RICHMOND has begun its official search for a new coach, calling for applications through the AFL Coaches' Association by July 3 and intending to start interviews in the middle of the month.
The Tigers say a final decision is not expected until September.
"It will be a very methodical process and, one of the reasons for this is that we think there are a lot of excellent coaching candidates out there, and we need to get to know them as well as we can," Richmond's general manager of football, Craig Cameron, said.
"The Coaches' Association already has received quite a few enquiries for the job from coaches. We'll also talk to other potential candidates, who may not have formally expressed their interest in the position, if we feel they are suitable."
Richmond also plans to speak with a range of coaching experts from football and other sports to help the club set the criteria for what makes a successful coach.
The Tigers' coaching sub-committee will comprise Cameron, CEO Steven Wright, football director Tony Free, and general manager of learning and development Jeff Bond, along with external consultants Ben Crowe, a Richmond supporter and founding partner of consultancy and communications agency Gemba, and former Australian basketball coach Lindsay Gaze.
"The stage one process will revolve around examining the applicants' leadership skills, their other personal qualities and their coaching vision. Obviously, also, we'd like a bit of knowledge at that point of their game plan and overall football vision – both short-term and long-term," Cameron said.
"We'd hope to be in a position by the start of August to filter down the list of candidates who we'll take to stage two."
At that time, Crowe and Gaze will be replaced by two former Richmond players, Emmett Dunne and Greg Stafford.
Dunne, played 115 games for the Tigers from 1976-83 and was a member of the club's last premiership side, in 1980. He also coached Richmond's reserves. Since 1996 he has served on the AFL Tribunal. Dunne is an Acting Assistant Commissioner with the Victoria Police.
Stafford played 74 games with Richmond from 2002-06 after 130 matches for the Sydney Swans from 1993-2001.
Richmond president Gary March also will join the coaching sub-committee at stage two of the interview process.
"It will be a much more rigorous, football-based, interview process from that point on. Football-situation analysis will be the focus, along with some psychological profiling," Cameron said.
"From there, we'd be in a position to take a short list of candidates to the board for the final recommendation. Ultimately, it's a board decision, but they will receive a recommendation from the coaching sub-committee."
Cameron said the club was open-minded on whether to select an experienced or inexperienced coach.
"We're going to pick the coach who we believe is the best fit for the Richmond Football Club, and the best fit for where our playing list is at," he said.
