A pair of former Tigers players have been flagged as "left-field candidates" for the Richmond coaching job ahead of an extensive process to find Damien Hardwick's successor.

2017 premiership player Shaun Grigg and former Richmond defender Troy Chaplin are both seen as potential options that could emerge in the coaching race after building impressive post-career assistant coaching stints with Geelong and Melbourne respectively.

Grigg has worked closely under Cats coach Chris Scott since landing at Kardinia Park ahead of the 2020 season, joining as a development coach months after call-time on his playing career after 214 games with Carlton and Richmond.

Chaplin, currently Melbourne's backline coach, moved to the Demons after calling time on his career with Port Adelaide and Richmond, playing 75 games for the latter.

The 37-year-old joined the Demons as their offensive coordinator, and like Grigg played a part in his club's recent premiership success, with the Cats and Demons claiming the past two AFL premierships.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 19: Shaun Grigg of the Tigers and Bachar Houli of the Tigers and his children sing the song in the rooms after winning the round nine AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 19, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

AFL reporter has Damian Barrett noted both Grigg and Chaplin as "left-field" options for the vacant role at Punt Road, likely contending against caretaker coach Andrew McQualter.

"We've got a few candidates coming from left field," Barrett told The Sunday Footy Show.ย 

"Andrew McQualter will be the interim coach and Ross Lyon is endorsing his credentials from way back. Wanted him to join him at the St Kilda Football Club this year.

"But there's going to be a few left-field candidates. Shaun Grigg has been someone who's been spoken about quite highly now for some time with his role at the Geelong footy club.

"Troy Chaplin too, a key off-field player with what Melbourne did in their premiership success in 2021 and still there, also just one of those left-field candidates that might emerge as the weeks unfold."

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 30: Adem Yze and Troy Chaplin the assistant coaches of the Demons walk out onto the field during the round seven AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 30, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Tigers have stated they will be on the hunt for the "next Damien Hardwick" following his shock resignation, with McQualter set to lead the club for the remainder of the season in what will be a valuable dress rehearsal for the highly-rated assistant.

Richmond is set to consider untried assistant coaches to fill the role, with Chaplin's Melbourne colleague Adem Yze, former Richmond assistant Blake Caracella and West Coast's Jaymie Graham among those potentially on the club's radar.

"I was speaking to someone today and I said my own intuition tells me this need to get a premiership coach is a bit of a myth, and that proves it," Richmond CEO Brendon Gale toldย Footy Classified this week.

"One of the great things about Damien, obviously he was tactically very smart, but he was able to grow with the team.

"They (the players) were invested in him and he was certainly invested in them. So, that's a pretty important consideration."

Richmond's first game since Hardwick's departure will take place at the MCG on Sunday at 1:10pm (AEST).