Hawthorn v Richmond: What’s next for Alastair Clarkson?

Clarko’s incredible journey as Hawks coach came to an end after which he reinforced his plans to “have a spell”, Dimma however believes he will be back sooner rather than later.

James Mottershead and Glenn McFarlane

7 min read

August 21, 2021 - 1:48PM

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Alastair Clarkson’s 17-season, 6192-day journey as Hawthorn coach closed with a bizarre draw against Richmond after which he reinforced his plans to “have a spell” before embarking on the next phase of his life.

On a day of farewells at an eerie, empty MCG - where Shaun Burgoyne played his 407th and last AFL game and Tiger flag heroes David Astbury and Bachar Houli were honoured for their contribution to the game - most of the attention centred on Clarkson, the man acknowledged as the most successful coach of the modern era.

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Alastair Clarkson and Shaun Burgoyne leave the field for the last time. Picture Getty Images

While it may have started as a dead rubber for both sides, the match ended in dramatic circumstances when the Tigers kicked the last four majors of the game to come back from more than five goals down.

The last goal, with only seconds left on the clock, came from Jack Riewoldt, whose kick just snuck past Burgoyne’s outstretched hands.

It was followed by an emotional farewell in front of the empty stands where Astbury and Houli were carried off before Clarkson and Burgoyne walked through a guard of honour formed by both sides.

Then came a quirky double coaching press conference from Clarkson and his great mate Damien Hardwick, which was almost a throw back to ‘Coaches Corner’ from the famous World Of Sport days.

Hardwick believes it won’t be the last time he will coach against Clarkson, but the four-time Hawthorn premiership coach insisted he planned to have at least one year off before sorting out his future.

“My intention is to have a spell from the game … I am happy to pass on the baton to ‘Mitch’ (Sam Mitchell) as the next coach of our footy club,” Clarkson said on Saturday night.

Alastair Clarkson with assistant coach Sam Mitchell at quarter time. Picture: Michael Klein

“To be fair, I would like to spend the next 12 months to see what the next chapter is.

“Asked specifically if he would take a call from Collingwood or Carlton about a role next season, the 53-year-old said he had been “doing this caper for 17 (seasons)” and needed to refresh for a year.

“It is not just 17 years (of senior coaching),” Clarkson said. “I have been chasing this AFL dream for 45 years, whether that was chasing it to become an AFL player, and then I played for 10 years and I have been coaching (at various levels) for the last 25 years.”

Hardwick, whose links to Clarkson extend to Port Adelaide when he was a player and to Hawthorn when he was an assistant coach, said he believed his great mate won’t be lost to football.

Clarko crashes Hardwick's presser ðŸ˜‚ #AFLTigersHawks pic.twitter.com/qxzj2IWJAW
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 21, 2021

“I presume so,” Hardwick said when asked if he thought Clarkson would coach again.

“I don’t think he will ever be lost to the game.

“You have got one of the great minds in the modern era sitting beside me. He will take a breath and get back into something.”

Hardwick said he would love to have Clarkson join him at Richmond, but knew he had “bigger fish to fry”.

Clarkson joked his connection with Hardwick was such that the pair had always planned to work overseas at some stage “to go over and help the New England Patriots win another title (in the NFL) … but Tom Brady nicked off.”

Alastair Clarkson and Damien Hardwick shake hands. Picture: Getty Images

The two coaches, who have won seven of the past 13 AFL premierships, were asked who was the most relentless of the two, with both offering different answers.

“He is as bad as me,” Clarkson said with a laugh, adding: “he just hasn’t punched a hole in the coaches box.”

Hardwick responded: “Not that you have seen anyway.”

“We have been through stages where both of us have struggled … when I was at a time of need in 2016 the first person on the phone to help me through was the guy beside me.”

Clarkson said he was almost relieved that a difficult season was over, after what has been a messy year for the Hawks.

He added: “I tell you what is a (real) weight off my shoulder (is) I don’t have to review the last 10 minutes of that game.”

He hoped football - and leaders - could find a way to overcome the effects of the pandemic, saying so many people from all walks of life were struggling with lockdowns.

“We can’t play footy the way we like to play footy, and while it is good that the competition has gone ahead, it has been compromised enormously.”

Clarkson said confident Mitchell had plenty of young talent to work with at Hawthorn next year and beyond.

“It is a baton change and we have been able to show in the second half of the year there is enough emerging talent at our footy club to move forward,” he said.

“Mitch has got to work out what his vision is for the footy club, and where he wants to take it. It is his responsibility now to write a new chapter for the footy club.”

