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RELATED:<\/strong><\/em> Collingwood CEO reveals 'shock' at McGuire's 2021 stand down decision.<\/a><\/p>\n "The club is aware that coach Damien Hardwick is currently in a relationship with a member of the club's administration staff," the statement read.<\/p>\n "The club has no concerns with this under club policy. Beyond this, it is a private matter and we ask that privacy be respected."<\/p>\n However, there were also reports that the scandal had rocked staff within the club and could affect the playing group.<\/p>\n Hardwick, 48, is one of the AFL's most successful coaches, leading the Tigers to three premierships in the last four years, including last year's triumph over the Cats. However, Hardwick shared that last season took its toll on him personally.<\/p>\n "I'm going to take a bit of a longer break this year over summer," Hardwick told 3AW.<\/p>\n "It's been a pretty full on three to four years and we've done a hell of a lot of work and had a lot of success along the way but sometimes you need to step back."<\/p>\n RELATED:<\/strong><\/em> Alex Rance set to make surprise footy comeback in 2021.<\/a><\/p>\n It was announced last year that Damien and his wife Danielle had separated, although she spent a short stint in the Gold Coast COVID bubble, while Victoria was under pressure from the pandemic.<\/p>\n Danielle was often referred to as "Mrs Hardwick" by the premiership winning coach, and stood by her husband's side through an incredibly successful career in football that included flags as a player with Essendon and Port Adelaide and three more as coach of Richmond.<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking<\/em><\/strong> here<\/em><\/strong><\/a>!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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