Ned Ryerson
Future Captain
For me, the issues I have with Clarko and his part in the sour airing of his departure are restricted to just that.
I didn't particularly like how he managed his role in that separation, what he said, and what IMO he encouraged to be leaked to media to paint Hawthorn management - and thus the greater Club - in poor light. The only thing that would make that behavior understandable would be if the Club had told him he wasn't getting paid out at all.
If that was indeed what he was told, I wish he'd just have said so in an opinion piece he himself had penned, and I could have then understood the petulance he displayed. As it was, he played the unjustly jilted wife even though for 12 months all signs had been pointing to his exit with his knowledge and assistance in planning.
Nothing more than that for me. If he had stage managed his exit so that it was more dignified and in house I'd have never been the slightest bothered.
Everything I read coming out of the Club was respectful and admiring of Al.
You've mentioned percentages. I have it 50/50 Clarko and the Club, not 95% the Club and Kennett.
Doesn't mean I don't want Kennett gone.
So, you know, the girl giff who says why can't it be both is where I'm at, and not merely to be lumped with those who are disciples of JK that have issue with Clarko in his final hours at HFC.
Regardless, I'm right with everyone else who'd like a special place of honor for the little General in our HOF/Ring of Honor/Major deities as what he's brought to Hawthorn is worthy of every accolade possible.
He's also gonna kill it with the Tassie franchise, you just know he will.
Yes, but flinchy I can rely on you for an objective viewpoint! You're not blinded by an agenda on Jeff one way or the other because of his political leanings.
50/50 blame is absolutely fair because I am sure all parties made mistakes. I haven't seen as much sour grapes as you call it from Clarko - but if he was leaking and white anting I would expect better from him. That said - when you are being pushed out of an organisation you have spent 17+ years pouring everything of yourself into that would be a bloody vexing time so possibly he has done some things that are out of character because he felt pushed to the limit. I only had so much mental energy to dedicate to the handover debacle so I probably haven't dissected it quite as much as others but I always felt Clarko was fairly decent about his exit in public comments. Might need to go and watch some of those interviews a little more.