Alastair Clarkson says changes in the wind to personnel for Hawks but draft might not be way back
Alastair Clarkson says his Hawthorn players are too proud and too experienced to be in the mire for much longer heading into the clash with Sydney, while pointing out the draft might not be the club’s salvation.
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Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has declared the Hawks have no intention of bottoming out but warned his premiership stars there will be a “changing of the guard” if the losses keep piling up.
Under siege after three-straight defeats, Clarkson addressed his plans for improvement and his relationship with president Jeff Kennett on Thursday and stressed there was no issue with the “alignment” of the club.
Clarkson maintained this year’s national draft would be heavily compromised because of father-son and academy selections, meaning even if the Hawks were to finish at the foot of the ladder, it would not necessarily mean they would secure the gold-plated talent.
The Hawks are 14th on the ladder heading into Saturday’s clash against Sydney, and urged his senior players to lift otherwise there would be change.
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“We haven’t lost faith in how we’re going. We have got a talented group of young players coming through,” Clarkson said.
“At some point in time they are going to get an opportunity to play, we can’t go on losing like this. We’re backing in our senior guys but at some point in time there needs to be a changing of the guard if the senior guys don’t perform.
“You’ve got to understand that this club — and me personally and these players — have got a pretty decorated history with the club in terms of what they have contributed … so they need to be backed in and given an opportunity to perform. But that will only go so far before we say we need to inject some more young talent into our group.”
There has been debate over Clarkson’s future after Kennett last weekend suggested there could be change once the four-time premiership coach’s contract expired at the end of the 2022.
But Clarkson said everyone was on the same page at the Hawks and Kennett had stated “what everyone knew” that all parties would decide what was the best for the club at the end of his current deal.
“When your club is under siege, you need a spokesman for your club coming out and representing the club and giving direction and some information about where all that sits,” Clarkson said.
“We have had that agreement for a long period of time. We’ll sit down at the appropriate period of time and see what the best thing is for the football club moving forward.
“At the time that I signed that contract, it was with the view that the next time that we sit down and assess what is best for the Hawthorn footy club will be at the end of 2022.
“All Jeff was doing was just stating what was out there that everybody knew.”
Clarkson said the struggling Hawks were “playing like a team that is going to finish on the bottom” but had faith the season was not lost.
He said the club had “rebooted 16 times” under his watch and he was prepared to do what was required to again get the job done. But that did not necessarily mean the national draft was the best method in again becoming a power club on the field.
The Hawks have begun to dissect this year’s crop of young talent and have cautioned they may not get their hands on the elite.
“The calculations we are doing for this draft, we don’t even know it hasn’t even been confirmed that there is one as yet but, if there is, the calculation that we have got is of the first 25 picks as many as 13 or 14 might be compromised in terms of father-son picks or academy picks,” he said.
“You say got to the draft but is it the best draft to go to in terms of where you sit?
“Our first pick might be at something like pick 15 because of all these changes … and say let’s just deliberately drop ourselves down the ladder so we can get a good pick, that’s not our way, it’s not our go, it never has been.
“We have got belief in our group and we set a strategy at the end of last year in terms of our reboot for 2020 and right at the present time it’s looking like that’s not going too well for us. The ladder certainly says that and our losses over the last three weeks certainly suggest that.
“Our group is too proud a group and too experienced a group to be in the mire for too much longer, but the proof will be in the pudding Saturday night.“
MALTHOUSE: WHY CLARKSON WOULD KNOW BIG CHANGES ARE NEEDED
KENNETT THROWS SUPPORT BEHIND CLARKSON
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has declared Alastair Clarkson is “categorically” the man to lead the Hawks out of their slump.
The president has offered the rousing support a day after the Hawks were resoundingly beaten by Melbourne — their third-straight loss.
Kennett said it had been the most “disappointing displays by our boys that I have witnessed in years” as Hawthorn sits at 14th on the ladder, but he is adamant that Clarkson — who is contracted until the end of 2022 — will be the one to lead the club forward.
