Carlton great Brendan Fevola has made the bold claim that the club’s powerbrokers have already reached out to Damien Hardwick on the day of his departure from Richmond.
Hardwick stunned the AFL world by confirming that he would leave the Tigers effective immediately on Tuesday, ending a glittering stint spanning 14 seasons.
The AFL’s rumour mill has already begun ticking over in the hours following Hardwick’s move, with a number of clubs linked to the three-time premiership-winning coach.
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Carlton coach Michael Voss’ seat has been getting warmer in recent weeks after the club’s slump, with president Luke Sayers forced to publicly defend the 47-year-old this week.
Voss is currently signed through the 2024 season, but if Fevola is to believed, the Blues are already planning for life after him.
“I think that there is one spot that he may be coaching, and I don’t necessarily want this to happen, but the Carlton Football Club are struggling,” Fevola said on his Fox FM breakfast show.
“I may have a little knowledge that maybe some high Carlton people have got wind and reached out to Hardwick to see where he’s at. It’s not just me thinking this.”
Voss is one of eight coaches who are poised to come out of contract at the end of 2024, meaning Hardwick could have an array of options at his disposal if he decides to take a year-long sabbatical as Alastair Clarkson did when he left Hawthorn.
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Port Adelaide, where Hardwick won a premiership as a player in 2004, is yet to decide whether senior coach Ken Hinkley will be given a new deal beyond this year despite a blistering start to the season.
Gold Coast, which has Stuart Dew contracted through 2025, is another team that could potentially be a new home for Hardwick in coming years.
“Port Adelaide’s call on Ken Hinkley is one of the biggest in club history,” club great Kane Cornes said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Monday night.
“He can coach and he’s never coached better, yet they say they’re going to wait until August.
“You would imagine that Richmond will be picking up the phone to Ken Hinkley very soon.”
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