Clarkson Re-Signs

[Johnny_Segment]

Hawthorn Football Club senior coach Alastair Clarkson has put pen to paper on a new three year contract, as the Club continues to re-establish itself as one of the AFL’s premier clubs.

The contract was finalised behind closed doors today at Waverley Park, with Club President, Jeff Kennett, happy to confirm the news.

“Alastair enjoys the full confidence of the Hawthorn Football Club Board, management, coaching and playing group,” said Kennett.

“His re-signing for another three years, until the end of 2011, is another sign of the stability and high morale at the Club.”

Clarkson, in his fourth season at Hawthorn, has led the rebuilding of the football department, assembling the best coaching personnel and some of the best young talent in AFL.

Undefeated to date in season 2008, Clarkson believes there is still much work ahead in developing the Hawks list, but is delighted that the Club has shown the faith in him and his team to lead the Club forward.

“Four years ago we started a journey towards the Club’s tenth premiership,” said Clarkson.

“The Club has taken many bold decisions along the way and I look forward to continuing to play an important part in delivering this to the Hawthorn Football Club and its members.”

“Whist we have made a strong start to the 2008 season, both the playing group and coaching staff understand what is necessary to continue to build towards being the most competitive that we can be.”

http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/News/BlogArticle/tabid/10850/Default.aspx?newsId=59528

 

[cs61]

He was the lowest paid coach in the league previously, I wonder if/hope he got a significant increase with this contract.

 

[Mad Dog]

Good luck to the former Centrals Premiership Coach.....

 

[Hawkers Hero]

Great news

Well deserved for the unbelievable sense of optimism he has brought to the club.

 

[fishbowl]

One hyphen changes the whole sentence.

 

[Moose1]

good news for hawks supporters. Wish richmond had taken his approach when we were both holding up the ladder a few years ago....

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Done with a minimum of fuss and fanfare by the coach and the club and done in accordance with the parameters outlined by Clarkson when he was on Footy Classified earlier this year.

The club has certainly become a lot more professional about its contract management after the good ol' boy days of Schwab and co. Hopefully the players can take our performance to the next step.

 

[tazhawk]

A fantastic reward for AC.

He copped plenty of shit early but he has been steadfast in the direction he and the Hawks undertook 3 years ago.

 

[detox]

Clarkson had the crap bagged out of him when we took the reigns.

Funny its quite hard to bag him now.

Absolutely amazing how much the club has turned around since he has been in control.

 

[BW]

3 years?

Terrible decision IMO. 2 years would have been more appropriate for a coach who isn't finals proven going into the period where you should be ready for a premiership.

 

[JiMaRaS]

3 years?

Terrible decision IMO. 2 years would have been more appropriate for a coach who isn't finals proven going into the period where you should be ready for a premiership.

I guess it still hurts signing up Laidley with his finals record. Ill take my chances with Clarkson.

 

[H2F]

Clarkson saved Hawthorn, we're so lucky to have him ...

Well done AC

 

[cs61]

3 years?

Terrible decision IMO. 2 years would have been more appropriate for a coach who isn't finals proven going into the period where you should be ready for a premiership.

Why are we in that position again?

 

[BW]

I guess it still hurts signing up Laidley with his finals record. Ill take my chances with Clarkson.

Not that it is at all relevent to what I was saying, but are you talking about Laidley's 1-0 finals record over Clarkson?

And yes, I'm glad Laidley is on a 2 year contract not a 3 year contract, which is exactly my point with Clarkson.

 

[DapperDon]

Well done Clarko, it would have been shit for someone else to come in and take all your hard work away from you.

 

[BW]

Why are we in that position again?

Not having a go at what Clarkson has achieved (which has been fantastic).

Giving him 3 years instead of 2 seems totally unnecessary and unwarranted. You want someone who can coach you to a flag, not someone who can just build a premiership team. Not that Clarkson can or won't do that, but he's still got an unproven record in that regard.

No harm in giving him 2 years and reviewing from there. If Hawthorn don't make a GF or show significant promise in 2008-2010, I wouldn't have thought his position as coach would be assured for 2011, but now it is.

 

[cs61]

Not having a go at what Clarkson has achieved (which has been fantastic).

Giving him 3 years instead of 2 seems totally unnecessary and unwarranted. You want someone who can coach you to a flag, not someone who can just build a premiership team. Not that Clarkson can or won't do that, but he's still got an unproven record in that regard.

No harm in giving him 2 years and reviewing from there. If Hawthorn don't make a GF or show significant promise in 2008-2010, I wouldn't have thought his position as coach would be assured for 2011, but now it is.

Totally unneccessary and unwarranted?

That is in an unbelievably baseless comment.

Its secured the future and create stability for the club with a long term extension after he was originally given two 2 year contracts, and now deserves the reward for the work he's put him. I'm sure he demanded 3 years this time, and rightly so.

Unwarranted? I think you'd be in the vast minority who didn't think Clarkson is warranted a 3 year deal given what he has done so far.

