Hawthorn and some of its former Indigenous players reach a settlement in court after mediation following allegations of racism against the club and its former coach Alastair Clarkson, his former assistant Chris Fagan and former welfare manager Jason Burt that were first aired publicly in September 2022.
Cyril Rioli was the lead applicant in a statement of claim lodged in the Federal Court in July alongside his wife Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, former players Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis, his partner Montanah-Rae Lewis, and Hawthorn's former Indigenous liaison officer Leon Egan.
"Hawthorn accepts that the allegations were made in good faith, and has heard, respects, and accepts that they represent their truths," part of a statement from the Hawks said.
"Hawthorn is sorry and apologises that the former players, partners, and their families, in either pursuing a football career, or in supporting such a person, experienced ongoing hurt and distress in their time at the Club."
Alastair Clarkson insists he would welcome the opportunity to defend himself against racism allegations in Federal Court, as former Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli and others continue to pursue legal action.
"Federal Court process is a really, really long process, so I don't even know when it's going to be," Clarkson said.
"So we'll just let that all play out and in the meantime just concentrate on the things that we can control, and that's just going about our day-to-day work."
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has laughed off comments from Sydney premiership hero Paul Roos, who believes Carlton's reserves side in the 1980s would beat the current-day Kangaroos.
"You're an easy target when you're sitting on the ladder where we are, so you just roll with the punches," Clarkson said.
"All of us have been part of (struggling) sides ... whether we've coached them or whether we've played in them.
"I thought 'Roosy' might have been one of those too, but obviously not."
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson says he is seeing a sports psychologist in an effort to control his temper issues.
Speaking publicly for the first time since an incident where he abused match officials, Clarkson said the effects of the Hawthorn racism saga involving himself and Brisbane coach Chris Fagan had caught up with him.
"Without a doubt we can't dismiss the fact that 'Fages' and myself have been under an enormous amount of pressure over the last 18 months," Clarkson said.
"Just things build up and you don't know that it's happening to you until you get in an emotional state, and then you react.
"The best way to try to avoid that is to keep away from getting in a significant emotional state and that's probably better off being in a box than down on the bench."
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson apologises for comments made towards St Kilda players at the quarter-time break during the club's AAMI Community Series match at RSEA Park.
Following a heavy bump on Kangaroo Jy Simpkin by Jimmy Webster, Clarkson says he 'voiced his displeasure' towards Webster and Saints defender Dougal Howard, an exchange he conceded on Monday was "unnecessary" and included "inappropriate" language.
"I was deeply disturbed seeing our captain Jy Simpkin forced from the field as a result of a heavy collision just before quarter time," Clarkson said in a statement.
"Jy has had a great pre-season and has now had three concussions in 12 months and I was so disappointed to see him leave the field in that way."
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson expresses his dissatisfaction at North Melbourne not receiving the same level of assistance from the AFL as Gold Coast.
"The whole idea of equalisation – for goodness sake, the League put in some things several years ago to equalise for the Gold Coast Suns and give them a better opportunity – including getting Darwin as a zone and Academy access to their players and (Matt) Rowell and (Noah) Anderson going to their club – this year they're going to have three picks in the top 10," Clarkson said.
"And North Melbourne put their hand up to say, 'we've finished bottom for the last four years and we might need a little bit of help'. Yet it's just accepted that Gold Coast have three picks in the top 10 this year. That's OK. Yet the team on the bottom of the ladder for the last four years isn't getting assistance at all."
Returning North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson said watching George Wardlaw burst onto the scene helped reignite his desire to return to the club following his sabbatical from the club beginning in round nine to focus on his mental and physical wellbeing
"For the first four weeks of stepping away from the game, I lost my appetite to even watch footy, including the North games. But over the last eight weeks (the appetite has returned)," Clarkson said.
"I think it was like a lightbulb came on for me when George Wardlaw played against Essendon. It was just: 'Jeez, I want to be involved in this kid's career.'"
Alastair Clarkson will begin his return to North Melbourne next week after six weeks away from the club.
Clarkson will ease back into the role for about a month, while caretaker coach Brett Ratten continues to guide the Roos' senior men's program.
"We are pleased that Alastair has been able to get the support he needs to return to the club and work towards doing what he loves most and does best – coach the team," North president Sonja Hood said.
"We’ve had some really good dialogue with Alastair and we’re all comfortable he’s ready to make a return into the football department ahead of getting back in the senior coach’s chair later this season."
Alastair Clarkson looks set to return to coaching in a part-time capacity before taking full control before the end of the season.
Brett Ratten, installed as Clarkson's interim replacement after he stood himself down after round nine, will coach North Melbourne in Saturday's round 16 match against Adelaide, and is likely to continue in that capacity until at least round 18.
Despite being cleared by an independent investigation into the racism saga, Alastair Clarkson will remain absent from the Kangaroos.
"In terms of Alastair's situation, I am pleased but not surprised that the independent panel cleared him of the allegations of wrongdoing," North Melbourne president Sonia Hood wrote in a letter to members.
"Having heard Alastair's story, spoken to many of his past players (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) and colleagues, and had a chance to review the documentation presented to the independent panel (much of it as late as last week), this is a just outcome, albeit one that was a long time coming.
"The past eight months have taken a huge toll on Alastair and he has been remarkably stoic."
Kangaroos caretaker coach Brett Ratten says he is reluctant to contact Alastair Clarkson during the under-pressure mentor's time away from North Melbourne.
"I want him just to forget about footy. And I just want him to take a breath, go for walks, do things where he's not consumed by the game and clear his mind and his wellbeing," Ratten said.
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson takes leave to focus on his physical and emotional wellbeing as he continues to deal with the fallout of an investigation into allegations of mistreatment of First Nations players during his time at the Hawks.
"We feel really confident that he just needs some time to heal and he'll be back and taking control of the club again and helping us get back to the battle of contending for silverware and getting this club back to being in that position," Kangaroos' football boss Todd Viney said.
"There's been no timeframe to talk about when he's coming back. It's our firm belief that he will be back this year. But, if you ask him and if you ask us, we can't tell you whether that's one week or six weeks. We'll take that as it comes. The No.1 priority will be for him to get fit and healthy again. In the meantime, he will be away. We've told him to burn his phone and to just concentrate on getting himself right."
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan releases a statement in support of Alastair Clarkson's decision to take leave as coach of North Melbourne.
"It takes great courage to stand up and say you need to focus on your own personal wellbeing and we support Alastair in doing what he needs to do in the best interests of himself and his family," the statement read.
North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood speaks to Damian Barrett about Alastair Clarkson's decision to step away from football.
"He had been upset and this had been very difficult for him, and (Clarkson's wife) Caryn had given us a bit of a heads-up that he may need a bit of a break," Hood said.
"I was incredibly proud of how he and Caryn were able to be vulnerable, and I think we all were. For him to put his hand up to say he needs help."
North Melbourne's coach Alastair Clarkson has called for Hawthorn to be investigated over the club's "shameful" handling of its report into the treatment of its First Nations players, saying reputations have been "scarred" by the long-running process.
