags, it was done through an era where there were challenges with two new franchises coming in, compromised drafts, we had free agency – which they came in and scooped the pool on,” King explained.
“They forced clubs to trade ahead of time, players like (Jack) Gunston where they said, ‘He’ll walk, he’ll come to us, better get a trade done’, there was Brian Lake and a whole host of players.
“They cashed in their draft selections through that period and got known products such as Brian Lake, (Ben) McEvoy, David Hale – those sorts of players.
“They were very smart, and the tactical nous of Clarkson added to that period, and it realised itself with four premierships.”
While it’s a big ‘if’, whether Hardwick can win another premiership in 2023, King believes that if he does he’ll surpass Clarkson’s resume due to achieving the same success with what he perceives as less talent.
“(Hardwick) has spent 13 years at Richmond, three Grand Finals, three flags, he’s done it with less,” King said.
“Yes, they have traded towards the end with (Dion) Prestia and obviously with the free agency of Tom Lynch, they’ve had a big impact at the right time.
“But I believe if Hardwick was to win it this year and go to four flags, you could mount a case he goes past Clarkson because he’s done it with less talent.”
After bowing out in an elimination final last season, Richmond under Hardwick will be hoping to improve and push for their first premiership since 2020 this year.