Alastair Clarkson next chapter begins. Picture: Getty Images

Clarko, Burgoyne era ends with unbelievable finish

Richmond kicked the last five goals to snatch an extraordinary draw from Alastair Clarkson and Shaun Burgoyne in their final game in brown and gold.

The Hawks were cruising and looked winners all afternoon until time on in the last quarter when Richmond flicked a switch to salvage a draw and send David Astbury off in the most remarkable circumstances.

Retiring Tigers David Astbury and Bachar Houli are chaired off the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

After Jack Scrimshaw kicked a goal to give the Hawks a five-goal advantage deep into the final term Hawthorn looked so good Damien Hardwick took his headset off and said “I’m done”.

But it was a fitting outcome for Clarkson, Astbury, Burgoyne and Bachar Houli with none of the champions of the game deserving to leave it on losing terms.

It wasn’t the usual finals tune-up these two clubs have been accustomed to over the past decade, but this game had all the more meaning because of three players and a coach who played vital roles in those September campaigns.

While Bachar Houli was robbed of a farewell game through injury, David Astbury and Shaun Burgoyne tossed the coin before the game while Alastair Clarkson was embraced by Damien Hardwick.

Senior coaches Damien Hardwick of the Tigers and Alastair Clarkson of the Hawks embrace before the match. Picture: Getty Images

It was poetic that Clarkson should finish his career at Hawthorn coaching against the most successful member of his coaching tree, and any talk of a relaxing year off for the best coach of the 21st century looked a world away as he appeared animated and out of his seat in the coaches’ box during the tussle.

Burgoyne and Astbury provided the perfect start to the celebrations, having three of the first four touches of the game between them.

But despite Astbury and Burgoyne playing important parts for their sides, the day was also about the future and next generation of players who will carry Richmond and Hawthorn forward.

For the Tigers it was a quartet of young midfielders that would’ve had Richmond fans hopeful of a quick bounce back into contention next year.

Jack Ross (24 disposals), Riley Collier-Dawkins (19), Thomson Dow (15), and Will Martyn (14) stepped into the void left by Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Dion Prestia’s absence with aplomb.

Hawthorn was led by midfield stalwarts Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara, but it was the games of the ever-impressive Jack Scrimshaw, reborn Conor Nash and rookie Lachlan Bramble that caught the eye.

Scrimshaw looks every bit the future All-Australian halfback flanker with his piercing left foot. Nash may be the most unique midfielder in the AFL standing at 197cm with his ability to drift forward and kick goals, while Bramble should be a mainstay in the Hawks’ best 22 for the next decade.

Tyler Brockman has had a hit and miss first season but ended the game with three goals and with a season’s experience under his belt the Hawks will be hoping the 18-year-old can eventually fill the shoes of Luke Breust.

Mitchell breaks new ground

For the third time in his career Mitchell notched 750 disposals in a home and away season after finishing the game with 36 disposals.

To put that in context, only one other player has achieved the same mark, Jack Macrae.

Mitchell was superb for the Hawks and his work around the contest set them up to get on top of the young Tigers’ midfield.

After having 18 touches in the first half, Mitchell astonishingly had -39 metres gained, but finished the gaming upping that number to 302.

Hawks’ emerging star

Jack Scrimshaw has flown under the radar for much of the season as one of the better halfbacks in the AFL and again showed why he will cause headaches for opposition coaches for the next decade.

Likened to Grant Birchall for his rangy left leg and running style, Scrimshaw has rarely been beaten this season and his disposal is as crisp as anyone’s.

The 22-year-old had another stellar outing, finishing with 25 disposals to go with seven intercepts and 307 metres-gained.

That's a precise finish from Jack Scrimshaw! #AFLTigersHawks pic.twitter.com/rfHTlp9mvI
— AFL (@AFL) August 21, 2021

New Nash

It might be Clarko’s final masterstroke, but the veteran coach is leaving Sam Mitchell with an unlikely midfield weapon.

Conor Nash was a hit-and-miss forward for the most part of his budding career, but a move into the midfield has turned the 23-year-old Irishman into a unique asset for the Hawks.

Standing at 197cm, Nash has proven himself as a ball magnet but importantly hasn’t lost his ability in the forward line.

Nash collected 24 disposals and kicked a goal to go with eight score involvements as he continued to enhance his midfield resume.

Midfield cubs

Part of Richmond’s recent woes had been struggling to win clearances, and when they lined up at centre-bounces with Jack Ross, Riley Collier-Dawkins and Thomson Dow you would’ve been excused for thinking it would continue.

But the Tiger cubs gave Richmond fans something to look forward to in season 2022, finding the ball 24 times between them in the first quarter to go with three clearances.

Add in a strong final three quarters from Will Martyn and the quartet finished with some impressive numbers.