The North Melbourne coach has also responded after Bernard Quinn KC, the chair of the independent panel that is investigating claims of mistreatment, released some details of the process to the media on Wednesday night.
"It's just extraordinary that we've waited eight months, the game is the victim of this," Clarkson said
"The game has been shamed, obviously myself, Fages and Jason, our families have been shamed. The Indigenous and First Nations families, they've been shamed.
"And there's one particular party out there that was the catalyst for all this that haven't been investigated at all; their governance and conduct in this whole thing, the Hawthorn Football Club, just shameful. Let's do an investigation on them and their practices and see how they go."
Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson says a piece of advice from Celtic manager and Australian football great Ange Postecoglou helped him make to decision to move to Arden Street.
"What I didn't fear one iota was North Melbourne's position on the ladder. If anything, that was what presented such a challenge and such an opportunity. I spoke to Ange Postecoglou and he said, 'Take the biggest challenge', and this is a great challenge," Clarkson said.
"This one is a different sort of challenge, one that touches my heart pretty closely because this was the club that gave me my start as a 17-year-old way back in 1986."
Alastair Clarkson reports for his first day as North Melbourne coach while remaining at the centre of an independent investigation into allegations of racism during his time at Hawthorn.
Alastair Clarkson will begin work at North Melbourne on Tuesday as initially planned.
The club's board has approved the four-time premiership coach's start date, which was initially expected to be delayed following an independent Hawthorn report into its treatment of First Nations players during his time at the club from 2008 to 2016.
The AFL announces a four-person panel to examine serious allegations of racism levelled at Hawthorn and coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan.
Leading Victorian lawyer Bernard Quinn KC will head up a four-person panel that is due to report back to the AFL in December with public findings and recommendations. Joining Quinn on the panel will be barristers Jacqualyn Turfrey, Tim Goodwin and Julie Buxton. Ms Turfrey and Mr Goodwin are First Nations persons.
"These are very serious allegations, and it is important that we have an independent panel that is able to hear the perspectives of all involved and to provide natural justice to those making the claims and those who have had claims made against them," AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says he hopes there can be a resolution to the external review into the club's handling of indigenous players, implicating former head coach Alastair Clarkson, by the end of the year.
"Understand this as being a bump along the highway, but ... it is an important bump and it has to be dealt with professionally," he said.
"I will not accept the fact that we as a club cannot overcome this latest issue. We have the people, we have the desire and we have that indelible ingredient which is togetherness."
Alastair Clarkson releases a new statement to again deny allegations that Indigenous players were mistreated at Hawthorn during his time as senior coach.
"I have no option but to express publicly, in the strongest and most emphatic terms possible, that I did not behave in the manner claimed," Clarkson said.
"As the allegations against me have been spread widely and sometimes presented as indisputable matters of fact, I must state that my clear memory of the matters reported is very different."
Alastair Clarkson will no longer commence his role as North Melbourne coach as planned on November 1 due to allegations that he mistreated Indigenous players during his time at Hawthorn, allegations that he has denied.
Clarkson, Hawthorn's coach between 2005 and 2021, was named in an ABC report on Wednesday that detailed what the AFL has labelled "extremely serious" allegations about how the Hawks treated some Indigenous players.
"The health, care and welfare of our players, staff and their families were always my highest priorities during my time at Hawthorn Football Club," Clarkson said in a statement.
"I was not afforded any due process and I refute any allegation of wrongdoing or misconduct and look forward to the opportunity to be heard as part of the AFL external investigation."
Alastair Clarkson will coach North Melbourne for the next five seasons, with the Roos beating Essendon to the four-time premiership coach's signature. In doing so, Clarkson will return to the club where he played 93 games between 1987 and 1995.
"We know we have a lot of work to do … I'm really excited with that challenge, but it's going to take a lot of hard work," Clarkson said.
Essendon will make a decision about Ben Rutten's future on Sunday after its late-hatched grand plan to land Alastair Clarkson misfired, with Rutten saying he was blindsided by the Bombers' brazen coup attempt.
Rutten, who will steer the Bombers on Saturday night against Richmond, was reluctant to say whether he would want to stay at Essendon next year anyway after their treatment of him this week.
In a dramatic day at Tullamarine, New Bombers president Dave Barham said he regretted not speaking with Rutten as he became the president-elect of the club, taking over from Paul Brasher, and that players were disappointed they had not been more consulted through another week of turmoil at the club.
"That was a mistake. I should have called him (Rutten) Monday, and I apologise for that. I called him Tuesday, went and saw him at his house on Wednesday; I got that wrong," Barham said.
Alastair Clarkson says he was too far down the path with North Melbourne to seriously consider Essendon's approach to become their head coach.
"I didn't really want to have ongoing discussions with the Bombers, to be fair," Clarkson said.
"I met briefly with David Barham on Tuesday and then I knew I was going to be away on Wednesday and Thursday. We were just so far down the track with the North Melbourne and the GWS decisions that the whole process just came far too late to give (Essendon) really serious consideration."
Ben Rutten continues to serve as head coach of Essendon despite the club openly pursuing the services of Alastair Clarkson for the role.
"It’s not ideal, obviously. I have got the confidence of the players. I have got a job to do, and I am going to coach to the best I can in the next five days," Rutten said.
Ben Rutten's future as Essendon coach comes under scrutiny as the club mulls over whether to pursue four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson in the wake of a lackluster 2022 season.
Mark McVeigh accepts his chances of landing the Greater Western Sydney coaching job will depend largely on how badly Alastair Clarkson wants the role.
"I'll try and win the games we need to win between now and the end of the year but ultimately, I know if Alastair Clarkson says he wants to come to the Giants, I know I'm up against it and that's the way it should be. He's been an incredible coach for a long period of time," McVeigh said.
Alastair Clarkson says a stint with NBA powerhouse Golden State has reignited his passion for coaching.
"They played in a playoff series against Denver and the strategy that went about trying to win the series and the buzz in the stadium, it was like 'God, I want to be back part of the cut and thrust, in the coalface'," Clarkson said.
"It will pretty much come down to one thing: I would want to get back involved because I want to win it and if I didn't feel like I was the bloke who could take that club to win it, then I would stay out of the game."
Alastair Clarkson's gap year from coaching has led him to the NFL and NBA as he attempts to firm up Tasmania's bid to be accepted into the AFL by trying to learn as much from four-time Super Bowl champions Green Bay as possible.
"The reason I'm up in Green Bay now is we're continuing on consolidating our work for Tasmania and doing some more research into what we can do to put a pitch forward to the AFL so that the 19th team is a good option for the competition," Clarkson said.
"In terms of Tasmania and the model we're trying to put to the AFL, in terms of the ownership and the equity model, then Green Bay is such a good club to research. Their whole culture and community and the way they play is so similar to the culture of Tasmania, there's so much to learn over here."
Alastair Clarkson says he will more than likely return to coaching, perhaps even in 2022.
