News Clarkson news, media etc - he’s off into the Sunset!

[Strapping Young Lad]

Full Presser at the link below.

 

[hawker79]

This 100% has Jeff Kennets doing all over it. That is blatantly clear after watching the press conference. Such a pompous know it all piece of shit. It should be Kennet out the door. Clarko will forever be a Hawthorn Legend, but I dont think his time was yet and it wasnt his decision to go either. The board were completely directed by that flog Kennet. Best of luck to Sam Mitchell who I have faith in!

 

[kazzooka]

Bottom line is we just got rid of the best AFL coach of all time for Sam Mitchell.
Lets think about this for minute.... Why?

Time will tell, we could be embarrassed by Clarkson going to another club and winning more flags. Or Mitchell can rejuvenate us and we win more and we say thank f we didn't let him go.

Alternate reality Mitchell is successful at Collingwood and we lament keeping a guy who was 6 years post flag, a failed top up and 2 consecutive bottom 4 finishes.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Yep.
And i seriously doubt he will go to the Pies, or leave before the end of next year.

Actually it sounded to me like he wont coach after this - at least for some time. But then again, thats my me and my pseudo mind reading acting up again..

I am with you, i think Clarko had trouble leaving his players at the HFC. How ever he is ready for a break and time with his wife / family. The only way he could leave is knowing the club is in good hands with Sam.

 

[Kanga Commando]

you didnt watch The Chief tonight did you ?

nope - did he state something factual or give an opinion..?

 

[Carl Spackler]

Heh, if this doesn't cause heads to explode... Now we just need David King to come out against the transition to Mitchell.

 

[TazHawk15]

nope - did he state something factual or give an opinion..?

Like everyone on here, he gave his opinion.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Heh, Robbo ticks off every anti-Kennett check box that's been outlined here. If ever there was an indication that this was the right thing to do it is that Robbo entirely opposes it.

 

[Ceej Mentality]

Heh, if this doesn't cause heads to explode... Now we just need David King to come out against the transition to Mitchell.

View attachment 1172165

If that drunken slob is saying this is a bad decision I’m sleeping so soundly tonight.

 

[Kanga Commando]

Like everyone on here, he gave his opinion.

Yep, thats it.
i really dont mind opinions. Even Robbo and Kingy. They are paid for it of course..
Not facts.
Just opinions...

 

[Hawk Hawkins]

Nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain.

So tell me what you want, what you really, really want.

 

[Stratton24]

No need for him to do so, I understand my statement seemed farcical at the time. Having watched the press conference again farce is the right word. We are all Hawthorn supporters and what makes a good forum is varied opinion, my knowledge was respectfully challenged and that’s fair enough.

The bigger concern is why is someone from within the club leaking to a big footy poster and how the hell did Tom Browne miss that, big footy is where Tom get’s 96.8% of his stories!

 

[Hodgey 15]

How this all went down we may never truly know but end of day it's done.
Debate will continue of course but Sam Mitchell will be coaching us and I personally can't wait to see and am excited at what he may bring to our great club.
We have ourselves a new coach in 2023. Strap yourself in for the ride.

 

[Birdofprey]

What I got out of that press conference was how amazing Clarko is - he was classy, honest, dignified, respectful, and good humored. The other characters sitting at that desk were a lot less inspiring.

Just wondering how Mitchell compares to Chris Newman

Chris Newman

Age

42

Ht

183cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.9

4star

K

10.7

4star

HB

5.3

4star

M

4.5

4star

T

2.5

4star

MG

238.4

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

1.8

4star

as a potential coach? I mean, everyone getting excited about Mitchell coaching Box Hill for a couple of seasons, but Newman has already done that job and actually done it very well. Should we be convinced that Mitchell is better prospect at this point in time?

The good thing about this decision is that it is intended to create stability as we move from one long-term coach to the next. So thats great. But I just wonder if the selection of Mitchell was slightly premature.

Fingers crossed it works out as we hope - Go Hawks!

 

[Hodgey 15]

What I got out of that press conference was how amazing Clarko is - he was classy, honest, dignified, respectful, and good humored. The other characters sitting at that desk were a lot less inspiring.

Just wondering how Mitchell compares to Chris Newman as a potential coach? I mean, everyone getting excited about Mitchell coaching Box Hill for a couple of seasons, but Newman has already done that job and actually done it very well. Should we be convinced that Mitchell is better prospect at this point in time?

The good thing about this decision is that it is intended to create stability as we move from one long-term coach to the next. So thats great. But I just wonder if the selection of Mitchell was slightly premature.

Fingers crossed it works out as we hope - Go Hawks!

All that's happened is they have brought forward a decision they would of ultimately made end of season.

 

[westaussie76]

Clarko leaving the Hawks.

Did someone say KFC...

 

[Nick the Pig]

The how and who and why this whole thing has gone down may be questionable but after watching Clarko in the presser I'm thinking the right outcome may have been reached by default.

It seems that Clarko's fierce loyalty to his players may have been preventing him coming to the decision his head was telling him to make.

