Jade Rawlings Biography

Jade Rawlings is cut by North Melbourne after just 12 months into his job as senior assistant coach of the club and while having two seasons left on a three-year contract he signed ahead of the three-win 2020 campaign.

Jade Rawlings will exit a contract with Melbourne to take the senior assistant coach role at North Melbourne under head coach Rhyce Shaw.

Rawlings will also report to younger brother Brady Rawlings, who from December will assume duties as North Melbourne's general manager of football.

Underperforming Melbourne has taken the drastic step of restructuring its coaching panel mid-season.

Among a raft of changes announced after the 3-9 Demons' mid-season break, Jade Rawlings has relinquished the role of coaching the club's VFL affiliate Casey Demons and will step up to become Melbourne's forward coach.

Rawlings replaces Max Rooke, who will become a development coach.

The experienced Brendan McCartney, previously the defensive coach, will now mentor the club's AFL and VFL assistant coaches, while Troy Chaplin will become the standalone backline coach.

The senior coaching prospects of Peter Sumich and Brett Montgomery have been boosted after the pair was accepted into the AFL's coaching accreditation course for 2016.

After a lengthy interview process, the AFL notified successful applicants on Monday, with assistants Justin Longmuir (West Coast) and Jade Rawlings (Melbourne) rounding out the second intake of the level four program.

There are now 12 coaches completing the course, which the AFL hopes will eventually become mandatory for those applying for senior positions in the future.

Richmond's 2009 caretaker coach, Jade Rawlings, has quit the club to become an assistant at the Brisbane Lions.

Richmond interim coach Jade Rawlings says he will work out where he is going after the season finishes after missing out on the head coaching gig at Richmond to Damien Hardwick.

"Naturally it was a disappointment, you don't put yourself in contention for a job like that unless you really want it," Rawlings said.

"My situation will be taken care of in the next month or so I would have thought."

Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings says Ben Cousins' contribution to the club in his first season has been 'profound'.

"There are some people that have been involved in this club for 12, 13, 14 years that reckon what he's offered the club has been as profound as anyone," Rawlings said.

"His contribution to this footy club this year has been absolutely terrific.

"I rate Ben extremely highly. I've coached him over 11 games now, and my personal dealings with him have been absolutely terrific."

Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings believes it will be hard for him to remain at Punt Road next year after being told he has missed out on the senior coaching position.

"There's a fair bit of water to go under the bridge as far as who gets appointed," he said.

"I personally would think it would be hard for someone who gets appointed to have me around because of my passion for the job and my attachment to this group."

Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings says he is unsure if his damning assessment of the club's culture will cost him the coaching job.

"If they deem it to have damaged me, that's up to them to make the decision," Rawlings said.

"The club couldn't have been more thorough in their process.

"They said from the outset they won't get drawn into media speculation of who thinks what or who says what would be good or what would be bad."

Jake King has set his sights on making 2010 a standout year after caretaker coach Jade Rawlings brought him back into the senior side

"Jade and Wayne and the coaching staff and leadership group and all the players have been right behind me the whole way," he told richmondfc.com.au.

"I stuck to the trademarks and behaviours, and Jade was with me at Coburg and said that as long as I kept doing the right thing, things would work out.

"He turned around and said: you've done everything I've asked, here's your spot, go and make the most of it." .

Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings slams the club's losing culture.

"People have been talking about cultural issues at Richmond for a long time, however long they think it has been going on," he said.

"But, unfortunately, our players go back to habits which are bad reflections on them because, when it gets tough, they can't fight through it, to do something to try and help a mate.

"If it's not working out for them individually, they can still have an involvement, still bring something to the table and have an impact on the team."

Matthew Richardson will undergo knee surgery knowing Richmond has committed to offering him a contract for 2010.

"We had a list-management meeting today. We'll talk to Matthew when he gets out of hospital, learn if he's convinced he can play again, and a contract will be offered," caretaker coach Jade Rawlings said.

