Alastair Clarkson sends early warning to rivals as Hawthorn reload for 2017
ALASTAIR Clarkson has fired an early warning shot to rivals, telling the Hawthorn best-and-fairest crowd the Hawks were coming to regain their crown in 2017.
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ALASTAIR Clarkson has fired an early warning shot to premiership rivals.
The four-time premiership coach said Hawthorn were coming to regain their crown in 2017 after their three-year reign as AFL premiers ended this year.
Speaking at the Peter Crimmins Medal - the Hawks’ best-and-fairest night - Clarkson admitted the team hadn’t been able to find an extra gear in September last year but were ready to reload in 2017.
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“I know the footy world out there is saying ‘well, 2016 thank God Hawthorn didn’t win it’ we’re saying ‘get ready we’re coming again in 2017’,” he said.
“We’ve been a little bit spoilt. These nights the last three years have been fantastic nights because we’ve had a real great reason to celebrate.
“We were brave ... but ultimately we just we’re good enough in the finals series.
“Our mantra has been to make the top four and see what happens from there. You can’t win them every year but we’ve given it a pretty good crack the last three.
“This year the door shut on us unfortunately, it wasn’t for lack of trying.”
The Hawks exited the finals in straight sets after a heart-breaking loss to Geelong in the qualifying final before being over-run by eventual premiers the Western Bulldogs.
Clarkson paid an emotional tribute to departing pair Chris Fagan and Rob McCarthy, who he’d known for 20 and 35 years respectively.
“Whether it’s anything to do with footy or more particularly life, they are nearly the two best blokes I’ve been associated with,” he said.
The Hawks enter a busy trade period and the coach sent a cheeky reminder to list manager Graeme Wright.
“To our recruiting team, Wrighty, get to work, lad. You’ve got some important stuff to do over the next couple of weeks.”
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