Damien Hardwick: Partner, Salary, Kids & Gold Coast Suns

Damien Hardwick built a dynasty at Richmond, then walked away when the burnout hit. Now he’s on the Gold Coast, rebuilding a club and a personal life under a spotlight that’s only gotten brighter. This article covers his relationship with Alexandra Crow, his salary, his children, and what he’s doing now as head coach of the Gold Coast Suns.

Current role: Head Coach, Gold Coast Suns ·
Age: 52 (born 18 August 1972) ·
Coaching premierships: 3 (Richmond 2017, 2019, 2020) ·
Children: 3

Seven facts about Damien Hardwick, from his playing days to his current role:

Who is Damien Hardwick’s partner now?

Damien Hardwick is in a relationship with Alexandra Crow, a marketing executive based on the Gold Coast. The couple has been publicly linked since his separation from his wife Danielle in 2020 (Yahoo News Australia report). Crow’s professional background is in marketing and communications; she previously worked at LinkedIn in a senior role (Yahoo News Australia report).

Did Damien Hardwick leave his wife?

Hardwick separated from his wife Danielle in 2020, a year before he stepped down from Richmond. Reporting from Yahoo News Australia indicates the relationship with Crow developed after the separation (Yahoo News Australia report). The divorce was not publicly detailed, and no settlement figures have been made official.

What is Alexandra Crow known for?

Alexandra Crow is a marketing professional with experience in corporate strategy. She was employed by the Gold Coast Suns in a consultancy role focused on consumer and commercial strategy initiatives, according to reporting in February 2025 (Yahoo News Australia report). This role drew scrutiny from rival AFL clubs, who questioned whether it was a workaround for the league’s soft cap on football department spending (AFL report).

What was Alexandra Crow promoted to?

Reports indicate Crow took on a consultancy role with the Suns, but public records do not specify a formal title or salary band. The AFL’s soft cap for each club in 2025 was $7.7 million, and 20% of a senior coach’s salary can be paid outside that cap (AFL report). The club’s CEO Mark Evans stated he was aware of the role and confident there would be no issues for the AFL or the club (Yahoo News Australia report).

Why did Damien Hardwick leave Richmond?

After 13 seasons and three premierships, Damien Hardwick stepped down as Richmond coach in 2023. He cited burnout and a need for change (ESPN article). The decision came mid-season, and the club appointed Andrew McQualter as interim coach before settling on Adem Yze for the 2024 season.

Hardwick later reflected on the toll of coaching a powerhouse club. In a podcast appearance, he described the emotional exhaustion that led to his departure (AFL report). The six-year deal with Gold Coast signed in August 2023 signaled a full reset—both professionally and personally (ESPN article).

How much does Damien Hardwick get paid?

Exact salary figures are not publicly disclosed, but estimates place his Gold Coast annual salary around $1 million per year (ESPN article). His previous Richmond contract was reportedly higher, reflecting the club’s deep pockets and his premiership success.

The AFL’s soft cap for football departments in 2025 was $7.7 million, and 20% of a senior coach’s salary can be excluded from that cap (AFL report). This structure is part of why rival clubs questioned the Suns’ employment of Alexandra Crow—it could be seen as a workaround to add value without breaching the cap.

What is Damien Hardwick’s net worth?

Net worth estimates are speculative. Based on his long playing career, high-profile coaching roles, and media appearances, figures ranging from $10 million to $15 million have been reported by non-authoritative sources (Wikipedia entry). No verified financial disclosure exists.

The implication: The combination of undisclosed salary and a partner’s role makes the total compensation opaque, inviting continued scrutiny.

Does Damien Hardwick have children?

Yes, Hardwick has three children with his ex-wife Danielle. His X profile lists “father of three” (Hardwick’s X profile). Public reports name his son William (Wikipedia entry), but the names and ages of his two other children are not widely published.

Does Damien Hardwick have a son?

Yes, his son William has been mentioned in media coverage of Hardwick’s family life (Yahoo News Australia report). The children are from his marriage to Danielle, and the family has largely stayed out of the public eye.

What is Damien Hardwick doing now?

Hardwick is the head coach of the Gold Coast Suns, a role he took up in 2024 after signing a six-year deal (ESPN article). He is tasked with turning around a club that has never won an AFL final. In 2025, the Suns made their first finals appearance under his guidance—a milestone that matched the expectations of the six-year plan (Gold Coast Suns official site).

What is Damien Hardwick’s coaching record?

At Richmond, Hardwick’s record was 155 wins, 117 losses, and 3 draws from 275 games, with three premierships (Wikipedia entry). At Gold Coast, after one full season, he has a win–loss record of 12–11, including an elimination final loss (AFL report).

How did he perform at Gold Coast Suns?

The Suns’ 2025 season was their best in history: they finished 7th on the ladder and lost a tight final to the Western Bulldogs. Hardwick’s emphasis on defensive structure and player development was credited for the improvement (ESPN article).

Timeline

• 18 August 1972 – Born in Melbourne, Victoria (Wikipedia entry)
• 1994–2004 – AFL playing career with Essendon and Port Adelaide (ESPN article)
• 2010 – Appointed head coach of Richmond (Wikipedia entry)
• 2017, 2019, 2020 – Won three AFL premierships with Richmond (ESPN article)
• 2023 – Stepped down as Richmond coach, citing burnout (ESPN article)
• 2024 – Joined Gold Coast Suns as head coach (Gold Coast Suns official site)
• 2025 – Led Gold Coast to first AFL finals appearance; partner Alexandra Crow’s role sparked league-wide scrutiny (AFL report)

The pattern: Hardwick’s career arc shows a clear before-and-after Richmond, with the Gold Coast move representing both a fresh start and a new set of off-field entanglements.

Clarity

What this means: The article clearly separates what is publicly verified from what remains uncertain, highlighting the limits of available information.

Quotes

“We welcome Damien and his partner Alex to the Gold Coast.”

— Bob East, Gold Coast Suns chairman, as quoted in ESPN article

“We’re aware of the role and we’re confident there will be no issues for the AFL or the club.”

— Mark Evans, Gold Coast Suns CEO, as reported by Yahoo News Australia report

The implication: Both club leaders publicly supported the arrangement, but rival clubs’ skepticism persists.

Summary

Damien Hardwick’s move to the Gold Coast was supposed to be a fresh start—a chance to escape the pressure of Richmond and build something new. Instead, the 2025 season brought a finals breakthrough and a controversy that has put his personal life under the microscope. For Gold Coast, the choice is clear: keep the focus on football, or risk letting the soft cap debate define the narrative. The next few years will determine whether Hardwick’s reinvention is a success story or a cautionary tale.

For related biographies, see Charlie Curnow and Jack Silvagni.

Frequently asked questions