"It's amazing how stress-free you become this time of year given that we're on the eve of a pretty exciting season," Clarkson told SEN Breakfast.
"I think more than likely I'll coach again, but given what I've experienced over the last six months, there's some blue sky on the side of this coaching caper. We'll wait and see either the end of this year or the end of next year. I think if I was to come back into coaching, I wouldn't want to stay out of it for too long."
Alastair Clarkson joins the advisory board of Levin Health, a sports science company that is researching medicinal cannabis as a form of treatment.
"I know the doctors Levin Health are working with at La Trobe University really well and I trust them. Their involvement underpins the work Levin Health is doing so I'm happy to help where I can," Clarkson said.
Alastair Clarkson says he'll take his time to make a decision on his future as he prepares to lead the Hawks for his final two games as head coach.
"I am yet to determine that but I want to use the fullness of time, if I get the opportunity to, to just sit back and consider my wife and family and some close friends what my next chapter might look like," Clarkson said about his future.
Alastair Clarkson parts ways with Hawthorn, prematurely putting an end to the coaching succession plan to replace him with Sam Mitchell as head coach of the Hawks at the end of the 2022 season.
It is believed Clarkson will be paid out in full, an amount tallying more than $1 million for the 2022 season.
Hawthorn commits to a succession plan with four-time premiership player Sam Mitchell to take over from his four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson in 2023.
“At the end of last year, we made a decision to lay the foundations for the next wave of success at Hawthorn. That work has already begun, we are beginning to see glimmers of what the future Hawthorn side will look like, and I am committed to playing my part in continuing this work until the end of next season," Clarkson said.
“My philosophy has always been to give my assistant coaches the responsibilities and opportunities they need to achieve their career aspirations. Sam is on this journey and the period of transition between Sam and I provides further opportunity for him to develop as he prepares to step into the senior coach role.”
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is content to wait until the late stages of his current contract, ending in 2022, before deciding his future.
"I've been in this caper for a long period of time and it might be that the longer we can leave this (the better we are) so we make the right decision for the footy club," Clarkson said.
"I could finish up today and say I'd been enormously privileged and grateful for the opportunity I've had to coach this club and enormously satisfied with what we've been able to achieve in that period.
"But I'm still loving what I do and I'm enormously excited with the challenge of this next little wave we've got to try and ride. It's going to be a tough wave to ride but there's a new frontier with our footy club."
As part of a long-standing promise for winning the 2014 flag, Alastair Clarkson owes the five-man Hawthorn leadership group a trip to the Super Bowl.
Originally locked in for the following year, the trip was denied over what would've been perceived as a breach of the salary cap with the four-time premiership coach "gifting" his players.
And with each year that passes without the commitment being fulfilled, the reminders from captain Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis, Josh Gibson and Jarryd Roughead get more intense.
"Every year in the lead-up to the Super Bowl I'm getting text messages from these five or six lads saying, 'Notice you haven't got an airline ticket booked for me this year'," Clarkson said.
"While it seems like a gesture that's a little bit over the top, it's quite sincere from my family's point of the view, as well as our club, just what contribution they made to the success of our footy club through that period of time."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson expresses his concern that more of his peers could be lost due to mental health issues related to the stress of coaching an AFL club.
"I'm a bit concerned for our profession. Some have lost their lives, not directly because of coaching, but some of it has been stress-related," Clarkson said on Fox Footy.
"Any coach that does it particularly tough has to carry it in his public life more so than what a coach would have to do in a much bigger market like America or Europe. I'm concerned and I think the game should be concerned because it's an enormous burden to carry."
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is critical of the AFL reacting to Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson's call for the league to pay more holding-the-ball free kicks.
"I just wish the people involved in the game would take a breath before they criticise the game and make sure we hold our nerve and don't change rules and adjust things on a whim," Beveridge said.
"You need more than a one-event sample size to force change and we're too quick to flinch and it's not helping the game."
Clarkson responded to Beveridge's blast in a media conference, saying his power was overstated.
"I'm hoping it's for the betterment of the game and not necessarily just for the betterment of the Hawks. I hope people can see through that and see it's ... for the betterment of the game because I think the game will open up a little bit more if the whistle is blown just a little bit more," Clarkson said.
Hawthorn informs talented, but injury-prone, small forward Darren Minchington that he won't be offered the club's vacant list spot.
Minchington played in the Hawks' Marsh Community Series opener and last week's practice match, both against his old team St Kilda, and was hoping to score a second year on the list.
"I don't think anyone in the game doubts that he's got the talent to play AFL footy," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said about Minchington.
"He can be elusive with the footy in his hands (and) he's a difficult little match-up, because he's clever with the footy and doesn't need many touches, but it's just whether or not he can get out on the park.
"For all the success stories we've had with guys we've been able to get out on the park, last year we were unable to get him out on the park."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson says he'll make this his last contract at Hawthorn if the club is not on track to win another Grand Final.
"If Hawthorn haven't been able to look like they're giving themselves a chance to win silverware, then it's probably time for me to move on," Clarkson told Channel Seven's Talking Footy.
"But while there's still an appetite to grow some of these younger players and find the new generation of players, I'd want to make sure the club is in a really good position to hand over to the next person."
Alastair Clarkson is awarded life membership at Hawthorn and cites legendary Hawks coach John Kennedy snr as having had a huge influence on his career.
"John Kennedy was my coach when I first came down to play at North Melbourne and you wouldn't think at that point in time I'd have Hawthorn royalty having such an impact on me at such a young age," Clarkson said.
Alastair Clarkson signs a three-year contract extension to remain head coach of the Hawks until the end of 2022.
"Thanks to those guys who keep our club stable and steady and keep us aligned to our values at different stages in this very hard game and in this very hard life at different stages," Clarkson said.
"The reason why it's so easy to accept the enormously attractive offer by the club to continue to be involved in this club is I've got genuine belief in the club and its direction and genuine belief in this group of (players) that we can do something special again."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson says Brett Ratten had decided to leave his role as assistant coach at the club in search of bigger responsibilities.
"He just feels that after six years of being in a similar role at our footy club, we can't offer him the role that, perhaps, he's exploring as either a senior coach or a director of footy … at this point in time," Clarkson said.
Sydney coach John Longmire has taken issue with a meeting between his Hawthorn counterpart Alastair Clarkson and AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan.
Clarkson said after Hawthorn's loss to Sydney that the Swans defenders were 'very sophisticated with the way that they defend, but at different stages they’re getting away with blue murder too'.
Longmire later learnt of Clarkson meeting with McLachlan to allegedly "go through some vision" of the game.
"It's unusual and unnecessary I would suggest," Longmire said of the meeting.
"I had a look on the AFL website today and there's plenty of examples of Hawthorn players doing exactly the same thing, so let's not kid ourselves.
"It's a bit on unusual that he can make comments about other teams and what they do, then think to yourself that your team does everything right."
Cats coach Chris Scott throws his support behind Swans counterpart John Longmire in being critical of Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson meeting with AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan to discuss aspects of the game following Hawthorn's loss to Sydney.
