Collingwood-Hawthorn tribute to Phil Walsh: Alastair Clarkson says footy world will “mourn together”

ALASTAIR Clarkson says Hawthorn and Collingwood wanted to send a strong message of support to Phil Walsh’s family when the two clubs linked arms in a moving tribute last night.

Collingwood v Hawthorn

ALASTAIR Clarkson says Hawthorn and Collingwood wanted to send a strong message of support to Phil Walsh’s family when the two clubs linked arms in a moving tribute last night.

Clarkson said he and Nathan Buckley decided before the game started to come together in the centre square immediately after the match to pay their respects on behalf of the football community.

Clarkson said only the captains Scott Pendlebury and Luke Hodge were told pre-game about their coaches planned tribute following Walsh’s tragic death Friday morning.

“We said to them (captains) at the end of the game, win lose or draw, let’s get together and try and show that despite the fact we have been fierce warriors playing against each other for the previous three hours that we can come together as one and acknowledge Phil,” Clarkson said.

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“Show the footy world that we are going to mourn together and support the family and the Adelaide footy club as best we can through this really tough next few days.”

Clarkson said the emotion was still extremely raw for the players and Hawthorn staff who had a close connection with Walsh, such as former Power midfielder Shaun Burgoyne.

He said the club would offer its full support to Adelaide, which also lost assistant coach Dean Bailey to cancer last year.

“When ‘Bails’ passed away last year the footy community came together and it’s so sad the Adelaide footy club have had to deal with this twice in the last 18 months,” he said.

“(There’s) two really, really great mates somewhere up there together now.”

Clarkson praised his players for the way they had handled the news of Walsh’s death, with the reigning premier clawing back from nine points down in the last quarter to triumph by 10 points at the MCG last night. Cyril Rioli kicked five goals.

Clarkson said the club was unsure whether last night’s game would go ahead until the AFL announcement at lunch time.

“It’s really tough for the whole industry, it’s really tough for the AFL and for the AFL to make decisions on the fly because it is so raw and emotional,” he said.

“Just having to deal with what had happened in the first instance and then what was going to happen with the competition.”