Ben Cousins prepares for his 250th game with Tigers' interim coach Jade Rawlings praising the impact he has had on Richmond.

"There been a couple of good mature age recruits in the AFL this year and I'd suggest he'd been in the upper echelon of those," Rawlings said.

"We feel very fortunate. We had the courage to make the decision to get him here and now he's vindicated it with his form so far, so it would be good in this last month to see him finish off really well."

Trent Cotchin will not play again this year after succumbing to a hip injury.

"He's had a hip he's been dealing with for a few weeks now, and he's pulled up a bit sore," Richmond interim coach Jade Rawlings said.

"Anyone who was at the game the other day would have seen when he came on in the last stanza that he looked pretty sore."

Jordan McMahon kicks a goal after the siren to win the game for the Tigers against Melbourne.

"I backed him in because he's a good kick. A few times today he made some bad decisions, but 40m out, right in front, he's pretty reliable in that situation," caretaker coach Jade Rawlings said.

"To have the courage to go back and kick that goal was excellent."

Richmond coach Jade Rawlings says emotions will not be a factor in deciding the future of brother-in-law Matthew Richardson's future at the club beyond this season.

"The club is bigger than the individual," he said.

"We've been unsuccessful for way too long to be caught up in emotional family attachments.

"Matthew is an outstanding person, which you'd all agree with, and we're great mates and we'll talk honestly about what's going to be best for both parties. The footy club's future is most paramount."

Tiger Brett Deledio says he was nearly banished to the VFL by caretaker coach Jade Rawlings following his indifferent approach to his footy.

"I had weaknesses that needed addressing and if I didn't address them I would have been representing Coburg. I just wasn't being accountable," he said.

"Jade said if I wasn't prepared to do it, I would be out of the side, and I very nearly was.

"I guess it was the kick up the arse I needed. It has come pretty easy, and I hadn't really been told off about that sort of thing, or hadn't been threatened with representing Coburg, not that playing there would be a bad thing, by the way.

"But it really would have dinted the pride. It was the best thing for me.

"I am not saying I have got it nailed. I have got plenty of things to work on, but for Jade to be honest, and the leadership group to be honest with me, was fantastic."

Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings says there is a place for veteran Tiger Matthew Richardson at the club in 2010.

"He's been excellent in his rehab, and he's an iconic person around the footy club and within the competition," Rawlings told radion station SEN.

"He has to be aware of what we're trying to achieve as a team ... If he can embrace that and take it on board, he'll fit in no problem.

"My stance would be - based on the last four or five weeks, him showing that his body can stand up and make change in his own game - then I can't see why not."

Jade Rawlings' bid to permanently take Richmond's reins received a huge tick from star recruit Ben Cousins and the bookies today.

Interim coach Jade Rawlings says Jack Riewoldt played his best game against Essendon after the young forward kicked a career-high six goals to earn victory for his side.

"Yes, I think it is and probably the fact it was in a big game as well," Rawlings said when asked if it was Riewoldt's best game.

"I think he's scratched the surface. He kicked five against the Eagles last year, but we were 10 goals up, so he got a few late.

"He can be a genuine key position forward for this footy club."

Jack Dyer Medallist Brett Deledio was about to be dropped, Richmond coach Jade Rawlings has revealed.

"We put it pretty squarely to him before the Crows game up on the Gold Coast that he needed to lift in a couple of areas," Rawlings said.

"He's been able to address the areas - not just the contested possessions - of what we think will make him a better leader, a better player and help this footy club move forward."

Jade Rawlings says he is very, very serious about wanting to coach Richmond in 2010.

"People who know me well will understand how much it means to me to coach this footy club," he said.

"I've been backed in and you fall in love your own and these players mean a lot to me. I'd like to think that I've been able to shape what they're doing and what's going to take this footy club forward."

Jade Rawlings has dismissed any notion of the Tigers "tanking" matches following recent claims by his predecessor Terry Wallace.

