AFL 2021: Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson on Jon Patton, Tom Scully retirement

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has revealed why Tom Scully has quit football after the former No.1 draft pick’s shock retirement.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 31: Alastair Clarkson, head coach of the Hawks celebrates with his players after winning the round nine AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Hawthorn Hawks at Optus Stadium on July 31, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says the rules governing inappropriate use of social media are “murky” as stood-down full-forward Jon Patton’s AFL career hangs in the balance.

The Hawks’ investigation into Patton’s alleged inappropriate conduct continues after several women accused the goalkicker of lewd behaviour.

Clarkson said the intense public scrutiny placed on players in similar situations often served as enough punishment, although he was unsure when or if Patton would be allowed to return to Hawthorn.

The Hawks’ list has effectively been slashed from 47 players to 41 this pre-season, inhibiting their ability to conduct full-scale sophisticated match simulation.

The Hawks trimmed their list to 43 players this year due to the reduced salary cap and have then stood down Patton, 27, and had Tom Scully, 29, retire.

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Alastair Clarkson looks on during a training session. Picture: Getty Images

Clarkson has become far more hands-on this summer after losing assistants Damien Carroll, Marc Bello, Max Bailey, Torin Baker and Brett Deledio due to the AFL’s reduced soft cap.

The four-time premiership coach will use next month’s practice match against North Melbourne to help gauge whether the baby Hawks, who are still blessed with Shaun Burgoyne and new skipper Ben McEvoy, are ready to rebound into the finals.

Clarkson told SEN that McEvoy was the “overwhelming” pick as new skipper.

CLARKSON ON …. JON PATTON

“That’ll (Patton’s career) be determined a little bit by the result of the investigation.

“All we would say is these situations from time to time pop up and when there’s an investigation that takes place we just let that unfold.

“These are young men and in a lot of cases because of AFL footy they’re sheltered from the real world, in terms of what they have to endure as young men, and so sometimes they’re not equipped with the coping strategies.

Jonathon Patton’s career is hanging by a thread after a social media scandal. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“That’s been the case with Patts, who’s found himself on the front page of the paper.

“The investigation will determine whether that’s right or wrong, but the scrutiny that some of these footballers are under is quite immense.

“We’re working with Paul Connnors, his management, and staying in pretty close contact with Jon just to make sure his wellbeing is OK.

“In a lot of instances I think that’s (public scrutiny) enough punishment for anyone. It’s the public scrutiny that gets these guys more than anything else.

“Despite the allegations this is really murky territory, and it’ll be a really interesting test case for what is the law around this stuff.

“What are the standards in this sort of place? Unfortunately we’re getting into that generation now where I’m a little bit older than some of these crackers that are coming through now, and it’s just a different world and we’re all learning that now.”

CLARKO ON … TOM SCULLY

“Even though Tom didn’t get drafted until he was 18, to actually know the lad and the family he started preparing to be an AFL footballer when he was about 10 or 12 years of age.

“Most players in terms of the professionalism in the game really, really crank that up when they’re 17 or 18.

“So by the time he gets to 29 he’s just cooked. Whether he comes back I’m not sure, I don’t think that’ll be the case.

Tom Scully has called it quits at just 29. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We’ve worked with him really closely over the best part of the last 6-8 weeks to come to the conclusion that his passion just wasn’t in it.

“He’s all in or all out and unfortunately it had to be all out because he just couldn’t commit himself to what was required to continue on in the game.

CLARKO ON … NEW CAPTAIN BEN McEVOY

“He’s stood the test of time. He’s very, very highly regarded by his teammates. We need a guy who is just an outstanding leader of men and he’s shown that over a period of time, albeit he’s a pretty humble sort of bloke.”

CLARKO ON … CAN THE HAWKS CONTEND

“My biggest challenge now is trying to read exactly where Hawthorn’s at.

“At the start of last year we were 3-1 with victories over Brisbane and Richmond. Everything was looking pretty good for our footy club in terms of being able to challenge OK in the latter stages of the year.

“From that point on we won two games for the year once we got into hub life.

“I’m trying to determine in the early part of this year just where we’re at.

“This third wave of success that we’re trying to have in my time and I’m excited by what I’m seeing, albeit I’m still not certain until we start playing games against other clubs where that’s going to take us.”

CLARKO ON … JACK GUNSTON

“(He had) back surgery before Christmas. The most difficult thing with back surgery is he’ll recover pretty quickly from the actual surgery and the wound and feel pretty good, but we’ve just got to hold him back.

“It’s a pretty delicate area the spine so we want to make sure he gets that right.

“We’re been very, very cautious with him. But he’s back on the bike and slowly running.”

Originally published as AFL 2021: Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson on Jon Patton, Tom Scully retirement