Richmond AFL coach Damien Hardwick has brushed off speculation over his future, saying the pressure of the job is so great anyway that contract conjecture won’t make much difference.

The Tigers boss has impressed in the first two years of his initial three-year term, helping Richmond from 15th in 2010 to 12th last year, while the club have re-shaped their list.

Tigers president Gary March has praised Hardwick’s performance, but been unwilling to say how long it will take the club to offer their coach a new deal.

That prompted Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson to say recently the Tigers would be “crazy” and risked creating a distraction for themselves if they did not re-sign Hardwick soon.

But Hardwick himself said on Wednesday he did not feel it was a pressing issue, or that with Richmond having a difficult early draw, there was a danger some early losses could build pressure.

“AFL coaching is a pressure job,” Hardwick told AAP.

“Whether you’re in contract or out of contract, nothing changes – it is a high-pressure job.

“The contract status is there.

“Since I’ve been here at this footy club, the one thing we’ve done over the course of two years is everything is driven by a process and this is no different.

“When there is something to be said, the club will say it.”

A former Clarkson assistant at Hawthorn, Hardwick said the Hawks coach’s comments were nothing more than someone sticking up for a friend.

“The one thing I love about him and that his players love about him is that he’s loyal to his footy club and loyal to his mates,” Hardwick said.

“At the end of the day, if our footy club, and it’s well on the way to doing it, is the same as how the Hawthorn footy club handles themselves, we’re certainly on the right track.”