Essendon president Paul Little takes aim at Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson for comments over supplement scandal

ESSENDON has hit back at Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson after he weighed into the Bombers doping scandal and Clarko isn’t surprised.

ESSENDON has hit back at Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson after he weighed into the Bombers doping scandal.

Clarkson has called for all AFL coaches to obtain minimum professional standards before working in the industry.

The Hawks coach expressed his disappointment that he and other senior coaches had not spoken up last year. He also said he had strong sympathy for AFL bosses Andrew Demetriou and Mike Fitzpatrick in their handling of the saga.

Clarkson said he also rejected suggestions that the AFL Coaches Association felt Hird had been harshly done by.

“That was not my view, not many of the other coaches’ view,” Clarkson told Fairfax Media.

Bombers chairman Paul Little released a statement this afternoon saying Clarkson’s “inappropriate” comments were “neither helpful or informed”.

The war of words is set to inflame an already fierce rivalry between the two clubs, which meet in Round 2 of the home-and-away season.

News_Image_File: Essendon president Paul Little wasn’t impressed by Clarkson’s comments. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“We are disappointed by what the club deems as inappropriate comments made by Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson,” Little said.

“Alastair Clarkson’s comments, made after he attended a two week Harvard Business School course, come at a time when our club and James Hird are making very good progress with rebuilding and moving on.

“The comments made by Clarkson relating to James Hird are neither helpful nor informed.

“The events of the ASADA investigation into the previous supplements program are very complex matters and the report is still to be finalised,” Little said.

“There have been many lessons learned from this issue for our club and indeed all AFL clubs, including Hawthorn. As a result we have made significant changes to our governance, compliance and risk management framework to protect our club in the future.

“The club and James have accepted responsibility for the mistakes that were made and received significant sanctions from the AFL. We are now committed to moving on and restoring the trust of all stakeholders within the game.

“We have no doubt James Hird is the right person to coach the Essendon Football Club and we look forward to his return to the club later this year.”

Little said Hird “appreciates the ongoing support he has received from other AFL coaches and the AFL Coaches Association”.

Speaking at the Playing To Win book launch today, Clarkson was unapologetic about upsetting Essendon with his comments.

“The boxing gloves are going to be on — I’d respond in that way too, wouldn’t I, if there was someone from an opposition club (making those comments)?,” Clarkson said.

“I knew that was going to be the response from the Bombers.

“It’s disappointing in a way that you have to bring the Bombers back into it.

“But we need to illustrate the deeper point ... how do we better prepare our coaches in footy clubs to do things better?”

Clarkson’s comments have fuelled the fierce rivalry between the two clubs, which will next play in Round 2.

But the reigning premiership coach insisted he was not having a shot at Hird or Essendon.

“It’s not so much about Essendon or James Hird — it’s that being used as an illustration of how an issue ambushed our game, in a sense,” Clarkson said.

“Had we had some measures in place, that could have been a little bit stronger in terms of the preparation of a coach ... then maybe we’d all be in a better position to have more chance of success and stay in our roles.

“It is (an issue) that really brought to attention just how significant is the role of a coach and a football department in shaping the lives of young men.

“We need to look at how we can do things better.”