“We have been comprehensively outplayed,” he said in a letter to members.
“The desire and skills shown by the three teams we have recently played in GWS, Collingwood, and Melbourne last night, left us floundering.
“Can I remind you no other team has achieved what we have at Hawthorn over the last 12 years ... four premierships.
“Just as it is true that you cannot win premierships every year, it is equally true that you cannot win every game you play. That said, we do expect our team to leave the field after each contest knowing they have given their best and done us proud, win or lose.
“It is also true, as we are witnessing at the moment, that the ‘experts’ come out from their burrows with all the solutions and calling into question whether our coach Alastair Clarkson is the man to turn our performances around.
“Let me say categorically, he is.”
LEWIS: ROUGHY DEPARTURE LEFT HUGE VOID
Hawthorn four-time premiership player Jordan Lewis says the Hawks are suffering from a lack of leadership following the departure of Jarryd Roughead.
The Hawks slipped to 14th on the ladder following their belting by Melbourne on Sunday.
Lewis, who said the Hawks played “slow, boring” football against the Demons, said his former club needed more players to lead the way on the field.
“I think once Roughy stepped out of that position and out of the side, there was probably a void in leadership to be honest,” Lewis said on SEN.
“We had a good period of five to 10 years where I think anyone in our leadership group could have potentially become captain.
“Ben Stratton has been a great influence around the playing group, but he’s never been that star player that you look to when your side isn’t going that well.
“I see James Sicily as probably the next captain, but he’s just a little bit immature and young to be in that position at the moment.
“For me, there’s a gap in the leadership at the moment that’s been so strong in the past.”
Hawks president Jeff Kennett said on Sunday his club was likely to part ways with Alastair Clarkson when his contract expires at the end of 2022.
Lewis said a plan needed to be put in place ahead of then.
“It makes you think, if Jeff is in the thinking he’s not going to renew Alastair’s contract after the two years expire, what needs to be in place before that happens?” he said.
“I think Alastair Clarkson is the best coach in the competition, but if Jeff Kennett is coming out and saying that we don’t think he’s going to coach this side after this current contract, then what are we doing over the next two years to prepare this side now to become a premiership contender?”
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DRAFT CANNOT SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS: CLARKO
Alastair Clarkson says Hawthorn’s problems cannot be solved by simply surrendering to a rebuild at the draft, as pressure mounts on the Hawks and their coach to settle on a long-term plan.
Clarkson said he was unaware club president Jeff Kennett had commented on his coaching future, as he admitted there was no quick-fix to the crisis in confidence Hawthorn are facing after suffering their third-straight lost to Melbourne on Sunday.
Frustration appeared to be getting to Clarkson at stages during the 42-loss to a red-hot Demons side, as the super coach tossed his coaching papers into the air as he walked out to the team huddle at three-quarter time.
Some of the biggest names in football including Leigh Matthews, Wayne Carey, Matthew Lloyd, Dermott Brereton and Ross Lyon have weighed in on Clarkson’s future at Hawthorn and whether he is the right man to lead a rebuild.
Clarkson refused to respond to the speculation on Sunday but reinforced his belief that the method that has brought him such sustained success at Hawthorn is still the right one for the club to believe in.
“We’ve just spoken about Will Day and young Josh Morris. We’ll continue to inject players. We always have at this footy club and that’s the way forward for all footy clubs. The way forward for all footy clubs too is to complement your current list. You can’t just go to the draft,” said Clarkson.
“There’s not a side in the competition that can do that now. It’s not a pure draft anymore. There’s compromise everywhere, so every side in the competition (must) inject young players through the draft as well as complementing their group with players from other clubs that are either discarded or unwanted or whatever it might be.
“We like many clubs have been able to exploit that opportunity of trading for players over the best part of 10-15 years. We’ll just keep working away.
“We know that there’s no easy fix to this, no magic recipe. It’s just hard work.”
