AFL 2021: Unbelievable end to Alastair Clarkson’s tenure as Hawthorn coach

Hawthorn Hawks mastermind Alastair Clarkson certainly won’t forget the final game of his 17-year tenure as senior coach any time soon.

Richmond kicked the last five goals to snatch an extraordinary draw from Alastair Clarkson and Shaun Burgoyne in their final game in brown and gold.

The Hawks were cruising and looked winners all afternoon until time on in the last quarter when Richmond flicked a switch to salvage a draw and send David Astbury off in the most remarkable circumstances.

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After Jack Scrimshaw kicked a goal to give the Hawks a five-goal advantage deep into the final term Hawthorn looked so good Damien Hardwick took his headset off and said: “I’m done”.

But it was a fitting outcome for Clarkson, Astbury, Burgoyne and Bachar Houli with none of the champions of the game deserving to leave it on losing terms. The clash was the first ever draw between Hawthorn and Richmond.

It wasn’t the usual finals tune-up these two clubs have been accustomed to over the past decade, but this game had all the more meaning because of three players and a coach who played vital roles in those September campaigns.

While Bachar Houli was robbed of a farewell game through injury, David Astbury and Shaun Burgoyne tossed the coin before the game while Alastair Clarkson was embraced by Damien Hardwick.

It was poetic that Clarkson should finish his career at Hawthorn coaching against the most successful member of his coaching tree, and any talk of a relaxing year off for the best coach of the 21st century looked a world away as he appeared animated and out of his seat in the coaches’ box during the tussle.

Burgoyne and Astbury provided the perfect start to the celebrations, having three of the first four touches of the game between them.

But despite Astbury and Burgoyne playing important parts for their sides, the day was also about the future and next generation of players who will carry Richmond and Hawthorn forward.

For the Tigers it was a quartet of young midfielders that would’ve had Richmond fans hopeful of a quick bounce back into contention next year.

Jack Ross (24 disposals), Riley Collier-Dawkins (19), Thomson Dow (15), and Will Martyn (14) stepped into the void left by Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Dion Prestia’s absence with aplomb.

Hawthorn was led by midfield stalwarts Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara, but it was the games of the ever-impressive Jack Scrimshaw, reborn Conor Nash and rookie Lachlan Bramble that caught the eye.

Scrimshaw looks every bit the future All-Australian halfback flanker with his piercing left foot. Nash may be the most unique midfielder in the AFL standing at 197cm with his ability to drift forward and kick goals, while Bramble should be a mainstay in the Hawks’ best 22 for the next decade.

Tyler Brockman has had a hit and miss first season but ended the game with three goals and with a season’s experience under his belt the Hawks will be hoping the 18-year-old can eventually fill the shoes of Luke Breust.

Clarkson has coached the Hawks since 2005. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Mitchell breaks new ground

For the third time in his career Mitchell notched 750 disposals in a home and away season after finishing the game with 36 disposals.

To put that in context, only one other player has achieved the same mark, Jack Macrae.

Mitchell was superb for the Hawks and his work around the contest set them up to get on top of the young Tigers’ midfield.

After having 18 touches in the first half, Mitchell astonishingly had -39 metres gained, but finished the gaming upping that number to 302.

Hawks’ emerging star

Jack Scrimshaw has flown under the radar for much of the season as one of the better halfbacks in the AFL and again showed why he will cause headaches for opposition coaches for the next decade.

Likened to Grant Birchall for his rangy left leg and running style, Scrimshaw has rarely been beaten this season and his disposal is as crisp as anyone’s.

The 22-year-old had another stellar outing, finishing with 25 disposals to go with seven intercepts and 307 metres-gained.

New Nash

It might be Clarko’s final masterstroke, but the veteran coach is leaving Sam Mitchell with an unlikely midfield weapon.

Conor Nash was a hit-and-miss forward for the most part of his budding career, but a move into the midfield has turned the 23-year-old Irishman into a unique asset for the Hawks.

Standing at 197cm, Nash has proven himself as a ball magnet but importantly hasn’t lost his ability in the forward line.

Nash collected 24 disposals and kicked a goal to go with eight score involvements as he continued to enhance his midfield resume.

Midfield cubs

Part of Richmond’s recent woes had been struggling to win clearances, and when they lined up at centre-bounces with Jack Ross, Riley Collier-Dawkins and Thomson Dow you would’ve been excused for thinking it would continue.

But the Tiger cubs gave Richmond fans something to look forward to in season 2022, finding the ball 24 times between them in the first quarter to go with three clearances.

Add in a strong final three quarters from Will Martyn and the quartet finished with some impressive numbers.

Shaun Burgoyne made his 407th and final AFL appearance on Saturday. He is one of only five players to reach 400 games. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Early mark for Tigers

Damien Hardwick says an exhausted Richmond will enjoy its first September break since 2016 and use it tinker its game plan.

The three-time premiership coach said when he’d attempted to get a lift out of his side during the season the well was empty.

“It has been a long four years and you look at the vast majority of clubs that have won some flags over a period time, it does effectively add another season onto what the other sides have played,” Hardwick said.

“Our guys have tried their best and we went for the whip a couple of times and we just couldn’t quite get the result we were after.

“You add significant injury to the playing list through periods of time and our form wasn’t what we were after.

“Our guys will enjoy the break, they’d much rather be playing finals and competing as hard as they could, but I think they’re exhausted.”

Speaking alongside outgoing Hawthorn coach and mentor Alastair Clarkson, Hardwick said the Tigers had endured a mentally and physically draining week after being knocked out of finals contention and farewelling David Astbury and Bachar Houli.

Richmond kicked the last five goals of the game against the Hawks to snatch a draw, and Hardwick said the result reflected Richmond’s season.

“It probably sums up the year for us. To play in front of no crowd and have that result was a hollow feeling as well,” Hardwick said.

After downing his headset and making a break from the coaches’ box for the bathroom, Hardwick thought the game had slipped away from his side.

“To the boys’ credit they kept fighting and we asked for that,” he said.

“I thought there were stages we looked really dangerous but couldn’t get the scoreboard reward. It summed up our year a bit how their goals looked easy and ours looked really hard.”

Despite not winning the last four points on offer for the season, Hardwick said his young players gave fans something to look forward to next season.

“I was pleased the guys fought it out for Dave and Bach, we didn’t have a win, but it was a reasonably positive way to finish off the year,” he said.

“I was pleased with the efforts of our younger players as well.”

Hardwick said his side’s biggest challenge over the off-season will be to make adjustments to his game style as the game changes.

“The game looks different than it has in the last few years, so we have some challenges there,” he said.

Tigers 3.2 4.6 6.10 12.11 83

Hawks 2.2 6.6 9.8 12.11 83

MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST Tigers: Ross, Lynch, Collier-Dawkins, Short, Rioli, Astbury. Hawks: Mitchell, Wingard, Scrimshaw, O’Meara, Nash, Hardwick, Burgoyne.

GOALS Tigers: Lynch 3, Riewoldt 3, Bolton 2, Stack 2, Castagna, Chol. Hawks: Brockman 3, Phillips 2, Wingard 2, Lewis 2, Hanrahan, Nash, Scrimshaw.

INJURIES Tigers: Dow. Hawks: Koschitzke (shoulder).

UMPIRES Fisher, Power, Nicholls.

MCG

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JAMES MOTTERSHEAD’S VOTES

3 Tom Mitchell (HAW)

2 Chad Wingard (HAW)

1 Jack Scrimshaw (HAW)

Originally published as AFL 2021: Unbelievable end to Alastair Clarkson’s tenure as Hawthorn coach