"I don't buy into the tanking thing. Anyone who's watched us play, we've been in positions the last five weeks where we could have won and should have won," Rawlings said.

"After the way got us earlier this year, my priority is picking a team that can knock them over on Sunday."

Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings says Ben Cousins has brought a new dimension to the club.

"We've scratched the surface a little bit of what he's dealing with, moving interstate and the history, and we have a good open discussion once a week, he and I," Rawlings said.

"Whether it starts with footy and goes elsewhere, I really look forward to those chats because he's a terrific guy.

"I rate him hugely and if it means I'm going over the top with my praise for him, I don't really care because I think he deserves it with how he's gone about it."

Caretaker Jade Rawlings had kept his distance from coaching the Tigers in 2010 but says he's now in 'head deep' and passionate about the future.

"I'm very passionate about what I'd like to think I could do with this group. I'd like to think I'm establishing a rapport and chemistry and trust with these boys but it's something I'm now committing to, going through the process," Rawlings said.

"I'm in it head deep, and I want to come out the other side as Richmond senior coach."

Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings says he faces a "delicate" situation with Nathan Brown as the veteran battles to force his way back into the senior line-up and also extend his AFL career.

Brown has been playing with VFL affiliate Coburg since overcoming a groin injury.

"I think he's a little bit anxious about the fact that his body hasn't been allowing him to do what he wants ... but he's very mature about it and he's giving himself every opportunity," Rawlings said.

"He needs to be able to prove he can pull up and recover and then play again."

Richmond midfielder Nathan Foley is likely to miss three weeks with a calf injury sustained in the Tigers' loss to Adelaide on Saturday night.

Coach Jade Rawlings said Foley injured his right calf at training last week but doctors had cleared him on Friday to play.

He said the injury became sore as the game wore on. Foley is now likely to have scans.

The hysteria whipped up by Kevin Sheedy's decision to vie for the Richmond job has not distracted caretaker coach Jade Rawlings.

"Many people are going to be putting their hands up for it. The club will stick to their process - the best person will get the job," Rawlings said.

North Melbourne interim coach Darren Crocker has followed the lead of his equivalent at Richmond, Jade Rawlings, and swung the selection axe for his first match in charge.

The inclusion of debutant Liam Anthony is among four changes to the side that will meet the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

Making way are youngsters Jack Ziebell (out due to a broken leg) and Gavin Urquhart, along with Sam Power and Aaron Edwards.

Jack Riewoldt has a unique boast among his teammates - he is the one Tiger who has played alongside new coach Jade Rawlings.

The 20-year-old forward was a 17-year-old hopeful playing for Tassie Mariners in the VFL when Rawlings, in the twilight of his senior career with the then Mariners' affiliate North Melbourne, came back and played a handful of games in the twos.

"He rides me a bit harder than some others. We're pretty tight," Riewoldt said.

"We're pretty close friends. We've got that balance where he can have a stern word to me or give some words of encouragement."

Richmond's axed veterans were on the end of an embarrassing loss after suiting up for the Tigers' VFL side this afternoon.

Senior players Joel Bowden, Mark Coughlan and Jordan McMahon were all part of the Coburg Tigers' 45-point loss, while other AFL regulars Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Jake King and Jay Schulz also played.

Most were dropped from Richmond's senior side after coach Terry Wallace stepped down a fortnight ago and interim replacement Jade Rawlings opted for youth over experience.

The imminent return of injured Richmond forward Nathan Brown is set to test the scalpel of new coach Jade Rawlings who has already dumped several senior players as caretaker coach of the Tigers.

Richmond gives caretaker coach Jade Rawlings a first-up win in the AFL after the Tigers defeat West Coast, Ben Cousins' old side.

Interim Richmond coach Jade Rawlings says opting for youth in his first selection does not spell the end for experienced players.

Joel Bowden, Jordie McMahon, Troy Simmonds, Mark Coughlan and Kayne Pettifer were all axed.