Clarkson said he was unaware of comments made by club boss Kennett, who appeared to suggest that while the club would never sack one of the great coaches of the modern era, Clarkson may not seek another contract after his current deal expires at the end of 2022.
“No, I didn’t even know he said anything,” said Clarkson.
“We’ll work our way through that. Hopefully we’re a while off yet.”
Even ex-Hawks premiership stars like Jordan Lewis have speculated about whether Clarkson has the “energy” for a rebuild.
Clarkson has pleaded with Hawks fans to stick tight during a tough time.
“The wheel will turn. For our fans, our club has been in a really, really strong position for a long period of time and it’s not frequent we’re in these sorts of positions,” he said.
“And so we just work hard. We know we’ve got a very, very loyal fan base that will stick with our group.
“The wheel will turn. We are hoping it’s sooner rather than later but we’re not going to give up on it.
“We’re three wins and four losses. I’ve been in situations at this time of year where we’ve been one win and six losses.
“We’ll find some confidence and winning form is only just around the corner. Sometimes within a quarter. That’s what we’ll keep searching for.
“As long as there’s a silver lining and some blue sky for us, we’ll continue to search for it and we know it’s just going to take a roll up the sleeves type of mentality to get ourselves back on track.”
HAWKS ON STRUGGLE STREET
The dramatic crossroads awaiting Alastair Clarkson and Hawthorn is coming to a head, after a rampaging Melbourne continued the Hawks’ horror show in Sydney.
It must suddenly be getting close to decision time for the super coach and the modern day giants about what the future holds at Hawthorn after three consecutive big losses was rounded out by a 43-point spanking by the Demons on neutral territory at Giants Stadium.
The second oldest list in the AFL now finds itself in uncharted territory and pressure is mounting on the Hawks to finally commit to a lengthy rebuild at the draft.
But the million dollar question is if Hawthorn do bow to a rebuild, is Clarkson the man to see it through?
Clarkson was a picture of frustration in the coaches box for much of the 91-48 carve-up, with cameras often capturing him either swearing in disgust or head in hands as the Demons ran Hawthorn ragged in every department.
Talk has been swirling all week since former Hawks premiership star Jordan Lewis questioned whether Clarkson would have the “energy” for a lengthy knockdown rebuild.
Kane Cornes went a step further on SEN radio on Sunday, calling on Clarkson to step aside, while on Triple M, AFL great Wayne Carey said Hawthorn must ask themselves a frank question about whether the playing group needs a fresh voice after all these years.
Former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said he would like to see Clarkson challenge himself with a new assignment at another club.
Crunch time is nearing, with Fox Footy expert Jonathan Brown labelling the Hawthorn side “unwatchable”.
PROOF IN THE PUDDING
If Hawthorn needed any further evidence about what a rebuild can bring, the Demons laid it out for them with the performance of their young brigade.
It was goals to Sam Weideman (pick nine), who kicked three for the match, Luke Jackson (pick three), and Kysaiah Pickett (pick 12) which put the icing on the cake for Melbourne on Sunday.
Christian Petracca (pick two) and Clayton Oliver (pick four) were among the best on ground for the Demons.
Melbourne have now joined Hawthorn on three wins, but back-to-back triumphs against the Hawks and Suns has shown there is plenty of life in the Demons start despite their poor start.
It’s the first time since the 1990s that the Demons have won three in a row against Hawthorn.
DEMONS TURN ON THE FIRE
Hawthorn kicked the first goal of the match, before the Demons quickly asserted their dominance to kick the next five straight.
The Demons led by 30 at halftime before Hawthorn staged a mini-recovery early in the third quarter to peg back the advantage to just three goals.
But rather than wilt under pressure, Melbourne continued to back their fluid ball movement to hold up, and a steadying goal to Weiderman virtually put Hawthorn to bed.
A second goal for Pickett restored the halftime margin and by three-quarter time the Demons were surging to the finish line with a 42-point lead.
The Demons dominated territory and were far too intense around the ball for the Hawks.
Forward 50 pressure and tackling put Hawthorn under the pump and they had no response.