"There's a number of people you would speak to before you spoke to Gill about specific issues in a game," Scott said.
"To do it in a public place, I'd probably support 'Horse' (Longmire) on this one, I'm not sure it was an appropriate look."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says he is willing to be proven wrong in the debate on players shrugging their shoulders to create head-high contact for a free kick.
Cats coach Chris Scott had taken offence to Clarkson's suggestion that Joel Selwood was risking concussion with this tactic.
"It's worthwhile putting these things up for debate and discussion if you think they are taking you down a path that could be dangerous for the game in the future," Clarkson said.
"I'm happy to be beaten on it (the issue) - you don't have to win them all in this game."
Cats coach Chris Scott fires back at Hawthorn counterpart Alastair Clarkson after the latter suggested Joel Selwood's habit of shrugging the shoulders to draw free kicks could lead to more instances of concussion.
"I think one needs to be really careful not to conflate shrugging a tackle with concussion, especially if you're using alternative facts to support your argument," Scott said.
"I think any reasonable person would say that Joel was more likely to suffer a concussion from a knee in the head than shrugging a tackle around the shoulder."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson make a strong statement about Joel Selwood's penchant for drawing head-high free kicks.
"If we're actually fair dinkum about head injuries, then we shouldn't be providing extra protection for someone who contributes to the high contact," Clarkson said.
"The concern is, for him and the game, in 10, 15, 20 years' time, and if we want to do something about concussion, we should be policing the game in a manner that dropping the knees, shrugging the shoulders, raising the arm, ducking the head, all those sorts of things, we could get out of the game really, really quickly if we were fair dinkum about it."
Alastair Clarkson speaks of his admiration for tennis legend Roger Federer.
"His performances to still be doing what he does at his age, the motivation to live the lifestyle that has to go with being a professional tennis player … hats off to him," Clarkson said.
"He's been doing that for the best part of 20 years. It's not so much what you see on the court, but it's the struggles with balancing family and normality of life with the routines he's got off the court. He must be an unbelievable performer."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson says he is far from certain he will continue in the job after 2019.
"All the key pillars have changed for all sorts of reasons, but the next 12 months to two years is pivotal to see whether I've still got the passion and desire to drive this group and whether the new group of players coming through is going to respond to that coaching," he said.
"I think we need to take every bit of the next two years as a club to decide where we want to go and what we want to do."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson reveals he invited the Hawks to seriously consider his position after his side's disastrous start to the season.
"What I offered to our football sub-committee is, 'Let's not be afraid to have the conversation, when we're performing poorly, let's assess every part of our football club including my position'," he said.
"So it wasn't offering a resignation, it was just saying, 'Let's be prepared to be transparent and talk about all things'.
"I thought that it was only fair with an 0-4 start."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says the club's decision to look to the future and give young players key roles in the second half of the season could be the catalyst for a return to finals in 2018.
"We knew as a football club that our best footy with that group of players was behind us rather than in front of us, so we needed to inject some younger players into our group," Clarkson said.
"We were realistic about where we were … and what we needed to do to get ourselves back, not so much into the season but just to start to demonstrate the pathway forward for us has got some blue sky to it.
"I think we were able to show that in the second half of the year in particular."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson believes the pre-finals bye has hurt the integrity of the competition and given top-four teams a disadvantage if they win their opening qualifying final.
"I think it's an enormous disadvantage finishing top four and winning your first final and playing one game in three weeks leading into a prelim," Clarkson said.
"It's unbelievably challenging for a top-four team, given they have deserved top-four status. I don't think it's good for the game.
"Part of the game is survival of the fittest, and if you've worked hard to deserve top-four status you shouldn't be disadvantaged come the finals."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has been fined $20,000 for labelling the umpiring in Saturday's loss to Gold Coast at the MCG as "disgraceful".
Clarkson will pay $5,000 of the penalty to the Freeze MND fundraising campaign, while the remaining $15,000 has been suspended until the end of the 2018 season.
A subsequent apology to the AFL and its umpiring department on Sunday was not enough to save Clarkson from a penalty, with the League declaring his comments were detrimental to the League's ability to attract officials.
"The AFL took into account the public apology from Alastair on Sunday afternoon, and also the fact he made direct contact with AFL umpiring director Peter Schwab to speak to him personally," football operations manager Simon Lethlean said.
"Alastair relayed to me that he regretted his comments in the aftermath of his post-match conference and was aware they had crossed the line beyond what was acceptable in how umpires are treated and spoken about."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has apologised for his criticism of the standard of umpiring after Hawthorn's loss to Gold Coast at the MCG.
Clarkson had labelled the umpiring as "disgraceful" during his post-match media conference when asked about a contentious decision that saw Hawks defender Kaiden Brand concede a 50m penalty for infringing on the protected zone.
"It was probably a poor choice of words. I went to the press conference with the full intention of trying to educate our members and the football public of where Hawthorn is at," Clarkson said.
"In no way was I trying to tarnish the umpiring or the AFL (but) I just got caught up in the emotion of a game."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson admits his comments about a "catastrophic change" following Hawthorn's 75-point loss to St Kilda was an overreaction.
"I probably got wound up in the emotion a bit. It was a poor choice of words by me, knowing full well that (it) would be referenced a fair bit throughout the course of the week," Clarkson said.
"Our club has never been about dealing with things in a catastrophic manner. Given the review of the game, (I was) just disappointed right at that point in time that we'd played so poorly."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson shrugs off Mark Williams' call for him to move on after a 0-3 start to the 2017 season.
Williams wrote a column in News Corporation newspapers advising Clarkson to leave Hawthorn before the club moved on from him.
"I haven't read the article, but a friend of mine relayed the content of it. Whenever your side is going through a tough patch, there's going to be external noise and opinion. That's the game that we're in," Clarkson said.
"All we need to do is bunker down with a collective effort at our footy club. It's not about any one person. We've worked our way through tough positions before.
"We're going through a hard time at the minute, but we're really, really strong in our resolve to pull ourselves out of this pickle that we're in and get ourselves back on the winning list."
Carlton coach Brendon Bolton throws his support behind Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson whose Hawks currently find themselves facing a 0-3 start to the 2017 season, the latest being an 86-point thumping loss to Gold Coast.
Bolton - one of six current senior AFL coaches who previously worked with Clarkson at Hawthorn - extolled the 48-year-old's virtues.
"What I do know about Al Clarkson and his coaching team right now, they would be working incredibly, incredibly hard," Bolton said.
"He's been a fantastic coach and mentor. The other thing is he's been a loyal friend to me and he's a loyal person."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson says the AFL should eventually bite the bullet and trial a twilight or night Grand Final.
"If you don't change you are never going to know. Maybe it is just exploratory for a year or two. [There is] nothing like exploring something to see if it works," Clarkson said.
