Alastair Clarkson has received the ultimate Hawthorn compliment after coaching the AFL club to their 11th premiership.
Hawks president Andrew Newbold said at Saturday night’s celebration dinner that Clarkson now belonged alongside club legends John Kennedy Snr and Allan Jeans.
Clarkson also coached the Hawks to the surprise 2008 flag, while Kennedy and Jeans are three-time Hawthorn premiership coaches.
“Quite simply, you are the best coach and the best coaching group in the AFL,” Newbold said.
“Alastair, you can now quite rightly take your place among the great coaches of this club in Allan Jeans and John Kennedy Snr.
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“That is rarefied air.”
Clarkson paid tribute to Kennedy, who has a statue outside the club’s Waverley headquarters.
Kennedy presented the premiership cup to Clarkson and captain Luke Hodge after the 15-point grand final win over Fremantle.
“It was a really touching moment for me post-game,” Clarkson said.
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“John Kennedy was my first coach in AFL footy when I was at North Melbourne.
“I was so proud and privileged to stand on the stage and ‘Kanga’ to hand over the cup.
“It was a very, very special moment for our club – he is the absolute godfather of this footy club.
“He’s been a pioneer of our culture.”
Clarkson also acknowledged Dockers coach Ross Lyon and his team, saying they are now an AFL force.
“They are a very, very formidable side and they’re only going to get better,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we’re going to have to be better again ourselves next year to make sure that sides like Fremantle and others don’t jump above us.”
But Hodge is confident about the future, pointing to the premiership success of their VFL affiliates Box Hill.
The Box Hill development side also won their grand final.
“One good thing about this football club is we’re going the right way for the next five-to-10 years,” Hodge said.
“We’re going to be a very competitive bunch.”
