North Melbourne great David King has tipped Damien Hardwick to be the coach of Port Adelaide in 2024.
After resigning as Richmond’s coach on Tuesday, Hardwick is the biggest fish in the coaching market heading into next season.
With Ken Hinkley out of contract at the Power at the end of this season, King can see Hardwick heading back to Port Adelaide, a club that he won the 2004 premiership with as a player.
King credited Hardwick for his mature decision to step aside at Punt Road knowing he couldn’t give 100 per cent to the club for the rest of the year.
“I think he’ll be coaching Port Adelaide next year, personally,” King told SEN Breakfast.
“I think that’s a good thing for footy because the way he coaches is what we want to see.
“It’s highlights, it’s free-flowing footy, it’s aggression.
“He needs a break and they (Richmond) have been great for him.
“I think it’s really mature to walk in and say, ‘I’ve got the most out of this group’.
“He could sit in this chair and pick up checks for another six months and probably 18 months and some would do that.
“Some would just sit there and fulfil their obligations knowing they’re short of 100 per cent but he hasn’t done that.”
While some have called for Hinkley to be re-signed given he has led the side to a 8-2 start to the season, the Power are sticking firm to their call to only begin contract talks in August.
Even though Hinkley has the Power humming early this season, King thinks he’ll only truly be judged on how the team performs in finals.
“I think the assessments of Ken in-season are different to what we all thought starting the year,” King said.
“The pass mark at the start of the year wasn’t winning seven home and away games in a row, or win 10 in a row, or win 15 in a row.
“The pass mark is all about the pointy end and we’re miles from the pointy end.
“There’s not (only one coach that passes each year), if he makes a Grand Final, he’s fine and if he’s charging towards the Prelim, probably there’s some pressure on him to be re-signed.
“But they’ve got to deliver, they’ve been here before.”
Given Hardwick referenced burnout as a reason to step away from the Richmond job, Kane Cornes asked King whether Richmond fans would be aggrieved if their coach was leading a rival club just months after walking away from Punt Road.
“But the Richmond discussion is a good one,” King said.
“I think Richmond fans, 95 per cent of Richmond fans are absolutely rapt with how this has unfolded.
“It’s always tough when it finishes, but they’ll see him off on the weekend, even though he won’t be there (coaching), they’ll celebrate him for what he’s been.
“He’s taken a club that was nowhere (to three premierships).”
Hardwick played 54 games for the Power between 2002 and 2004, and retired after the club’s premiership win.