RICHMOND is set to hand Damien Hardwick a two-year contract extension that would tie the coach to the Tigers until the end of 2018.

Richmond has all but agreed to a two-year extension for Hardwick, with the club board expected to approve of the deal recommended by chief executive Brendon Gale, who has been overseas on club business.

Hardwick’s management and Gale still have to finalise some details and the board has to formally approve, but the basics of the new contract have been agreed upon. Richmond’s head of football Dan Richardson also has been involved in the discussions with Hardwick’s management.

The Tigers’ administration has maintained faith in Hardwick and has already signalled that he would be recontracted beyond 2016, with the major question whether he would receive a one or two-year extension.

Round 18

Hardwick’s position was secure after the Tigers did their end of 2015 review and the club administration and board have taken the view that they have been making progress, despite the disappointing loss to North Melbourne in the elimination final last September.

Damien Hardwick chats to Richmond defender Alex Rance. Picture: Hamish Blair. Source: News Corp Australia

Hardwick has coached the Tigers to three consecutive finals appearances — the first Richmond coach to do so since Tom Hafey — but they have not won a final.

The two-year extension means Hardwick will be contracted to coach the Tigers into a ninth season, having been appointed coach before the 2010 season. In his time, the Tigers are seen to have made steady progress from a low base, though their inability to win a final and increased expectations have placed him under greater scrutiny over the past 18 months.

Hardwick’s imminent contract extension leaves Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley and Brisbane’s Justin Leppitsch as the other coaches out of contact after 2016.

Buckley is considered certain to have his contract extended soon — again, with only a question about whether he will receive a one or two-year extension from the end of 2016.

The Lions have indicated that Leppitsch will receive a one-year extension to coach them in 2017.

The decision to renew Hardwick for two years continues a pattern of senior coaches having their contracts extended. It follows Fremantle’s extending of Ross Lyon’s tenure for a further three years — stretching his contracted term until the end of 2020 — while the game’s most decorated and dominant coach, Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson, is about to be extended until the end of 2019.

Hardwick has a win-loss ratio marginally under 50 per cent (66-67 and two draws) in his six completed years, but had a 65 per cent winning ratio in two of the last three seasons, the Tigers having finished fifth in the home and away seasons of both 2013 and 2015 with 15 wins and eighth (12 wins) in 2014. He started his stint with nine consecutive losses in 2010.