Gold Coast are set to offer former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick a contract, reports The Age’s Sam McClure.
Suns chief Mark Evans is planning to fly to Europe to talk to the 50-year-old who is currently vacationing in Italy, where it’s expected the club will table the three-time premiership coach a five-year contract.
With it looking like Hardwick will coach the Suns from 2024 onwards, SEN Sportsday’s Kane Cornes pondered whether any Richmond veterans would follow their former coach north.
While Dustin Martin has previously been linked to the Suns, Cornes asked Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson whether the likes of premiership skipper Trent Cotchin and veteran forward Jack Riewoldt – who are both out of contract – could join Gold Coast.
Even though Johnson considered a potential triple-swoop a possibility, he expects both Cotchin and Riewoldt to retire one-club players.
Cornes: “If Hardwick, when he goes of Richmond of Cotchin, Riewoldt and Martin will any of those three join him?”
Johnson: “Yeah, it’s a big possibility.”
Cornes: “Is there a possibility all three join him?
“Yeah, of course, there's a possibility.”
Cornes: “I know Riewoldt and Cotchin (are out of contract).”
Cornes: “(Dustin) Martin’s got one more (year).”
Johnson: “It wouldn't surprise me if two of them decided that, ‘The Gold Coast is a spot for me’.
“That wouldn't surprise me.
“But ultimately, I think that Riewoldt and Cotchin deep down will finish Richmond players.”
Cornes: “Yep, 100 per cent.”
While Martin, 32, is expected to play on, it’s unclear whether Cotchin, 33, and Riewoldt, 34, will retire at the end of the year or push on into 2024.