Hawks building but a ‘long way’ from premiership contention: Clarkson
Alastair Clarkson says Hawthorn is a “long way” from premiership contention, but hopes a strong finish to the season can deliver a bounce similar to what occurred in 2006.
The Hawks won their final four matches of the season in Clarkson’s second year in charge to finish with nine wins, the momentum carrying through to a maiden finals berth under his guidance a year later, and a flag in 2008.
Alastair Clarkson is hoping for a strong finish to the season from the rebuilding Hawks.Credit:AFL Photos
The Hawks, on the whole, do not have the same calibre of players this time around, but Clarkson, buoyed by a win over a finals-bound Brisbane last weekend, and with Collingwood on the agenda on Sunday, hopes to finish his time in charge with the club on the rise. The Hawks have just five wins so far this season.
“It was a pretty tumultuous day for us last Friday, for everybody involved with the club. That includes our members,” Clarkson said of the events which led to a scuttling of a succession plan and confirmation he won’t be at the club next season.
Alastair Clarkson celebrates with skipper Ben McEvoy after the Hawks’ win over the Brisbane Lions at UTAS Stadium.Credit:AFL Photos
“Our club has been such a stable club for a long period of time, so whenever things like this happen, it creates a bit of uncertainty and instability. But I think the performance on the weekend of our players and coaches and staff around the club is a reflection of us rolling our sleeves up.
“We are long way from an outfit that is going to contend at the pointy end of the ladder in late September, but what we do know, the things that we do, last week against Brisbane and this week, hopefully, against Collingwood and then in the games against the Western Bulldogs and Richmond, whether it’s individual players or coaching method, or even some victories, we know that everything that we do in the next three or four weeks is going to really help shape what 2022 and beyond looks like for our footy club.”
That may be true to an extent, but the 17th-placed Hawks, desperate to avoid what would be Clarkson’s only wooden spoon, also have several list management decisions to make, including on Tim O’Brien, when Sam Mitchell replaces Clarkson.
Sunday’s clash was originally scheduled for Launceston, the Pies’ first trip there for premiership points, but Victoria’s latest lockdown has forced the game to be shifted to the MCG.
The Hawks have recalled Harry Morrison for his first senior game since round 13, while Jacob Koschitzke, Jonathon Ceglar, and Oliver Hanrahan are also back. Damon Greaves has been dropped, Denver Grainger-Barras, Ned Reeves and Tyler Brockman managed, and Luke Breust is injured.
The 14th-placed Magpies are playing a more attacking style under interim coach Robert Harvey. He has injected Jordan De Goey into the midfield, with the inconsistent star responding by playing some of the most consistent football of his career to date.
The Magpies last week crunched the West Coast Eagles, and Harvey is keen to finish the season strongly, ahead of he and the club deciding whether he will be part of the short-list of candidates to become the permanent senior coach.
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