Fans pay touching tribute to ex-coach Hardwick

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.

Richmond fans pay tribute to Damien Hardwick during the round 11 AFL match between Richmond Tigers and Yartapuulti / Port Adelaide Power at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on May 28, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

"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.

https://twitter.com/hardwick_damien/status/1662611588048883713

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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