Richmond fans have farewelled Damien Hardwick with a minute’s applause at the 17-minute mark in the first quarter of the clash against Port Adelaide.
The 17-minute mark was chosen as a reflection of the year Hardwick lead the Tigers to a drought-breaking premiership in 2017.
Hardwick announced on Tuesday he would resign as senior coach effective immediately.
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It ended a 14-year tenure at the club where he won three premierships.
“It’s been an incredible ride and one that’s coming to an end but I couldn’t have wished a better place to have my journey as an AFL coach,” he told media.
“As soon as I started asking the question, the more I started to understand what the answer was going to be. So the best thing for myself was to step aside if I couldn’t give 100 per cent.
“If you keep asking the question, you know the answer.”
Assistant coach Andrew McQualter was promoted to interim coach for Sunday’s match.
Earlier on Sunday, Hardwick posted a photo from his couch, holding a beer and getting a cuddle from his dog.
The banner Richmond’s players ran through before the match simply read: “Thanks Dimma – forever a Tiger”.
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