Richmond caretaker coach Andrew McQualter will turn his attention to winning the top job on a permanent basis after the Tigers finished their season with a fighting 31-point loss to Port Adelaide.
McQualter was at the helm for 13 matches, for a 7-6 win-loss record, after three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick’s shock departure 10 rounds into the season.
After a tumultuous campaign where the club also farewelled retiring premiership greats Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt, the Tigers finished 13th with a 10-12-1 record.
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McQualter’s audition for the senior role will reach a pivotal stage when he interviews for the job along with other short-listed candidates believed to include Andrew Yze, Daniel Giansiracusa and Chris Newman.
“I have loved the opportunity I have been given … I feel like I have grown a lot in the last three months,” McQualter said.
“Like any time you start a new job, even though I had seen it first-hand for a while, I was pretty green so I’ve learnt a lot, been really well supported, and I’ve loved every minute of it.
“I will interview next week or the week after.
“All the attention has just been on the game and the team at this stage, just preparing the players each week, so we’ll do our exit interviews as per normal over the next few days and our VFL team lost today which means they’re out as well.
“So, the season’s over for our club, but we’ll set them up for a good off-season and into next pre-season.
“It’s a win-loss industry, but we just had to keep building the team, keep everyone together, and get everyone on the same page.
“Dimma had done such a great job for this club for so long that it’s a big hole when he left.
“So, I think the fact that we kept everyone together and motivated was probably the thing that I’m most proud of as a group that we were able to achieve.”
Dustin Martin starred with 33 possessions and a goal against the Power to finish another impressive season with 25 goals.
McQualter is confident the 32-year-old superstar will finish his career at Punt Road despite speculation he could link up with new Gold Coast coach Hardwick at the Suns.
“It’s really clear that you can’t play the type of football Dustin has played without being so heavily invested in the football club,” the coach said.
“I think he just loves it, he cares about winning so much and … if he’s not in serious contention for the All Australian team, it’s absurd.
“I just think what he has been able to do, playing as a forward, is just quite extraordinary for what he’s been able to produce this year.”
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