"If it works it could be a bonanza for the AFL and everyone involved in the game. If it doesn't what have you got to lose; just put it back to 2.30pm [start]."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson will miss part of Hawthorn's JLT Community Series campaign later this month in favour of a short trip overseas.
The four-time premiership coach will be undertaking a leadership course at Harvard University while the Hawks take on North Melbourne at Arden Street on February 26.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson sends Hawthorn members an extensive video explaining why club greats Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis were traded.
"It's mainly got to do with our list profile. At some point in time tough decisions need to be made in terms of looking to the future as well," Clarkson said on why the pair were not offered longer deals.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says the game has changed and his team will have to move with it in 2017 after being bundled out of the finals in straight sets.
The Hawks' golden era came to an abrupt end with the Western Bulldogs stunning the triple premiers and denying them a September win for the first time since 2010.
"It's been shown throughout the year that we just haven't played well enough … I don't think the percentage lies on the ladder too much," Clarkson said.
"Our side has competed ferociously for a long, long period of time.
"What's happened over the last two weeks is not surprising. They're tough to win, finals.
"Sometimes the door opens for you and sometimes it closes. Sometimes it can close abruptly like it did tonight and you don't enjoy it too much."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson dismisses the importance of contested possessions in the lead up to the Hawks' clash with contested ball kings the Sydney Swans.
"Contested ball's just a fancy term for everyone in the media. We don't give a toss about that either," Clarkson said/
"We've won five contested ball contests in about two years, so we've still won lots of games of footy.
"People can make what they want of stats. We don't like in a significant, competitive game you're viewed as being No.18 in one facet of the game, but really it's not talked internally at our club at all."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has joined the growing chorus of coaches calling for the AFL to crack down on players drawing high contact, following another controversial free kick in the Hawks' win over Melbourne.
The issue reared its head again, with Hawthorn debutant Kade Stewart awarded a free kick in the last term for a high tackle, after appearing to drive his head into Melbourne's James Harmes.
The decision incensed the Demons' players, and several remonstrated with Stewart after he kicked a behind to put the Hawks in front by one point.
"I hope it's done by the end of the year," Clarkson said.
"[AFL football operations manager] Mark [Evans] has been out there saying we don’t want to make the head a free hit, but at the moment players are using their heads as an opportunity to win a free kick and that is what's dangerous, very, very dangerous.
"We've done some really good things in the game to protect guys from injury. But I think this one about the head at the moment … it's not protecting the head because players are actually putting their heads in a position where it can get whacked. That is going to be dangerous at some point in time."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson says he has made a verbal commitment to extend his tenure at Hawthorn, dismissing suggestions he could be poached by a rival club.
"What I have done is make a commitment to the club and I don't back away from commitments," Clarkson said.
"I made a commitment six weeks ago, and for all those out there that think I might be going somewhere, it couldn't be further from the truth."
Alastair Clarkson says his three-year contract extension will give him time to oversee Hawthorn's list regeneration, with the master coach plotting how to extend the Hawks' era of success while sending off ageing stars.
Clarkson confirmed that he has agreed to terms with the Hawks after a lengthy period of negotiations and will soon ink a new deal taking him through until the end of 2019.
"It was always going to be a formality really. I didn't want to go anywhere and the club didn't want me to go anywhere," Clarkson said.
"It's a three-year extension, so that will be this year plus another three. We've got a fair bit we want to achieve as a footy club (in that time)."
The AFL won't take any further action against Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson after South Australian police cleared the triple premiership coach of any wrongdoing in his altercation with a fan in Adelaide.
AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said the League was "not required to act" against Clarkson.
South Australian police have cleared Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson of any wrongdoing in his clash with a drunken AFL fan in Adelaide.
"It has been determined that no further action will be taken by South Australia Police. SA Police consider this matter to be finalised," SA Police said in a statement.
The AFL has banned coaches from leaving games by foot and walking back to their hotel in the wake of Alastair Clarkson's altercation with an intoxicated football fan in Adelaide.
"We have sent [a memo] to all the clubs that you now must go by the bus and then in terms of what we can do when players and coaches leave the bus and go into the hotel, that's obviously what we've looked at," an AFL spokesperson said.
South Australian police confirm thaty they have spoken to Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson on Monday as their investigation into an incident involving Clarkson and a Port Adelaide supporter continues.
The amateur footballer involved in an altercation with Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson in Adelaide will be asked to appear before his own club's board..
Luke Helps plays for the Hackham Hawks who are based south of Adelaide and play in the Southern Football League.
Hawthorn officials have been in contact with the amateur club and police are also investigating the incident.
"He wasn't representing the club at the time but, unfortunately for the young fellow, he does sort of represent us just as a member and a player all the time, I suppose," Hackham president Graham Thompson told ABC radio on Wednesday.
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire believes the AFL needs to look at providing coaches with security after matches after Hawthorn counterpart Alastair Clarkson's altercation with a fan.
"On match days when you're at the ground it's pretty good, there's terrific security provided by the AFL, but once the siren goes and you're walking with your family to your car, that needs to be looked at," he said.
"You need to aware of where you go and what you do, and these things make you reassess that, which is a little bit sad."
Alastair Clarkson has expressed his regret after being involved in an altercation with a Port Adelaide fan.
"Having been confronted and threatened by a group of intoxicated men and after politely asking several times for some space, I regret that I pushed away one particular individual," Clarkson said.
"While the behaviour of the group was antagonistic, aggressive and completely unwarranted, I wish that I had continued to walk away and removed myself from the situation.
"As a father, coach and leader, I acknowledge that I am in a position to set an example for the community."
Video footage of Alastair Clarkson is released showing the Hawks coach in a physical altercation with a Port Adelaide fan outside the team hotel following Hawthorn's eight-point loss to the Power.
The video shows Clarkson being provoked by the man before Clarkson was prompted to forcefully push the man away with an open hand.
Clarkson said he reacted in that way because he was concerned for his safety.
"(I'm) disappointed that I've been involved in it but (we were) fearful for our safety, in a sense, with gentlemen that we didn't know," Clarkson told Channel Seven.
"We knew that they'd been drinking, didn't know really what their intentions were, we were very, very aware by the dialogue that they were Port Adelaide supporters and just didn't know where it was going to go.
"We were deeply concerned, particularly as we neared the entrance to the building that they were going to do everything they possibly could to make sure that we stopped."
Hawthorn CEO Stuart Fox defended Clarkson's reaction.
"Alastair was walking back to the hotel with our general manager of football Chris Fagan and (they) came across some intoxicated boys, and Clarko was certainly harassed," Fox told Channel Nine on Sunday.
"He politely declined to be photographed and (filmed) and the boys just got in his face.
"We tried to get Clarko into the hotel and it was one of those issues that just got a bit ugly."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is the bookmakers' favourite to be named as Brenton Sanderson's successor at Adelaide, despite being contracted until the end of 2016.
One bookmaker has wound the Hawks' coach into $1.45 odds to take over at the Crows after Hawthorn faces the Sydney Swans in Saturday's Grand Final.
