Despite missing out on the senior coaching position, former Richmond captain Chris Newman has been lured back to Punt Road to accept a role under Adem Yze.
Newman, a highly rated assistant coach at Hawthorn, will depart the club after eight seasons, which included a stint coaching Box Hill to the 2018 VFL premiership.
The 268-game defender is set to be a senior assistant with the Tigers, as caretaker coach Andrew McQualter looks for opportunities at another club following the decision to pick Yze as premiership mentor Damien Hardwick’s successor.
Hawthorn released a statement on Tuesday thanking Newman, his wife Lauren and their four children for their time at the club.
Hawks football boss Rob McCartney said Newman had been “upfront” with the club about his desire to expand his skill set by moving to a new environment.
“There’s no doubting the positive impact Chris has made here at Hawthorn,” McCartney said.
“Right from the beginning of his coaching journey, Chris demonstrated a great ability to build strong connections and relationships with his players and staff.
“After going through the process for the senior coach role at Richmond, Chris felt that gaining more experience in another coaching environment would help his development and further his senior coaching aspirations.”
It comes as another Richmond assistant short-listed for the senior coach role, Xavier Clarke, revealed he would join North Melbourne to work under Alastair Clarkson.
Clarke, who joined Richmond in 2016 after coaching the NT Thunder to the 2015 NEAFL premiership, had been in charge of the Tigers’ forward line for the last two seasons.
Kangaroos football boss Todd Viney said the former Brisbane and St Kilda player was a “perfect fit” for the rebuilding club, who earlier this month parted ways with senior assistant John Blakey and development coach Gavin Brown.
“A highly talented player and now a highly talented coach, Xavier understands what it takes to achieve the ultimate success having coached his own team, the NT Thunder, to a premiership and played a part in three premierships at Richmond,” Viney said.
“His eight years at Punt Road have seen him build his coaching experience and undertake an array of roles.
“He also understands the challenges that football can bring, having faced a number of injury setbacks over his career.”
Shortly after confirming Newman’s departure, Hawthorn also announced it had delisted a trio of players: Josh Morris, Emerson Jeka and Irish rookie Fionn O’Hara.