HAWKS’ INJURY WOES
Hawthorn’s injury dramas have been compounded after key forward Tim O’Brien limped off the field early with what looked like a serious left ankle injury.
Already missing Jon Patton for several weeks with a hamstring problem, O’Brien looked in a high degree of pain and emerged from the dressing rooms in a moon boot and on crutches.
GET US OUT OF HERE
The move to the Queensland hub cannot come quick enough for Clarkson and the Hawks.
Aside from their picturesque beachside location in Coogee, there hasn’t been anything for Hawthorn to take away from Sydney – and there’s still another week to go.
If Hawthorn can’t get up to beat a decimated Swans side – who showed real enterprise in their narrow loss to Gold Coast – when the teams on Saturday at the SCG, it will end their Sydney stint at 0-4.
DEES COACH HAILS DOMINANT PETRACCA AFTER MIDFIELD SHINES
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says some old fashioned team bonding on tour in Sydney has resurrected the Demons’ season.
While Hawthorn can’t get out of Sydney quick enough, Goodwin has found the hub his Emerald City, with back-to-back wins silencing critics who were questioning whether he was on borrowed time as coach.
In the cut and thrust of a normal season, players only ever spend fleeting nights together on the road, but the COVID-19 crisis has forced a situation on the Demons that Goodwin believes has turned their finals hopes around.
Bunkered down on Sydney’s northern beaches, the sea change has brought Melbourne together as they took another step towards becoming a team to be reckoned with in their 42-point thrashing of the Hawks.
“Without question, we enjoy being away. We’ve embraced the hub lifestyle. It’s given a greater chance for our players and coaches to be together more often than what we were back in Victoria,” said Goodwin.
“We’ve had chances to work really hard on our game. To really connect at a deeper level.
“We’ve had families and partners and kids with us the whole time, and that’s been terrific for our playing group.
“You can see the way they’re connecting off field is coming out on field. And it was a really good time for us to get away and really start to pull our game together for our footy club and for our supporters.
“And this is just the start for us.”
The Demons leave Sydney on Monday with some trepidation.
“It’s been good to us. So yeah we are a little bit sad,” he said.
“We’ll just move our hub up to Queensland now and settle in as best as we can there and hopefully Queensland is as good to us as NSW.”
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson rated Melbourne’s midfield group on Sunday the best he’s confronted this year and believes they can trouble any team in the competition on current form.
Clarkson hailed the form of Christian Petracca, but said the rise of his midfield was a group effort.
“There’s no doubt Christian is becoming a really good player and he’s worked really hard on his game,” said Goodwin.
“The more pleasing thing for us as a club at the moment is the midfield group is gelling together.
“We’re starting to get some real depth through our midfield. Christian is part of that. They’re sharing the load incredibly well but I’m not shying away from the fact Christian has been outstanding for all the season so far.”
Goodwin said forward Tom McDonald is a chance to return from an eye injury next week in a huge clash against competition high-flyers Brisbane.
“Tom trained today, obviously non-contact. It’s a pretty delicate area the eye,” he said.
“We want to make sure we get that right. We’ll assess that during the week and see what the doctors say as the week progresses but hopefully he’ll be available for next week’s game.”
SCOREBOARD
HAWTHORN 1.2 2.3 4.6 7.6 (48)
Lost to
MELBOURNE 3.2 7.3 11.6 14.7 (91)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 3, Wingard 2, O’Meara, Morris
Melbourne: Weideman 3, Pickett 2, Fritsch 2, Hannan, Viney, Hannan, Bennell, Melksham, Jackson, Petracca
BEN HORNE’S BEST
Hawthorn: Frost, Sicily, Day, Henderson, Gunston
Melbourne: Petracca, Gawn, Oliver, Viney, May, Weideman, Langdon
BEN HORNE’S VOTES
3 — Petracca (Mel)
2 — Gawn (Mel)
1 — Oliver (Mel)
INJURIES
Hawthorn: O’Brien (left ankle)
North Melbourne: Nil
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