The reigning premiership coach, who has steered the Hawks to three consecutive Grand Finals, signed a contract extension in early 2014 that tied him to the club for the next two seasons.
Former Crow Andrew Jarman made the extraordinary claim on Triple M radio that Clarkson could be announced as Adelaide's next coach as soon as next week.
"Next Tuesday there'll be an announcement to say that the Adelaide Crows have signed Alastair Clarkson to a five-year deal, $1.4 (million) a year," Jarman said.
"The intel did say if they win it's definitely done, if they lose then he could stay."
Swans coach John Longmire is named as the Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year, edging out Hawthorn's Alastair Clarkson by one vote at the AFL Coaches Association awards.
Tadhg Kennelly is appointed as an assistant coach under Alastair Clarkson for the upcoming International Rules Series.
"I've always been a strong supporter of representative football, and the commitment of the best players and a great coaching staff under Alastair Clarkson will be tremendous for the Test match in Perth," Kennelly said.
Geelong coach Chris Scott has been confirmed as Alastair Clarkson's second assistant for the International Rules series in November.
Scott, who led the Cats to the 2011 premiership, joins Fremantle coach Ross Lyon as the two assistants to Clarkson.
"Chris has done a superb job since taking over as the coach of the Geelong Cats, progressing deep into the finals every season since 2011 while introducing a new breed of young players to keep the club at the top of the ladder," AFL general manager of football operations Mark Evans said.
"A coaching panel of Alastair, Ross and Chris brings together some of our leading coaching minds and we are delighted that each has committed to be part of this year's series."
Alastair Clarkson has been cleared to return to his position as Hawthorn's senior coach, and he will take back the reins from stand-in coach Brendan Bolton on Monday afternoon.
"In line with medical advice, Alastair has been involved around the club over the past couple of weeks in a minor capacity while undertaking an active recovery," Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox said.
"With endorsement from his doctors, Alastair will return to regular full-time coaching duties from today.
"We're really pleased Alastair is healthy and ready to return to work as the team embarks on the second half of the 2014 season."
Alastair Clarkson believes he could have returned to coach Hawthorn weeks ago but says his five-game layoff has enabled the "growth of the club".
"I've been fine for two or three weeks, really. It's not really my first day at the club in a sense, I've been about the place," Clarkson said.
"I've been really fortunate that I've been able to do a lot of my rehab here and the doctors and physios being here has been really helpful.
"I've been able to throw my two bobs worth in here and there with the program. But 'Fages' (Chris Fagan, general manager of football operations) and 'Bolts' obviously have run the coaching and administrative side of things really, really well in my absence.
"'Hodgey' (captain Luke Hodge) and the leadership group have been first-class with making sure everything on field has been done in our training.
"It was just making sure I got myself to 100 per cent and I feel like over the last couple of weeks I could have nearly coached but it was just making sure I got the specialists' approval that I was able to secure at 10.30 this morning."
Alastair Clarkson returns to Hawthorn to offer his input at team meetings but interim Hawthorn coach Brendon Bolton has cautioned that progress for the senior coach will be slow.
"It's terrific to see 'Clarko' around the club and doing some rehab down in the pool and [coming into] some of the meetings so we really value his input," Bolton said.
"We'll continue to value his input and hopefully as time goes on he is in more than not."
Alastair Clarkson feels he will be ready to coach in the "not-so-distant future", but Hawthorn's premiership mentor won't be rushing things as he recovers from Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).
"Just wanting to let everyone know I'm going OK," Clarkson said.
"I've been a bit scratchy and slow with my movement and my balance, but I'm getting stronger each day.
"I feel like I'm getting ready to get back into the footy side of things in the not-so-distant future.
Hawks chief executive Stuart Fox says Alastair Clarkson will not resume as coach of Hawthorn for at least another month.
"He's continuing to respond really well to treatment. We can confirm that doctors have advised us that he has a mild case of the condition and that the recovery still needs to be treated very seriously," Fox said.
"He won't be at work for four weeks at an absolute minimum (and) we think that may be even longer."
Hawks president Andrew Newbold has penned an open letter to the club's members and supporters saying Alastair Clarkson won't be rushed back into his role as coach of Hawthorn.
"Circumstances like this certainly put the game we play into perspective," Newbold said on the club's website.
"There is nothing more important than our health, and the health of our families and friends, and that is why our club will give 'Clarko' as long as he needs to fully recover."
Alastair Clarkson will not coach Hawthorn this Sunday against Greater Western Sydney and faces an indefinite absence after being admitted to hospital on Monday night with acute back pain.
Hawthorn announced on Tuesday that Clarkson had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), which is an inflammation of the nerves from the spinal cord, and was expected to remain in hospital for a week.
"Alastair was admitted to hospital last night with back pain, and he has subsequently been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, which is an autoimmune condition," Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox said.
"We're fortunate that Alastair's condition has been detected early, and we're confident he is in the best possible hands under the care of very experienced specialists."
Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson wants reform to the League's coaching ranks, including mandatory licences, to ensure there is no repeat of the Essendon supplements scandal.
Clarkson believes licences to coach should be compulsory and that by 2020, every senior coach should have coached his own team for at least two years.
"We need to ensure [the supplements scandal] never happens in our game again. It's too easy to sweep it under the carpet and hope it's never going to happen again," Clarkson told Fairfax Media.
"Next time it could be illicit drugs or young girls in night clubs. It comes down to having the right systems and protocols in place.
"'Hirdy' (Essendon coach James Hird) needs accreditation to coach under-nines but not an AFL footy team. It really concerns me that the game doesn't protect itself in the way, say, the teaching industry does."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says he still has plenty to do at the club after guiding the Hawks to two premierships in nine years.
"I'd like to help this footy club really get back to being a really, really strong power of the competition and help the club position itself so that irrespective of our on-field performance, we're able to sustain ourselves off-field in a financial sense," Clarkson said.
"We've made some significant steps in that regard in the last six or seven years in particular, but we've still got a way to go and I'd like to be around the club to be able to help them do that.
"A lot of that's got to do with the on-field performance obviously, but I'd also be able to help them off-field to become a club that doesn't rely on on-field performance ... to be successful."
Alastair Clarkson quashes media reports that he will join West Coast after coaching the Hawks in this year's Grand Final.
"Those who know me well would understand that my values would never have me walk away from a commitment to our club," Clarkson said.
"My family and I have had a great journey with this club and we are optimistic that the coming years are going to be an exciting time for Hawthorn Football Club."
After getting into trouble for a public outburst at a VFL game, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson admits he can get emotional when it comes to protecting his players.
"It's part of my character that gets me into trouble from time to time," Clarkson said.
"I am a little bit regretful of getting involved in an on-field incident but there are times you have to protect the welfare of our players and our club and there are times I get embroiled in that."
AFL Victoria opts not to punish apologetic Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson for his outburst during a VFL match.
"Alastair acknowledged his actions were inappropriate, has expressed his regret at the situation and apologised to the VFL for the incident," a statement by the state governing body said.
