The fallout from premiership coach Damien Hardwick’s affair with the Richmond Tigers’ sales rep Alexandra Crow is continuing to reverberate – and is affecting more than one club.
The former partner of Ms Crow is among the top executives at Carlton Football Club.
Daniel Giese has been a highly regarded executive within both AFL and NRL ranks for years – and also worked for five years with the Richmond Football Club from 2010-2015.
He was living with Ms Crow at their $1.2 million Ascot Vale home when the relationship with three-time premiership coach started.
Mr Giese and Danielle Hardwick, who apparently learnt of her husband’s affair during a trip to the team hub in Queensland last year, cut forlorn figures after news broke of the affair this week.
Danielle Hardwick is continuing to get on with her life down the road in Brighton. She hit social media on Tuesday night in a subtle dig against her ex-husband Damien Hardwick
Daniel Giese is a respected Carlton Football Club executive. On Wednesday he went about his business with quiet dignity as the scandal involving his ex partner continued
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick is expected to be back at training this week. Even Melbourne’s insipid sports reporters are expected to ask him a few tough questions when he does
The Tigers coach has not been spotted in public with his new lover – a Richmond sales representative – since news of the scandal broke this week.
It is understood the pair remain in hiding at a rental property within trendy Elwood, on Port Phillip Bay.
Mr Giese was seen going out for a bike ride on Wednesday morning after fielding numerous inquiries from Melbourne’s footy mad media.
He declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia.
The successful salesman, who is general manager of consumer business at Carlton, is revered among Blues fans for his open and honest interaction with them about their club memberships.
Mr Giese can be seen actively engaging with fans on footy forums where he toils to meet their lofty expectations of the club.
He was recruited to Carlton in 2018 after spending almost three years in a near identical role at Melbourne Storm.
It remains unclear if he worked alongside his ex-partner at Richmond, who continues to work with the club’s commercial sales team.
Records show Mr Giese jointly purchased their home in May 2019, about two months before Ms Crow hit Twitter praising her future lover.
‘Hi @damienhardwick, first time caller long time listener. Just wondering when you will be getting a statue,’ she wrote upon Hardwick equalling Tiger legend Jack Dyer’s coaching record that year.
Daniel Giese has a chat to a mate on Wednesday about how he has become an overnight media target following revelations his former partner Alex Crow is now dating Damien Hardwick
Alexandra Crow has been named as the woman Tigers coach Damien Hardwick is now in a relationship with. She owns a home with Daniel Giese
Damien Hardwick and wife Danielle have three children together. He is now dating another woman
A little over 15kms east, in leafy Brighton, Danielle Hardwick, returned to dignified silence after an online swipe at the father of her three children overnight.
‘F**k every single person that took advantage of your kindness and mistook it for weakness,’ she posted to social media.
On Wednesday, Mrs Hardwick continued to go about her business with their children, running in and out on errands.
She too declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia.
Hardwick’s relationship with the young Richmond staffer allegedly developed while the pair were caged inside the Queensland hub.
The hub, introduced so the competition could continue during the pandemic, has been blamed for putting pressure on families.
Daily Mail Australia has been told the Richmond coach began the taboo relationship with Ms Crow – known widely as Alex – during the Tigers’ time in the hub while still married.
Hardwick allegedly split with his wife last month with the endorsement of the Richmond hierarchy.
The Tigers remain committed to Hardwick despite intense speculation he was preparing to stand down or be walked out.
The club has confirmed it’s aware of the relationship between the two.
While Hardwick has not been spotted publicly since before Christmas, he will be forced to face the scandal whether he likes it or not with the recommencement of training for the 2021 season scheduled to kick off this week.
Damian and Danielle Hardwick in happier times
Danielle Hardwick (left) took to social media on Tuesday night in a subtle swipe against her ex
Damian Hardwick, pictured with Dustin Martin, will be forced to face the music when training resumes this week
Mrs Hardwick was affectionately referred to as ‘Mrs Hardwick’ among players during her longstanding relationship with the decorated coach.
She spent Christmas with the family of Tigers captain Trent Cotchin, and is ‘well loved’ within the club.
Cotchin’s wife Brooke has since publicly supported Ms Hardwick, sharing a photograph of her holding her son Parker with the words ‘strength, courage and dignity’ in the frame.
The split is understood to have caused some friction among the playing team, which will be expected to put on another big performance in front of Melbourne crowds this year.