Damien Hardwick has been tasked with bringing finals success to the Gold Coast after the premiership-winning mentor was confirmed as the Suns’ new coach.

Hardwick, who took Richmond to the premiership in 2017, 2019 and 2020 before exiting the club earlier this season of his own volition, will replace Stuart Dew and has been handed a six-year-deal.

The 51-year-old recently arrived back in Australia after a lengthy overseas holiday during which Gold Coast president Bob East and chief executive Mark Evans flew to Italy to speak with Hardwick where the deal was sealed.

On Saturday weekend Hardwick was at the MCG to witness final game of his premiership captain Trent Cotchin and star Tiger Jack Riewoldt, before flying to the Gold Coast on Sunday.

The Suns have not played finals since joining the AFL in 2011 and the task in front of Hardwick cannot be understated.

“I firmly believe this is the beginning of an incredible journey with a club and a community that has a burning desire to succeed,” Hardwick said.

“The Gold Coast deserves a successful team it can be proud of, and it’s now my job to deliver that to our members, partners and wider community.

“I can see the tremendous potential we have in front of us, but understand it will take hard work from here to reach our goals.

“The foundations are in place for us to build this club into a contender for years to come and this is a challenge I am extremely excited to take on.”

Gold Coast Chairman Bob East said Hardwick was the man to deliver on his club’s premiership ambitions.

“It is with great excitement that we welcome Damien and his partner Alex to the Gold Coast Suns,” East said.

“We have been unequivocal in our desire to deliver success for our football club, for our loyal and growing group of members and fans, and to the wider Gold Coast community. This appointment is clearly a significant step in that direction.

“When we began the process to determine our Senior Coach, it was quickly apparent Damien was the best candidate available, with Premiership experience and the proven elite coaching skillset required for the job.

“We have high expectations for our club and firmly believe Damien can deliver on these to elevate the Gold Coast Suns to achieve Premiership success in the AFL competition.”

While Hardwick has been locked in there has also been speculation Richmond superstar Dustin Martin could be lured north to join him.

But Tigers CEO Brendon Gale said not only was Martin contracted, but the lure of playing 300 games in yellow and black would make it hard for him to leave.

“The speculation just goes on and on,” Gale told ABC radio.

“Firstly, Dustin is contracted, I will say that. Secondly, he is a really important part of our club for a bunch of reasons. Three, despite some of the challenges and despite our form and our inability to get the ball in the front half (this season), he is a very good player.

“He is not a bad footballer, Dustin Martin, and I just think he has looked back maybe the last couple of years with Edwards and Riewoldt and Cotchin and sees the importance of legacy and history and what that means.

“He has the opportunity to play 300 games next year. He knows what that means at our football club. I just can’t see a scenario where he is not at Richmond.”

Hardwick coached Richmond for almost 14 seasons, taking the Tigers to their first premiership in 37 years when they won the 2017 Grand Final.