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

[Strapping Young Lad]

Full Presser at the link below.

 

[Alsmypal]

People disagreeing with a decision does not mean it has been poorly done.
The words mature and professional are a complete mystery to many posters here.

Mature and professional? Cringeworthy press conference and a hastily made decision because Collingwood was interested. Let me know your business so I can steer clear lol

 

[kawker]

Mature and professional? Cringeworthy press conference and a hastily made decision because Collingwood was interested. Let me know your business so I can steer clear lol

Mature & Professional is referring to the key people over the next 18 months - MItchell & Clarkson. Indisputable.
Hastily: A decision that's been playing out for years in the background, notably with the return of Mitchell from WCE.
Cringeworthy is ENTIRELY within your, and others, minds. I've seen & heard (SEN) some fairly bizarre interpretations of Clarko's body language/tone, similarly with Dunstall's last night. All BS, not there.
If you respect Clarko's honesty and intelligence: He's known this was on the way, planned it in fact, sooner, not later, and he's looking to do other things in life, family, etc. Surely it's about time. He doesn't BS, and his responses last night make perfect sense.

 

[Stranglers]

As to how well this works out for the club, lets review in 2025 and see where we are at.

If we haven't achieved another three-peat by then I won't be satisfied!

 

[Ceej Mentality]

Mature and professional? Cringeworthy press conference and a hastily made decision because Collingwood was interested. Let me know your business so I can steer clear lol

What would you prefer - mature adult conversations being had now about what the club should do in 2023 or ham fisting it and having Mitchell take the Collingwood job and stuffing up the coaching transition like we did the Gaudry appointment?

 

[The Cryptkeeper]

People are carrying on as we are contending and don’t need a rebuild.
17th. 6th year since silverware, 5 years until we contend.

Are we signing Clarko for another 5 years? 18 years is a fair stint.
Or turn over a new leaf and freshen up the place while we are at rock bottom.

Seems a pretty logical decision to me.

We have to rebuild because we were so successful. Why were we so successful? Largely because of Clarkson.

 

[SammyC]

I disagree with the decision but mostly have issues with the process.

I have no doubt the board are well intentioned but also think Jeff would be a dominant voice among his handpicked crew. I know a couple of the board members and they are hardly corporate heavyweights. Even Jeff doesn’t have that background despite the bluster.

That’s why external reviews get done - not always an excuse to sack a coach but also a mechanism for a board to receive expert and independent recommendations on how to improve football dept including coaching. Despite all the spin, this decision is representative of very very poor governance.

But now the decision has been made, I reckon clarko coaches us or nobody in 2022. I don’t reckon the pies job under a divided board is where he will go but they will come hard obviously. More likely Carlton, Gold Coast or GWS in 2023.

If I had to bet - Gold Coast, great list, big challenge, AFL cheque book for anything he need to make it happen. Success there would cement his legend status.

 

[Alsmypal]

What would you prefer - mature adult conversations being had now about what the club should do in 2023 or ham fisting it and having Mitchell take the Collingwood job and stuffing up the coaching transition like we did the Gaudry appointment?

On your other point Bill Belichick still going alright and much older than Clarko. I’m saying these mature conversations should’ve taken place well and truly before Mitchell left West Coast. The fact that a rival club may approach him factored in to the plan as it was bound to happen. If that had transpired Collingwoods interest wouldn’t have mattered because everyone knew the plan. If you take Clarko at his word he approached the club. He should’ve known.

 

[Ceej Mentality]

On your other point Bill Belichick still going alright and much older than Clarko. I’m saying these mature conversations should’ve taken place well and truly before Mitchell left West Coast. The fact that a rival club may approach him factored in to the plan as it was bound to happen. If that had transpired Collingwoods interest wouldn’t have mattered because everyone knew the plan. If you take Clarko at his word he approached the club. He should’ve known.

Belichick is a good example, however he is now into that third decade and ended up gifting Tampa Bay a Superbowl and it will be interesting to see what he can accomplish without the greatest QB of all time at his disposal. A bit like how Popovich is undoubtedly a great coach but is finding it difficult to rebuild the Spurs post-Duncan.

I certainly don't think Clarkson is too old to coach - but I do worry about any coach whose tenure goes beyond the second decade because history dictates that the decline in results will set in then. There's always outliers of course, and if anyone is primed to be one it is Clarko. I'm just glad we have acted decisively.

 

[flinchfree]

Yeah he and that board can go. This has the makings of a debacle written all over it. Anyone who could watch collingwood and go down the same path doesn’t deserve to be there.

You and Gabrone seem to be character driven supporters.....you've got a hero and it's not the Club but an individual.
Not saying you shouldn't support the way you want.
Personally I don't see it like that.
I loved Barry Rowlings, but when he left Knights replaced him as my man crush.
When 24 couldn't go anymore, I fell for a brethren including Mew and Derm, Wallace and Dunstall, Curran and Platts and...well, et al the 80's boys.
And as they left, wore down, ran away (looking at you Ben Allan / Darren Jarman / Mathew Robran), my love shifted to the new crop.
The players and coaches are merely caretakers of our dreams.
The Club lives because we care and support.
I won't stop supporting unless they change the name.

