Incoming GWS Giants head coach Adam Kingsley will remain focused on his role at Richmond during their finals series while also being involved in crucial discussions at his new club.
Key points:
- Adam Kingsley will be in regular contact with his new Giants colleagues while working for Richmond during the finals
- Kingsley was a key part of the coaching group for the Tigers’ 2019 and 2020 premierships
- The Giants named Kingsley their third ever coach on Monday after a poor 2022 season
Kingsley was on Monday appointed the third coach in the history of the Giants but will continue working as an assistant at the Tigers through their finals campaign, which starts with an elimination final against Brisbane.
The highly-rated coach expects to be in regular contact with the Giants football and list manager Jason McCartney and chief executive David Matthews during that time, as they consider dramatic changes to their playing list in the coming trade period.
“I have got a job to do at Richmond and I’ll be finishing this season with those guys,” Kingsley said on Tuesday.
“But the moment that season is finished I’ll be looking to get stuck in [at the Giants].
“It will be a juggle but the commitment that I’ve made to Richmond, and they’ve made to me, is that we’ll finish the season together.
“I will be prioritising that, obviously, but certainly will be in communication with Jason and Dave.
“But the reality is I’ll be doing everything I possibly can to prepare Richmond Football Club for the ultimate success and I’ll be disciplined to do that.”
Kingsley has been an assistant at Richmond since 2019 and was a key part of the coaching group during their premierships that year and in 2020.
The new Giants coach expects to draw heavily on what he has learned in four years at the Tigers under coach Damien Hardwick and the game style that has them chasing a fourth flag in six seasons.
Hardwick has been supportive of both Kingsley’s attempts to land a head coaching role and his slightly unusual step of staying with the Tigers for the remainder of this season.
“Dimma [Hardwick] was rapt. He’s been enormous for me in my growth as a coach over the last four years; really pivotal in that,” Kingsley told a press conference.
“I owe him a whole lot. He’s a large part of the reason that I’m standing here today.
“He was rapt but he was still pretty blunt about his expectations for me. We want to finish the season as well as we possibly can at Richmond. That will be my immediate focus.”
When Kingsley turns his full attention to the Giants, he will have a number of pressing concerns with the playing list.
On-ballers Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper are reportedly pushing for trades, with the Tigers said to be among their many suitors.
Speedy forward Bobby Hill and emerging midfielder Tanner Bruhn are also expected to look for moves to Victoria, as the Giants again battle to retain players.
Kingsley will be in a curious position as an assistant coach at the Tigers while players at his future club could well be considering moves in the opposite direction.
“I haven’t yet sat down with Jason McCartney and worked through what the list looks like,” Kingsley said.
“At some point in time, we’ll have that discussion and try to work out where we both stand on it and what the plan is moving forward.
“Once Jason and I have our discussions and put our heads together, we’ll formulate a plan that certainly assists the Giants but doesn’t compromise Richmond in the short term.”
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