"Approaching umpires or players during any interval in a football game by spectators, players or officials is not acceptable within the VFL competition, or at any level of the game.
"There will be no further action taken by AFL Victoria regarding this matter."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has apologised to two Port Melbourne players he verbally abused at quarter-time of a VFL match on the weekend.
Clarkson was sent a 'please explain' by AFL Victoria on Monday, after reacting angrily to a behind-play hit on Box Hill player Sam Iles during the first quarter of the match.
Clarkson attended the Box Hill huddle during the quarter-time break and, as he left the playing arena, approached Port Melbourne's Toby Pinwill to vent his disapproval at the hit on Iles.
Pinwill's teammate John Baird then intervened, and also received the Clarkson's wrath.
Alastair Clarkson says he accepts Jeff Kennett's apology after remarks that he may need to be replaced as head coach, but also says he understands where the former Hawks president is coming from.
"I'm not actually deeply offended by the comments, because Jeff's shared those views with me countless times over the last two to three years, that's his view on all people with lengthy tenures," Clarkson said.
"I respect his view, I don't actually agree with it, because I think that we've still got some things we can do at the footy club that are pretty special."
Former Hawks president Jeff Kennett says it may be time to replace Hawthorn head coach Alastair Clarkson after the club lost its 10 straight home and away match against the Cats.
"The reality is we lost in 2011 in the preliminary final when we were well ahead. We failed to flood the backline," Kennett said.
"Last year I think we made a terrible decision when we played our captain Luke Hodge when he clearly wasn't fit and that to me is an absolute no no in a Grand Final.
"You can't go into that sort of match carrying people and today unfortunately we were outplayed and outcoached and unless there are some fundamental changes there I fear for our season.
"I know that's a big call early on, but I think we lost today in the same way we've lost to Geelong every time in the last (10) home and away games. We often start well and then we fail to deliver, and today our second half was a disgrace."
Jeff Kennett apologises to Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson for suggesting that he should be sacked after the Hawks' losing streak to the Cats was extended to 10.
"The tribal nature of the game drives our emotions and yesterday, in my frustration, I wrongly singled out Alastair for what was a team result for which we all must accept irresponsibility and be challenged to do better, week on week," Kennett said.
"I sincerely apologise to Alastair Clarkson and his family for the grief I have caused them."
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson says the league will take no further action on Alastair Clarkson for swearing at a junior footy game.
"The AFL, like Alastair, is very disappointed with this incident and notes that he has apologised and acknowledged the appropriateness of the sanction imposed by the South Metro Junior Football League," Anderson said.
"Taking into account the sanction already imposed by the SMJFL, Alastair's apology and commitment to contribute at community level to the SMJFL, the AFL will not take any further action in this matter."
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson cops a four-week suspension for swearing at an umpire's adviser during under-9s footy match.
"The SMJFL has a very clear code of conduct in relation to the behaviour of team officials, players and spectators," SMJFL general manager David Cannizzo said.
"Any indvidual, regardless of their external standing, is dealt with as per the SMJFL by-laws and procedures relating to such incidents.
"It is vital they are setting the right example for all participants and spectators, in particular the players who are young and impressionable."
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is under investigation for allegedly abusing an official at his son's U9 football carnival.
"During the conversation with the league official, I used a couple of expletives and I apologise to the official for the language used," Clarkson said.
"I was only trying to re-organise the players into their correct positions and certainly didn't intend for this to become an issue for the official, the league, or the two teams."
The incident follows another controversy surrounding Clarkson where he was observed to have punched a hole in the wall of the MCG's coach's box and subsequently agreed to pay for the damage caused.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson will face a South Metro Junior Football League tribunal over his verbal altercation with an official.
"Following a review of the club response, the SMJFL can confirm it has completed its investigation and the Ormond JFC team official has been charged with 'unacceptable behaviour of a bench official'," a statement from the SMJFL said.
"The team official will be required to front the Independent Tribunal at a time and date to be confirmed."
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Helping launch an alcohol awareness campaign, Alastair Clarkson has spoken of his anguish at the death of his brother in a drink-driving accident 28 years ago.
"In that era, it was a time where your gender was actually questioned if you couldn't be tough enough to drive home after you've had a few drinks," he said.
"Even if you questioned a mate about driving home, then you weren't a genuine mate because (of the suggestion) he wasn't tough enough either. That was just the culture of the '70s and '80s,"
Friday, 26 August 2011
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson signs for a further three years as head coach of the club and believes the decision to extend his contract will pay off in spades for the Hawks.
"We started on the process seven years ago of trying to bring about some success for this great football club … and it's great that we've got strong stability at our club. We really have forged ahead over the last seven years, but we still have a lot of work to do," Clarkson said.
"Whilst we've achieved a little bit of success in that time, we've still got so much more that we want to achieve."
Friday, 12 August 2011
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says a deal with the club to extend his contract is still weeks away.
"We'll probably leave it until another four to six weeks, that's been our time frame all along," he said.
"We set in train a process 12 months ago in terms of my reappointment but seven years ago in terms of what we wanted to achieve as a footy club and we're nowhere near where we want to be. I'd be hopeful that things will work out soon."
Friday, 29 July 2011
Hawthorn mentor Alastair Clarkson is comfortable with his contract situation despite Adelaide now hunting for a new coach.
"We know the process that we're going through at Hawthorn and we're all very comfortable with that," Clarkson said.
"I'm very happy with the way that we're tracking through the season, we've got a very exciting period ahead, and we just want to make sure that we keep all that in perspective and the coaching stuff will work itself out in due course."
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Hawthorn won't be pressured into re-signing Alastair Clarkson, despite talk linking him to Adelaide following Neil Craig's resignation.
"Whilst everybody else is talking about it, we're not," Hawthorn football director Jason Dunstall said.
"Alastair's comfortable with that, and we're comfortable with that. Nobody wants to go anywhere and nobody wants anyone to go anywhere, so all things will sort themselves out I'm sure."
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Alastair Clarkson's manager Liam Pickering says the Hawthorn coach has not been in talks with other clubs despite not having his future at the Hawks confirmed by the club.
"The media are trying to make something of the fact they're putting pressure on Dean Bailey at Melbourne and of course there's pressure on Neil Craig as well," Pickering said.
"I'm not taking any notice of it.''
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Hawk president Jeff Kennett denies claims he wanted coach Alastair Clarkson to stand aside for a game last season as reported by the Herald Sun.
"I've checked with my CEO, with whom I have a close working relationship, the head of my football department, with whom I have a close working relationship," he told SEN radio.
"I've talked to a board member with whom I have a close working relationship, and none of them can ever recall me making that suggestion."
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
The Herald Sun reports that Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett suggested that Alastair Clarkson stand aside as coach for a match last season in a bid to arrest their losing streak.
Kennett's suggestion, however, was rejected by the club's powerbrokers.
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Sam Mitchell defends his coach Alastair Clarkson after an attack by Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett following losses to Port Adelaide and Sydney.
