AFL 2021: Coach Alastair Clarkson expected to recommit to another Hawks rebuild

With Alastair Clarkson committing to Hawthorn for 2022, Sam Mitchell’s future is under the microscope — and it won’t involve a Hawks succession plan.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 08: Jayden Hunt and Mark Williams the assistant coach of the Demons share a laugh during a Melbourne Demons AFL training session at Gosch's Paddock on June 08, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Hawthorn has emphatically ruled out a coaching succession plan and believes Alastair Clarkson is prepared to finish the challenge of rebuilding the Hawks for a third time.

The Hawks will ramp up talks with out-of-contract assistant coach Sam Mitchell in coming months as they seek to recontract the 38-year-old Box Hill coach into 2022.

But Hawks football boss Rob McCartney told News Corp on Friday Hawthorn had no issue with Mitchell meeting Collingwood about their vacant position as he considered whether he was ready to become a senior coach.

Clarkson committed himself to seeing out his contract until the end of 2022 on Thursday as the Hawks prepare for end-of-year talks that could see him again extend his contract.

It means Mitchell must sign on as an assistant again to continue his Box Hill role or declare himself ready to become a senior coach.

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The Hawks would love to keep Mitchell, but Clarkson’s commitment means they are aware the four-time premiership champion might end up leaving them for higher honours at some stage.

McCartney said as the season unfolded only Mitchell could decide if he was ready, which would involve catching up with Collingwood if they were interested.

“Yeah, of course he can (meet with them) and from our end in this period of time we will be having some conversations with Sam around what the future looks like if he was to stay at Hawthorn.

“No (we don’t do succession plans) and in some ways when you look at history, it’s not that they don’t always work but there are some that haven’t and for us it’s better to talk to all parties and make sure there is a sense of comfort with the opportunities they are getting with us.

The Hawks will ramp up talks with out-of-contract assistant coach Sam Mitchell.

“When the opportunities aren’t what they want and they want to explore, then the two parties come to an agreement about how that would happen.”

At 38, Sam Mitchell is the same age as Damien Hardwick when he started at Richmond, even as the Tigers senior coach said on Friday the likes of Mitchell shouldn’t rush into their first senior opportunity.

McCartney said only Mitchell could decide when he was ready but the Hawks were doing all they could to fast-track his development.

“He has openly said he wants to coach senior footy and so he should. He has a great footy brain, he sees the game like very few can, and he is learning the art of managing people through Box Hill with 40-odd players and 30-odd staff. In these situations it’s a matter of (an offer) having to present before you know you are ready.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson has indicated he could be willing to see through another Hawks rebuild.

“Sam would be weighing all those things up in terms of his readiness. As each week and month goes by, that readiness is becoming clearer to him.

“In these situations it’s a matter of it having to present (as a vacant job) before you know you are ready.”

Coaching legend Clarkson said on Thursday “I want to see this out”, and the Hawks believe he is invested in the full rebuild.

“I don’t think the players and staff would have needed the press conference yesterday. His energy in our program and his acceptance of where the list is at and what needs to happen is demonstrated every day,” McCartney said.

“His passion and drive to help this group find their way again and build a group that has the talent to get back to a position where they compete and play finals and hopefully after that compete for silverware, you couldn’t question it.”

Pies legend: Why Williams is ‘obvious’ Buckley replacement

Collingwood legend Peter McKenna has anointed former Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams as the “obvious replacement” and best candidate to coach the Magpies.

The AFL Hall of Famer and former goal kicking superstar, who is still an active Magpies supporter though the Collingwood Woodsmen coterie group, said he believed the now Demons’ head of development was the right man to replace Nathan Buckley.

“(Williams) is a former captain of Collingwood and he has coached a premiership team,” McKenna said.

“He’s at Melbourne now and the players love him there and have loved him wherever he goes.

“I think he is an intelligent football person and I think he would make an outstanding coach for Collingwood.

Former Collingwood champ Peter McKenna (left) is seen with former Magpies President Eddie McGuire. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

“He’s a Collingwood person and I think he’d just be the perfect fit.

“Not that it has to be a Collingwood person and that’s not the reason I’m saying it.

“I’m saying that because I think he has enormous credentials, tremendous experience and he knows a lot about getting the most out of young players.”

Williams is seen by some as a left-field option given he has not coached at senior level since departing Port Adelaide over a decade ago.

He did, however, work as a senior assistant to Kevin Sheedy at the GWS Giants in the club’s early years before working at Richmond as a development coach under Damien Hardwick.

Leigh Matthews and Mark Williams together in 1986.

Williams runs with Kysaiah Pickett at Demons training. Picture: Getty Images

His unorthodox ways has struck a chord at the resurrected Demons and he’s earned many plaudits for his work at the ladder-leading club.

“I would say he’s an emotional person but I don’t think that’s a bad thing,” McKenna said,

“He’s coached a premiership side at Port, he’s at a good age to be coaching young blokes and I just think he would be outstanding,” McKenna said.

“I wouldn’t be looking anywhere past him, and I’m not the only one who thinks that.

“You don’t get any knocks on Mark Williams and I’d like to see his name brought forward.

“He’s not a personal friend, but it’s just what I know of him as a person and I just admire his talent with young players.”