A popular candidate for Richmond's vacant head-coaching position is reportedly emerging.
Since three-time Tigers premiership coach Damien Hardwick's unexpected departure from the Punt Road helm in late May, interim boss Andrew McQualter has helped steer Richmond's ship, most recently orchestrating a comeback victory over the Sydney Swans at the MCG on Thursday night.
McQualter has coached the Tigers to four wins and two losses throughout his miniature tenure, as he looks to put his own hat in the ring for the permanent gig.
However, an emerging candidate for Richmond's open position has been named by AFL.com.au's Josh Gabelich, who was recently featured on SEN radio waves.
"I can tell you that there are some people inside Richmond who really rate Josh Carr, especially when you consider what he's done with Port's midfield this year," Gabelich said.
Carr, a burgeoning assistant at Port Adelaide, is considered by many to be a future senior coach at the AFL level, following successful stints at Fremantle and the SANFL's Norwood.
"You've got to think about Carr's journey. He's 13 years out of the game now, he's got a really great resume now," continued Gabelich.
"When he came back to Alberton last year there was a belief that he was part of a succession plan. But if Ken (Hinkley) signs – and we expect him to sign in the not-too-distant future and he looks like having a long stint again at the Power – would he (Carr) go through the process at Richmond? Because he has a lot of admirers inside Punt Road.
"I just think he's someone who is building nicely and is clearly a senior coach of the future."
Pertaining to the hiring of a new Tigers boss, Richmond CEO Brendon Gale is understandably keeping his cards close to his chest as he searches for 'the next Hardwick'.
While many believe the Tigers will hunt an untried head coach, Gale isn't publicly committing one way or another.
"Look, I'm not committing to any timelines but we would ideally like to have something done before the end of the season," Gale stated on Fox Footy's AFL 360 on Wednesday night.
"It allows you to go straight into that planning period post-grand final, list management, etc, etc.
"But Brad Scott wasn't appointed (by Essendon) until late in the year – I'm not saying we're going to take that much time but the more work we put into this front end, really defining the role the person we are looking for that the stronger the decision we'll make.
"A lot of people interpreted that comment ('the next Hardwick') as meaning we're going to get an untried coach, a coach that hasn't coached his own team – that's not what I meant.
"We want to find the next great coach."