Roos rebuild looking to emulate Hawks before Tassie test
He played the long game at Hawthorn and led them to four premierships, and one of Alastair Clarkson’s understudies has no doubt he can eventually turn the Roos into a heavyweight.
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NORTH Melbourne assistant John Blakey is convinced Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson has the fire within to mastermind another rags to riches journey before he coaches against former side Hawthorn for the first time on Saturday.
Clarkson joined the Hawks in 2005 when they were struggling, similar to the rebuilding squad of this season, but eventually built the club into a four-time premiership-winning dynasty.
The Kangaroos won just two games all last season, but have already matched that this year after backing up a five-point round one win over West Coast with a one-point thriller against Fremantle in Perth.
Clarkson attracted headlines for riding the final moments from the boundary line like he was cheering home a Melbourne Cup tip, but Blakey said it shows how invested he is in the process.
But Blakey said it hasn’t been a focus at all this week.
“It’s fantastic, Clarko’s passion and it’s summed up with the word investment,” Blakey said. “He’s fully invested in what he’s doing and he’s loving being back coaching and devloping a side and hopefully getting us back up the ladder.
“He’s done it before when he first got to Hawthorn, he’s been through this scenario before when they didn’t win many gmes and obviously moulded a team that will go down in history with four premierships.
“He’s just loving coaching again, he’s fully invested and you’ve seen how the players are invested in him as well.”
The Kangaroos enter Saturday afternoon’s game in Launceston as favourites against the struggling Hawks, who have been belted by Essendon and Sydney so far.
The majority of this week’s build up has naturally focused on Clarkson’s coaching battle against his former Hawks premiership captain Sam Mitchell.
“He’s been business as usual. Obviously we’re playing Hawthorn and it’s a great story with him and Mitch (Mitchell), but it honestly hasn’t come up at all in any of our chats,” Blakey said.
We’re going about our process and that’s what’s mportant this week.
“We’re still developing how we play and want to take another step. I’m sure Mitch on the other hand hasn’t been happy with their start to the year and he’ll be looking for improvement.
“Obviously Mitch was coached by Clarko for many years and will know some of the stuff we’ll be trying to do.
“Clarko knows Mitch intimately as well and some stuff he’ll be implementing. It’s normal process coming up against any opposition really.
“When he (Clarkson) speaks he comes from a place of passion, and wanting you to get better as an individual as well.
That’s what builds culture and he’s very strong on regaining a very strong brand and culture at the club. At this point it’s been going very well.”
Blakey said the Roos are under no illusions where they sit in their development despite an unexpected 2-0 start.
But he said early wins were like gold for a team looking to build confidence and belief.
“We’re very happy we’ve won those games,o doubt about that, but we very easily could be 0-2 with two very close losses,” Blakey said.
“We’re very realistic in where we’re at and what we’re trying to achieve.
“It was a huge win last week. Any time you’re on the road it galvanises the team and it’s really important for the players to get reward for their hard work as well.
“That’s been a big positive the last two weeks, they’ve got some real confidence out of it and winning can become a bit of a habit.
“When you implement a new game plan, you don’t know where you’re with it until you come up against genuine opposition. We haven’t mastered anything, we’re still learning and tinkering with what we do.”
Will Phillips, who missed all of last year with glandular fever, replaces suspended co-captain Jy Simpkin in the side.
AFL ROUND THREE
Hawthorn v North Melbourne: Saturday 1.45pm at UTAS Stadium, Launceston
TEAMS
North Melbourne
B: J Ziebell, G Logue, A Corr
HB: J Goater, L McDonald, M Bergman
C: T Powell, L Davies-Uniacke, C Taylor
HF: J Stephenson, C Comben, P Curtis
F: C Zurhaar, N Larkey, H Greenwood
Foll: T Goldstein, B Scott, L Shiels
Int: H Sheezel, B Cunnington, K Turner, W Phillips
Emer: D Tucker, D Howe, F Perez, H Free
In: W Phillips
Out: J Simpkin (suspension), D Howe (sub)
Hawthorn
B: C Jiath, S Frost, J Scrimshaw
HB: J Impey, J Sicily, B Hardwick
C: H Morrison, C Mackenzie, K Amon
HF: T Brockman, F Greene, J Worpel
F: D Moore, L Meek, L Breust
Foll: N Reeves, W Day, F Maginness
Int: J Newcombe, C Nash, J Ward, C Macdonald
Emer: Sam Butler, James Blanck, Jacob Koschitzke, Lachlan Bramble
In: J.Scrimshaw, H.Morrison, T.Brockman
Out: J.Blanck (omitted), L.Bramble (omitted), J.Koschitzke (omitted), S.Butler (sub)
Originally published as Roos rebuild looking to emulate Hawks before Tassie test
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