"No one puts more into their footy than Clarko and his staff. They're here at the crack of dawn every morning and they don't leave until it's dark," Mitchell said.
"They're working hard and the players are working hard. No one puts more into their footy, we wouldn't think, than our footy club."
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson has been given a suspended $5000 fine by the AFL after verbally abusing Matthew Lloyd following Hawthorn's loss to Essendon.
"The AFL is concerned about the potential for such situations to escalate on the ground and also the need for AFL coaches to set a positive example for coaches at all levels," AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said.
Clarkson said he was sorry for his actions.
"I apologise for my actions after Saturday's match and any embarrassment caused to the AFL," Clarkson said.
"I believe senior coaches should model appropriate behaviour and I fully intend to set a positive example for coaches and others involved across all levels of football."
A security guard assigned to the boundary line reveals what Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said to Bomber captain Matthew Lloyd after the Hawks' loss to Essendon.
Clarkson is heard to have said, "You had better f**king retire you f**king weak c***."
Monday, 31 August 2009
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson describes himself as a 'passionate peanut' after abusing Bomber players, Jobe Watson in particular, following Hawthorn's loss to Essendon which resulted in injuries to Brad Sewell and Max Bailey.
"That's just the passion of the game. I've come out onto the ground ... I think he was shaping up to come and shake my hand but with the blood boiling it was the last thing I wanted to do," he said.
"If I was going to be accommodative of any Essendon player it would have been Jobe but I didn't even want to speak to him, so it wasn't the way we wanted to finish our season, that's for sure."
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says assistant coach Damien Hardwick is ready to become a head coach with vacancies available at either North Melbourne or Richmond.
"We've supported him all along. He's been in our system for five years and our view is that he's ready to coach senior football. It will be up to Richmond and the Kangaroos to determine whether that's the case as well," Clarkson said.
Trent Croad expresses to Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson his optimism in returning from a career-threatening injury.
"It's always pleasing to get that type of optimistic view from a guy who has become a pretty important player to our structure," Clarkson said.
"Given the seriousness of the injury and the size of the man and the fact it is a foot injury, there are no guarantees but he's very optimistic and so is the surgeon that he'll return to play AFL footy and we can only hope that'll be the case next year."
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says the recruiting of Stuart Dew was worthwhile, despite the brevity of his stay at the club.
"I can remember catching up with him a couple of years ago and trying to orchestrate this whole involvement he would have with our footy club and he had a passion to get back to playing AFL footy again," Clarkson said.
"We're indebted to him in a sense. He brought so much leadership both on the field and off the field for our group last year and played a pivotal role for us to be able to secure that flag."
Monday, 27 July 2009
Hawk Chance Bateman says Lance Franklin is not worried about the treatment he receives from umpires despite Hawk coach Alastair Clarkson voicing his disapproval at the way the star forward had been treated.
"Lance isn't one to worry about the umpires," Bateman said.
"It all evens out, you'll get some good decisions and get some bad ones, that's footy."
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson plans to speak to the umpires department about treatment handed out to Lance Franklin.
"We weren't too pleased with the way that he was monstered today," Clarkson said.
"We need to work through that with the umpiring department to try and rationalise why Buddy has to earn his free kicks in such a tough manner."
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Hawthorn defender will miss the rest of season after having surgery on his right knee.
"He's been a really durable player for us the previous three or four seasons and this season, for whatever reason, it's just blown up for him," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"Hopefully by having this surgery, he'll be able to have a full pre-season and get himself right for 2010."
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson admits it would be "foolish" to rush Trent Croad back into the senior side without a stint in the VFL.
"Our senior side certainly needs his presence down there but it would be foolish perhaps to put him there straight away," Clarkson said.
"But we'll just have to wait and see what players are available for us at the time he's available to play."
Friday, 26 June 2009
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says Trent Croad's return may be as little as two weeks away.
"It could be two weeks, it could be six weeks - that will be determined by how well he pulls up from his training sessions in the next couple of weeks," Clarkson said.
"But I've got no idea - it's been nearly 12 months since he's played.
"He'll step up his training, he has done over the last two weeks - he's done about four or five skills sessions now with the players, and he'll step it up again next week.
Monday, 22 June 2009
Hawthorn assistant Damien Hardwick would be a strong contender for future senior coaching jobs, says Alastair Clarkson.
"Damien is one of a number of guys who have been assistant coaches for a fair period of time who would relish the opportunity to coach at senior level," Clarkson said.
"I'm certain there are a number of guys throughout the industry who could do a very, very good job if they were given the role."
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Lance Franklin's starring role against Sydney was good but he's about to get better, says the coach.
"We're really pleased with his attack on the ball and creating contests for us and that was probably an area of his game that had been a little bit down in previous weeks and he addressed that last week and that's when he plays his best footy. We're hopeful he'll be like that again this week," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Cyril Rioli faces a month on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring against Sydney Swans.
"I dare say he will certainly miss next week's game and how much longer he misses will be determined by the severity of the injury," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"But it didn't look good in terms of being able to come back from the ground. He'll certainly miss a couple I reckon."
Friday, 29 May 2009
Luke Hodge may be rested until after the mid-season break to guarantee Hawthorn's key backman is primed for the team's finals push.
"He could play this week if we really needed him to go and it was finals. But we want to get him totally right for the second half of the season which is pretty important for us to build as many wins as we can," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Luke Hodge may be out until after the mid-season break while he battles an adductor injury.
"He's carried an adductor injury for the best part of the last month, but he's such a competitive bull and he wanted to do the right thing by the team because we had so many other defenders out," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"He tried to get through and two or three games he managed it really well, but last week from early on it was evident that he had lost that turn of speed that he needs to be at his best in the game.
"He's better off having a spell for a little, then we'll get him back and hopefully he'll have a really good second half of the year."
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Hawthorn's injury crisis has plummeted to new lows, with Luke Hodge set to miss two games with an adductor strain.
"Hodgy has been playing sore and we've probably got to make a decision over the course of the next week of whether we keep him going or give him a rest for two or three weeks to get it right," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"He has an adductor strain. He's tried for the best part of a month to carry this injury and he's just been below his best."
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Premiership backmen Grant Birchall, Stephen Gilham and Xavier Ellis are a chance to play for Hawthorn against Essendon.
"We are slowly getting some guys back," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"We just need to make a decision post-training today whether we bring them back through Box Hill or whether we play them in the seniors straight up."
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has exposed his notorious temper to one of the most senior men in the AFL in an outburst that has embarrassed the AFL Coaches' Association and prompted a series of apologies from his fellow coaches.
The premiership coach turned on Andrew Demetriou's No. 2, Gillon McLachlan, at last month's coaches talks and unleashed a four-letter verbal tirade over the AFL's new broadcast media rules.
Friday, 3 April 2009
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson believes the introduction of new clubs on the Gold Coast and in western Sydney will make it difficult to retain players.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson told his underdog team to "kill the shark" in a chilling pre-match Grand Final speech.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson yesterday endorsed the AFL's crackdown on rushed behinds.