Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has spoken out about his marriage breakdown and new relationship with a club staffer and the impact it has had at Tigerland.
Reports emerged in January of Hardwick's new romance with a staff member at the football club after splitting with wife Danielle, with the triple-premiership coach needing the Tigers' human resources department to tick off the relationship.
There were questions over how the players dealt with the news, but veteran forward Jack Riewoldt moved to back Hardwick earlier in the pre-season.
“Damien’s a good enough character to separate his personal life and professional life, he’s shown in the last four years that he’s arguably the best coach in the land,” Riewoldt said.
“He’ll continue to support us and we’ll continue to support him.”
“Obviously it’s sad that Dimma and Danielle’s marriage has come to an end, the whole Hardwick family has been a massive support network for us and they’ll continue to be and we will for them as well.”
Speaking to SEN on Monday morning, Hardwick said the issue had been knocked on the head day one of pre-season.
“The reality was the first day back I had to speak to the players about it. That’s something we do at the club and it’s important we did so to get on with the business of preparing for Round 1.
“We just finished a terrific pre-season camp, we always speak about things that are distractions in our lives and distractions and the demise of great teams, that’s the reality of competition.
“Sides will always continually deal with those distractions, but it’s the side that deals with them the best that comes out on top and we’re now fully focused on preparing for Round 1."
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Hardwick said he felt the support of his players for not only himself but his family, including Danielle.
“My players are understanding of my situation and where we’re at, but what I’ve also got to understand is there’s a lot of staff and players that are incredibly close to Danielle and my family.
“The fact of the matter is my entire family has been a massive part and will continue to be a massive part of the Richmond Football Club and I’m glad they’re supporting her (Danielle).
“This isn’t about taking sides, it’s just about making sure what’s best for everyone.
“It was important that the first time they saw me, I spoke about it openly and honestly. That was the reality of the situation and until I did that we couldn’t really move forward.”
Richmond have been very prominent in the public eye for a spate of off-field issues over the past 12 months and Hardwick is now hoping normality can resume.
Hardwick said he is hopeful he can now keep his relationship out of the media and move forward with the Tigers' premiership defence.
“These things happen in all walks of life and they’re not easy on anyone, but all we ask is for the respect for both myself and Danielle so we can move forward,” he said.
“I’m very much of the opinion that people’s private lives should be just that, private.
“I know sections of the media won’t treat it that way, but that’s how I’m treating it.
“Danielle and I's priority is our three beautiful kids … to finish the topic off really, it’s been a difficult time for everyone and it’s something I’m not comfortable speaking about.”