This is hardly a debacle.
It's just not as you would have it.

 

[parsons nose]

I thought everyone here was across the club’s decision to anoint Mitchell as the ‘chosen one’. Evidently not. It was pretty much a fait accompli when Clarko raised the idea with Mitchell to do a stint at WCE. I suspect but cannot be certain that it was Kennett alone who made good on this promise, as he has been banging on about caps on tenure for years.

Hopefully, he (Kennett) gets out of the way once Mitchell takes the reins and offers him full support during challenging times. Something that wasn’t always apparent during Clarko’s tenure.

 

[Pessimistic]

What would you prefer - mature adult conversations being had now about what the club should do in 2023 or ham fisting it and having Mitchell take the Collingwood job and stuffing up the coaching transition like we did the Gaudry appointment?

‘the good thing is Clarko appears to have chosen his successor not kennett

 

[Pessimistic]

What would you prefer - mature adult conversations being had now about what the club should do in 2023 or ham fisting it and having Mitchell take the Collingwood job and stuffing up the coaching transition like we did the Gaudry appointment?

‘mitchell taking the Collingwood job? Why is that so bad?

 

[The Cryptkeeper]

I thought everyone here was across the club’s decision to anoint Mitchell as the ‘chosen one’. Evidently not. It was pretty much a fait accompli when Clarko raised the idea with Mitchell to do a stint at WCE. I suspect but cannot be certain that it was Kennett alone who made good on this promise, as he has been banging on about caps on tenure for years.

Hopefully, he (Kennett) gets out of the way once Mitchell takes the reins and offers him full support during challenging times. Something that wasn’t always apparent during Clarko’s tenure.

Jeff Kennett, the guy who said two terms was enough for any club president.

He's a dinosaur and a hypocrite. I stopped listening to him years ago.

 

[Pessimistic]

One thing is absolutely certain.

Can you imagine the ears perking up as Sam walks in to the Box Hill rooms to ready the 2nds for training?
Every young man in that place is going to know they are under the eyes of the next Hawthorn first team coach and will be busting every stitch to impress. May even spur some of them to heights they didn't know was in them. A fella like Jai right now, pretty sure he's high as the Grampians knowing who gave him his shot and what might be coming down the pipe.

I love it. It WILL be a young team coach Mitch is inheriting.
It will absolutely be exciting to watch them develop.
Giddy up.

‘they are smashing it now anyway. Its a huge contrast from when mitchell was stood down as hawthorn captain

 

[Kanga Commando]

I disagree with the decision but mostly have issues with the process.

I have no doubt the board are well intentioned but also think Jeff would be a dominant voice among his handpicked crew. I know a couple of the board members and they are hardly corporate heavyweights. Even Jeff doesn’t have that background despite the bluster.

That’s why external reviews get done - not always an excuse to sack a coach but also a mechanism for a board to receive expert and independent recommendations on how to improve football dept including coaching. Despite all the spin, this decision is representative of very very poor governance.

But now the decision has been made, I reckon clarko coaches us or nobody in 2022. I don’t reckon the pies job under a divided board is where he will go but they will come hard obviously. More likely Carlton, Gold Coast or GWS in 2023.

If I had to bet - Gold Coast, great list, big challenge, AFL cheque book for anything he need to make it happen. Success there would cement his legend status.

Would love to know more about the decision making process.

 

[Yardie]

Thought it was a great selection at the time much better than the other choices

I wanted Eade at the time but was really just happy it wasn't Wallace (hats off to you Richmond)

 

[Yardie]

bizarre interpretations of Clarko's body language/tone, similarly with Dunstall's last night. All BS, not there

The body language at the start of the press conference BEFORE Clarko starts speaking is horrible from Justin, Sam and Clarko. They all look like they don't really want to be there.

 

[Bardo State]

This is serious praise. For anyone that hasn't read the article, Schofield says that Mitchell in 2018 was the best assistant coach he played under. With no equivocation.

Schofield has had the following notable assistant coaches:
- Peter Sumich
- Phil Walsh
- David Teague
- Don Pyke
- Brady Rawlings
- Justin Longmuir
- Dean Cox

 

[Randy Campbell]

A bit of perspective here but how many of us here thought Clarko was the man to pick to take us into a new era?

Being a Central District's supporter.
I did.

 

[Ceej Mentality]

‘the good thing is Clarko appears to have chosen his successor not kennett

That's what has me fairly calm about things. I think Clarko has been very hands-on with Mitchell's coaching ambitions long before Mitchell even went to Perth, we are basically getting someone with intensely high footy IQ coupled with years of mentorship by Clarko.

‘mitchell taking the Collingwood job? Why is that so bad?

Considering all the wraps on him both internally and externally - if he's as good as the plaudits indicate then I am glad he is going to be our next coach and not Collingwood's.