If in his own mind he was starting to more and more question the trade off between coaching versus family time and other aspects of his future then to me this says maybe its the right time for him to stop. In a way it might even be a relief for him that the decision was taken out of his hands such is his loyalty to his players. Meant he didn't have to make the hard call himself.

I still think he's the best coach in the business but once he starts to think more about if coaching is his future then its a sure sign.

 

[blockman155]

Clarkson knew that Hawthorn missing out on Mitchell as a head coach would be a mistake. He chose to fall on his sword for the future of the football club.

In an ideal world, Clarkson coaches for another 5 years with Mitchell as his Lieutenant. Unfortunately our hand was forced and it has to be fast tracked.

Clarkson can a) sail off into the sunset and leave football forever, b) head of coaching at Hawthorn to mentor, c) revenge tour. I’d be happy with a or b.

 

[hawksfan71]

I was so excited to hear Clarkson was leaving....until I realised it's 2022. LMAO How can anyone say he has been good for the club this year? We couldn't do much worse, a donkey could have done what he's done this year. Another depressing year coming up next year, Amazing. I can't wait. We needed someone fresh next year or now in fact.

 

[Birdofprey]

All that's happened is they have brought forward a decision they would of ultimately made end of season.

You are probably right. I just wonder whether the credentials of Mitchell are necessarily better than all other candidates, such as Newman. But the folks who made this decision know the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates much better than I do.

 

[Bugs1977]

Sliding Doors - by Damien Barrett

IF…

This truely is the end of the line for Clarko…

THEN..

What the f**k am I going to write about Hawthorn every week?

 

[Birdofprey]

Sliding Doors - by Damien Barrett

IF…

This truely is the end of the line for Clarko…

THEN..

What the f**k am I going to write about Hawthorn every week?

Great post.

I noticed Barret was one of the privileged few journos who were invited today, and I think Clarko was even joking with him during the session. Honestly, he not fit to shine Clarko's shoes. He did a report out the front of the club, and was smiling away like someone just gave him a lollipop.

 

[spotthedot]

Has anyone read Sammys book? Changed my opinion on him...all he cared about was himself and how many disposals he had. 75% of the book is reeling out his stats! Not sure he is the right guy to be honest. Im with Dunstall...clarko still has the fire in his belly and he should have retired on his own terms.

 

[rjslcM]

Based on the words spoken in the presser, I gather that Clarko might be okay with the idea of finishing up at the end of '22 and that Sam is also content with taking the reigns at the end of '22.

However, based on the body-language shown by Clarko and Sam in the presser, I gather that neither of them like how the club has handled this. I gather that neither of them like the public declaration of this hand-over and neither of them like the situation they've found themselves in. I don't blame them either.

What benefit is there in publicly announcing this succession plan? It confuses the players as to who they should be playing for and impressing. It also adds enormous pressure to Sam when he takes over. Could have Hawthorn simply informed Clarko of the decision and then allowed Clarko to announce that he'll be finishing up at the end of '22 out of respect for the absolutely monumental and incredible work that he's done for the club?

Did we have to put pressure and increased media speculation on Sam by giving him the job via a ****ing succession plan? Could have they simply informed Sam that the job would be available at the end of '22? Given that Sam's first choice would be to coach Hawthorn over other clubs, perhaps one of the geniuses might have checked if Sam would wait out for the Hawthorn vacancy for another year and gone through the interviewing process rather than go through the process at Collingwood or elsewhere.

Would have this been handled differently if Clarko got to choose how it was done? I like to think so. For example: Clarko approaches club regarding contracts; Clarko receives news that the contract wouldn't be renewed, the club give Clarko the chance to say that he'll be finishing up at the end of '22 and retiring, Clarko continues to prepare Sam so that he is a sure-thing to get the Hawks job at the end of '22 through the selection process. Clarko leaves at the end of the contract, gets the public adoration and send-off he deserves, and sails off into the moonlight cleanly. Hawthorn select a new coach in the off-season, likely Sam.

Instead, we've publicly shown a four-time premiership coach the door in a foolish grandstanding fashion. Everybody is poorer for it.

 

[Walshawk]

Has anyone read Sammys book? Changed my opinion on him...all he cared about was himself and how many disposals he had. 75% of the book is reeling out his stats! Not sure he is the right guy to be honest. Im with Dunstall...clarko still has the fire in his belly and he should have retired on his own terms.

Read bits of it. Didn’t get that feeling. Liked his thoughts on coaching - how a lot of what Clarkson did was counter-intuitive.

 

[Mercy Seat]

Has anyone read Sammys book? Changed my opinion on him...all he cared about was himself and how many disposals he had. 75% of the book is reeling out his stats! Not sure he is the right guy to be honest. Im with Dunstall...clarko still has the fire in his belly and he should have retired on his own terms.

I’ve read it and yeah I didn’t like a lot of how he came off. But word is he has softened quite a bit in recent years. My biggest fear is how he connects with people, particularly those who don’t meet his standards. Has been accused of particularly hard on younger players in the team in his playing days. Hopefully that has cleared up. One of Clarkos best attributes is the ability to connect with absolutely everyone in the team, from the stars to the boot studder. Let’s hope that’s rubbed off.