But Rawlings said on Friday ahead of training at Punt Road he had talked extensively with all concerned and no problems existed with any of them.

"We haven't put a line through any person on our list,'' Rawlings said.

"I said to all the guys, 'There is no cap on whether it is one week, eight weeks or never again'.

"They will need to go to Coburg and do something about elements of the game that we have discussed with them to be able to give them a chance to be able to come back in the senior side.''

Joel Bowden, in particular, has received strong support from Richmond supporters after his axing.

"I totally understand why he's got plenty of support - I'd be disappointed for him if there wasn't some support," Rawlings said.

"It's been over probably a month - he's been on the borderline once or twice this year already, and to his credit he's fought back really well.

"He can easily generate the ball, he's shown that, but there's just some elements of his game he needs to tighten up."

Rawlings denied he was trying to make a statement with the axings.

"It is a lot of changes from one week to another, but we want to move forward, picking a team we think is going to help shape the future of the footy club and also reward form," Rawlings said.

"People ask 'Is it a statement?' - I don't know if it's a statement, it's just a fact that a lot of those players who are out of the side now haven't been in great form."

Richmond's new interim coach Jade Rawlings has impressed the media and showed he is not afraid to make the tough decisions.

"I said last Saturday that I'm well aware this is a caretaker role for 2009 - where it takes things beyond this year will be up to the footy club, and obviously my performance in the second half of the year," he said.

"But I'm very excited to be able to be able to shape this group of players - men - for the second half of the year for 11 games.

"That's a great opportunity that I've been fortunate enough to be given."

Tyrone Vickery concedes his debut isn't the main attraction at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night with caretaker coach Jade Rawlings in charge of the team for the first time.

"Jade's been really good for half of the year down at Coburg for myself and the younger guys, so for him to be now coaching at AFL level and me playing I suppose it will make it pretty easy, I know what he expects and I know how he coaches.

"He's got a very good temperament, he's able to handle crises well I think, he keeps a clear head, but I suppose it will all be tested out when it goes up another step at AFL (level) but I think he'll be a very good caretaker coach for the club.''

Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings clearly signaled the club's intentions for the rest of the season on Thursday with five experienced campaigners dropped in favour of youth ahead of round 12 of the Toyota AFL Premiership season.

Troy Simmonds, Mark Coughlan, Joel Bowden, Jordan McMahon and Kayne Pettifer were all omitted after Rawlings' first selection meeting in charge at Punt Road.

Richmond's Matthew Richardson says he expects Jade Rawlings to make a fine coach.

"I haven't played under him at Coburg, and I guess I was always hoping I wouldn't play under him in that regard," Richardson.

"He'll keep things fairly simple - there's no point re-inventing the wheel half-way through the year.

"He's got the respect of all the players around the place and everyone's comfortable with the decision."

West Coast coach John Worsfold says he is doing his homework on new Richmond coach Jade Rawlings.

"We've got Warren Kofoed (former Richmond rehab and conditioning coach) at the club who's worked closely with Jade, so we have an idea what he's all about.

"But we don't really know if he's going to bring his own ideas or stick with what the players have been working on this year."

Jade Rawlings becomes the AFL's newest coach after being named caretaker coach of Richmond in Terry Wallace's place.

"We really want to get some life into the second half of the year," he said.

"The fundamentals are pretty good ... finals footy this year might be a bit hard, but we'll play a sustainable brand that's going to stack up in finals for whoever takes over (and) whatever happens in the future. We'll be repetitive in how we go about it and there'll be a real level of consistency."

Former Hawk, Bulldog and Kangaroo Jade Rawlings will lead Richmond for the rest of the season.

"I'm very humbled and extremely excited," Rawlings said.

"The club's shown they've gone through a process and stuck to it - I was only notified this morning.

"A couple of the guys are probably a bit disappointed, but geez, the support I've had already from the assistant coaches is outstanding.

"The main thing I want to get out is that one season's gone and a new one's starting, and we really want to get some life into the second half of the year."