 

[Ceej Mentality]

The body language at the start of the press conference BEFORE Clarko starts speaking is horrible from Justin, Sam and Clarko. They all look like they don't really want to be there.

In fairness I would rather eat a needle disposal box than talk to the collective dullards that comprise the AFL media.

 

[Alsmypal]

You and Gabrone seem to be character driven supporters.....you've got a hero and it's not the Club but an individual.
Not saying you shouldn't support the way you want.
Personally I don't see it like that.
I loved Barry Rowlings, but when he left Knights replaced him as my man crush.
When 24 couldn't go anymore, I fell for a brethren including Mew and Derm, Wallace and Dunstall, Curran and Platts and...well, et al the 80's boys.
And as they left, wore down, ran away (looking at you Ben Allan / Darren Jarman / Mathew Robran), my love shifted to the new crop.
The players and coaches are merely caretakers of our dreams.
The Club lives because we care and support.
I won't stop supporting unless they change the name.

This is hardly a debacle.
It's just not as you would have it.

You’d be wrong. No person is bigger than the club. I think Dunstall summarised it perfectly that Clarko is someone special that has earnt the right to go out on his terms.
This doesn’t look like he is. It’s been poorly planned and managed with a hastily put together press conference on the back of some interest from a rival two weeks back. That’s not much of a plan that to me sounds like amateur hour. Did anyone consider Collingwood did this to actually get Clarko not Mitchell? You don’t react with a well orchestrated plan in effect by another club that seems in trouble. Was Mitchell actually going there anyways if he knew he’d be taking the reigns at Hawthorn at some point? Lots of holes in this story...

 

[rjslcM]

Given the back and forth nature of this thread, I'm going to highlight my own thoughts again.

Seems like most Hawthorn people are okay with Clarko leaving at the end of '22 given that he does want more time with family. Seems like most Hawthorn people are okay with Mitchell getting the senior job in '22. No problem.

However, it also seems like most Hawthorn people still have a lot of angst over the situation. I personally detest the way that this has been handled publicly. No need for this announcement. No need to tell the world that "we the Hawthorn football club are moving Clarkson on." They admitted themselves that Clarkson brought it up anyway. Why on Earth could we not have had some humility as a club and respected a legend by allowing him to hold his own press conference, allowing him to say "hey, I'm finishing up at the end of '22, Hawthorn will find a new coach between now and then" (whilst quietly assuring Mitchell, if they please). That way, Clarkson leaves a hero and the public view it as him leaving on his terms, Sam doesn't get so much unnecessary pressure, the players understand who does what for the next 1.5 years.

So the annoyance towards Kennett? Absolutely warranted. There are a number on here defending Kennett by stating over and over that, "the transition plan was not just his decision". Correct, that wasn't his decision alone. However, how this was handled publicly? Very likely that is was entirely his decision to hold that press conference and make the announcement that Hawthorn are having some grand succession plan. The PR here is atrocious. Watch the presser, study the body language and the words again.

 

[Manila_Hawk]

You and Gabrone seem to be character driven supporters.....you've got a hero and it's not the Club but an individual.
Not saying you shouldn't support the way you want.
Personally I don't see it like that.
I loved Barry Rowlings, but when he left Knights replaced him as my man crush.
When 24 couldn't go anymore, I fell for a brethren including Mew and Derm, Wallace and Dunstall, Curran and Platts and...well, et al the 80's boys.
And as they left, wore down, ran away (looking at you Ben Allan / Darren Jarman / Mathew Robran), my love shifted to the new crop.
The players and coaches are merely caretakers of our dreams.
The Club lives because we care and support.
I won't stop supporting unless they change the name.

This is hardly a debacle.
It's just not as you would have it.

Best post ever !

 

[Alsmypal]

Given the back and forth nature of this thread, I'm going to highlight my own thoughts again.

Seems like most Hawthorn people are okay with Clarko leaving at the end of '22 given that he does want more time with family. Seems like most Hawthorn people are okay with Mitchell getting the senior job in '22. No problem.

However, it also seems like most Hawthorn people still have a lot of angst over the situation. I personally detest the way that this has been handled publicly. No need for this announcement. No need to tell the world that "we the Hawthorn football club are moving Clarkson on." They admitted themselves that Clarkson brought it up anyway. Why on Earth could we not have had some humility as a club and respected a legend by allowing him to hold his own press conference, allowing him to say "hey, I'm finishing up at the end of '22, Hawthorn will find a new coach between now and then" (whilst quietly assuring Mitchell, if they please). That way, Clarkson leaves a hero and the public view it as him leaving on his terms, Sam doesn't get so much unnecessary pressure, the players understand who does what for the next 1.5 years.

So the annoyance towards Kennett? Absolutely warranted. There are a number on here defending Kennett by stating over and over that, "the transition plan was not just his decision". Correct, that wasn't his decision alone. However, how this was handled publicly? Very likely that is was entirely his decision to hold that press conference and make the announcement that Hawthorn are having some grand succession plan. The PR here is atrocious. Watch the presser, study the body language and the words again.

Well said!