JUSTIN Leppitsch will reunite with Richmond coach Damien Hardwick after agreeing to return to Tigerland as part of the club's revamped coaching panel.
Sacked from the Brisbane Lions' top job in August, Leppitsch is believed to have been weighing up a comeback in coaching or football operations.
AFL.com.au understands the 41-year-old will take on a role looking after the Tigers' forward line next season.
Leppitsch's return to Punt Rd follows a previous stint working alongside Hardwick from 2010-13 when, as backline coach, he oversaw Alex Rance's ascension to become the game's No.1 key defender.
He also helped the Tigers breakthrough for their first finals appearance in 12 years, before succeeding Michael Voss in the Lions' top job at the end of 2013.
Leppitsch coached the Queensland club, where he was a champion triple-premiership defender, for three seasons before he was sacked after only three wins and a 17th-placed finish this year.
Richmond's bitterly disappointing season, when the Tigers slumped to 13th on the ladder after three-straight finals appearances, opened the door for Leppitsch's return to Punt Rd.
Amid major unrest among the supporter base, Richmond embarked on a sweeping football department review and subsequent coaching cleanout.
On Thursday, the Tigers parted ways with assistant coach Mark P. Williams, while Hardwick's former right-hand man Brendon Lade has returned to former club Port Adelaide.
Justin Leppitsch after speaking to his team in round 23. Picture: AFL Photos 
Richmond has moved on Power premiership coach Mark 'Choco' Williams, who worked closely with star midfielder Dustin Martin, plus fellow assistants Ross Smith and Greg Mellor.
Ben Rutten - Hardwick's only assistant remaining from this season - is currently in Leppitsch's former role in charge of Richmond's defence.
Highly rated Geelong assistant Blake Caracella has been snapped up by the Tigers, who have also spoken to former Western Bulldogs senior assistant Brett Montgomery about supporting Hardwick in 2017.
The Richmond coach is contracted for two more seasons, but is facing a defining campaign next year after failing to coach a finals triumph in seven years at the helm.