The club has had 4 years to watch him, see him perform and grow, and are certainly in a situation to judge whether he deserved an extension.

 

[CoastersFlag No.5]

Not having a go at what Clarkson has achieved (which has been fantastic).

Giving him 3 years instead of 2 seems totally unnecessary and unwarranted. You want someone who can coach you to a flag, not someone who can just build a premiership team. Not that Clarkson can or won't do that, but he's still got an unproven record in that regard.

No harm in giving him 2 years and reviewing from there. If Hawthorn don't make a GF or show significant promise in 2008-2010, I wouldn't have thought his position as coach would be assured for 2011, but now it is.

So i guess 7 wins in a row is not making progress unless they win a flag this year. Thankfully clubs don't develop short term goals like you must win a flag in three years or we'll turf you out or they'd have a revolving door of coaches that only last 2 years. Well deserved Clarkson your mob was a laughing stock not that long ago now at the mo your the one of the only serious challengers to the prospective Cats dynasty.

 

[arfadunger]

Good for Clarkson! As the old Frank Sinatra song goes, he's done it his way. I really like the way that he is unwavering in the way he is going about his job, and also the way he takes no crap and backs his players in the media. It would have been an insult to offer 2 years.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Not having a go at what Clarkson has achieved (which has been fantastic).

Giving him 3 years instead of 2 seems totally unnecessary and unwarranted. You want someone who can coach you to a flag, not someone who can just build a premiership team. Not that Clarkson can or won't do that, but he's still got an unproven record in that regard.

No harm in giving him 2 years and reviewing from there. If Hawthorn don't make a GF or show significant promise in 2008-2010, I wouldn't have thought his position as coach would be assured for 2011, but now it is.

Every premiership coach has been in that position at some stage. I hope North doesn't play Hawthorn in the Finals and kill off that 1-0 finals record you spoke about.

 

[King Elvis]

Good luck to the former Centrals Premiership Coach.....

I said at the time that Clarkson would be a very good choice for Hawthorn - largely on the back of me being an SANFL Eagles supporter, and knowing the traits and success he had at Centrals, highlighted by them constantly flogging us.

Good on him - and good on Hawthorn for not indulging in any of the circus that can occur around contract negotiations - business like and simple, how it should be.

BW - with what Clarkson has already achieved at Hawthorn, he'd be in pretty high demand. If he wasn't given 3 years, what's to say he wasn't prepared to shop himself around and get a better deal elsewhere?

 

[BW]

Totally unneccessary and unwarranted?

That is in an unbelievably baseless comment.

Its secured the future and create stability for the club with a long term extension after he was originally given two 2 year contracts, and now deserves the reward for the work he's put him. I'm sure he demanded 3 years this time, and rightly so.

Unwarranted? I think you'd be in the vast minority who didn't think Clarkson is warranted a 3 year deal given what he has done so far.

The club has had 4 years to watch him, see him perform and grow, and are certainly in a situation to judge whether he deserved an extension.

The next 3 years (end of this year & 09-10) is when you will really get to judge him. Trading picks, heavily recruiting in youth and developing obviously talented kids into a decent yet not finals proven football side is the reletively easy part. Consistently playing and winning finals including premierships is the part he will be ultimantly judged on.

Whether he's the man to take Hawthorn from where they are now to a premiership team remains to be seen, that is fact. He absolutely warrants the opportunity to have the chance to do it though. I just think locking him in for the next 3 and a half years is unnecessary when you could lock him in for 2 and a half more, and just renew his contract if hes flying mid-2010.

 

[H2F]

I said at the time that Clarkson would be a very good choice for Hawthorn - largely on the back of me being an SANFL Eagles supporter, and knowing the traits and success he had at Centrals, highlighted by them constantly flogging us.

Good on him - and good on Hawthorn for not indulging in any of the circus that can occur around contract negotiations - business like and simple, how it should be.

that you did, I remember it

A couple of Power Posters also stuck up for me when I was the Lone Ranger luvin the bloke.

Thanks MD, Elvis and others with a brain in here.

 

[BW]

So i guess 7 wins in a row is not making progress unless they win a flag this year. Thankfully clubs don't develop short term goals like you must win a flag in three years or we'll turf you out or they'd have a revolving door of coaches that only last 2 years. Well deserved Clarkson your mob was a laughing stock not that long ago now at the mo your the one of the only serious challengers to the prospective Cats dynasty.

I'm talking in finals rather than home and away matches, but you obviously don't understand what I'm saying.

 

[The Cryptkeeper]

3 years?

Terrible decision IMO. 2 years would have been more appropriate for a coach who isn't finals proven going into the period where you should be ready for a premiership.

You North Melbourne muppets just cannot help yourselves.

Good luck with both your fight for survival and your battle to play finals football this season.

Hawthorn, under Clarkson is a model that you would do well to try and replicate. In being critical you are defining the very difference between our two football clubs.