Age Runs massive Clarko interview

[themarkedman72]

Clarko has at times been a divisive figure at the HAwks.

He has argued with Jeff....Although I would have to think everyone wopuld have argued with Jeff at some point

I really liked this article because it highlights some of the real positives about Clarko.

1. He is a fit vibrant young man

2. He is never afraid to speak his mind

3. he is loyal to the work he has started at hawthorn

4. He is a "Defender" personality type

5. we are lucky to have him

Clarko has always had my 100% support outside one period where he chased Burgoyne and not Jolly or any oher recognised ruckman and we got caught short a second time with no talls.

In fact until this year Clarko did tend to go a little shorter and more mobile.

We still are a short club

Finally we have loaded up on rucks and my one bone of contention has gone.

Clarko admits he will have to step up with media duties now Jeff has moved on but I believe we are now moving into the "True" Al clarkson era at hawthorn.

Clarko to me is a real Sir Alex Ferguson figure. He likes to have absolute control. Over everything. His time at United no doubt influenced him but I believe Clarko to be autocratic by nature. This is only a problem if your control freak is an idiot and Clarko is a footy genius. With malthouses demise HFC can now boast the Tactical mastermind of the league.

He is now the most dominating and powerful figure at the club alongside the chief (NUmbers man, from the outside anyway)and those two are thick as thieves.

Clarko will drive us through a period of domination. I absolutely believe it.

Anyway read the article and let us know what you think??


http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dark-days-blue-skies-20111216-1oyrx.html

 

[grizzlym]

I enjoyed the article.

It certainly paints an accurate picture of an intelligent, articulate man. And one you don't often see portrayed away from his standard persona.

 

[suedehead]

Great article and a good reminder of how far the club has come in a short space of time. I don't think too many really believed that it was actually Clarko's idea to hold off contract talks, did they?

 

[HawkNation]

Hutchy was right and Jeff still made him look like a fool

Honestly, as good as Jeff was for us, I am looking forward to next season without him. The next two to three years are key years. Should be close to success. We have the most talented group in the competition. Injuries need to GTFO!

 

[Brown Blood]

Interesting article by carro showing some new insights into clarko and probably one of her more positive hawk related for many years - wouldn't be surprised if there is a connection with jeff leaving.

Also interesting to note the importance of "the chief" in ensuring that clarko wasn't distracted by massive offers by the demons/crows while contract discussions were held off by jeff to the end of the season.

Seems a lot of mutual respect there.

It would have definitely been intriguing to be at the Tasmanian retreat when the decision was made to appoint clarko early and I think the anointment of newbold as jeffs successor also at the retreat was related.

Good to see sanity prevailed.

 

[J0NNY B]

Great article and a good reminder of how far the club has come in a short space of time. I don't think too many really believed that it was actually Clarko's idea to hold off contract talks, did they?

No we did not believe somebody would not want security for themselves and more importantly many assistant coaches who were also coming out of contract would have wanted security. Jeff Kennett new Hutchie was not going to reveal his contact at the club who was feeding him ( I believe it was Clarko) and so he caught him out. It was quite funny how mad it made Hutchie, and he couldn't do anything about it. Clarko has now told the truth to the media about the negotiations, and snuck in a few digs at JK on his way out. He did however say the pressure placed upon him from Jeff was beneficial in regards to clear expectations. Jeff has made it clear to the football department that the pass mark for 2012 is a premiership, so he has in a way extended his presence for another 12 months. Clarko is trying his best to lower the expectations to top 4, at least in public.

 

[hawkheart]

An OK piece but I really am tired of the concentration on the coach / president relationship that seems to be the only angle these days to an article about Clarko. Much of Caro's piece was going over old ground really. Would like to discover new aspects to Clarko's persona.

 

[Off The Couch]

An OK piece but I really am tired of the concentration on the coach / president relationship that seems to be the only angle these days to an article about Clarko. Much of Caro's piece was going over old ground really. Would like to discover new aspects to Clarko's persona.

Not really sure what your looking for tbh.

I thought it was a good article and reinforced what many of us thought and that is, sometimes the opening of Jeff's mouth coincided with stuff going on at the club and he was able to deflect it. We may not have liked it, but he served his purpose well in that department.

It is also interesting that Clarko acknowledges how volatile he was when he first started and how far he has come in taming that and that has been a good thing - his outbursts at times bordered on embarassing. The other thing I found interesting is that Clarko will now be heard more - is this now clarko giving newbold time to settle in - full circle.

Passionate man Clarko and you can see glimpses of that throughout the entire article. Everything he does, he does so with 100% and no quarter is given - I think this is also reflected in some players these days compared to when they thought their pecking order in the draft was enough to sustain them.

 

[Rioli magic]

Not a bad article, I think it shows the Chief will leave a big hole when he departs, not sure who is in line to step up, big shoes to fill. Unheralded the influence and work that man has done for our club.

No we did not believe somebody would not want security for themselves and more importantly many assistant coaches who were also coming out of contract would have wanted security. Jeff Kennett new Hutchie was not going to reveal his contact at the club who was feeding him ( I believe it was Clarko) and so he caught him out. It was quite funny how mad it made Hutchie, and he couldn't do anything about it.

I think it was more likely Pickering feeding Hutchy.

 

[TNTre]

I think it was more likely Pickering feeding Hutchy.

Whoever is feeding hutchy really needs to ease up a bit...

 

[hawker11]

Not a bad article, I think it shows the Chief will leave a big hole when he departs, not sure who is in line to step up, big shoes to fill. Unheralded the influence and work that man has done for our club.

There needs to be a statue of the great man behind the goals at Waverley.

 

[hawks_time]

There needs to be a statue of the great man behind the goals at Waverley.

More appropriate to have it facing the goals, 30-40m out.
The article wasn't that eye-opening, but I'll take what I can get in the off-season.

 

[cambosis]

I left the article with a great deal of admiration for the man. He has an uncanny talent to speak his mind without attacking the subject (though clearly he can when he wants to)

It is highly refreshing to hear him speak. I never get the feeling he is hiding his true feelings. This must pay off within the playing group. They must know what they need to do and I would imagine that they would play for him because of it

 

[J0NNY B]

I actually would prefer no articles at this time of year, as I am really looking forward to watching this team play next year, reading about them reminds me of how much, and then how long I have to wait.

 

[HAWKS HEROES]

good read that

 

[Fastback]

Typically guised article by Caro - focusing on the Kennett/Clarko contract situation not once but twice.

We all know about the substance of the man, he's a gem for us....but this article for me typified the shithouse journalism that goes with every fluff piece...ie Quote the facts but overlay it with a little unrest and contention to make it a little saucy.

She can't help herself.

 

[themarkedman72]

i guess they are atill in the business of selling papers Hawk0373

However I thought there was not to much sauce on it and it was for the most part genuine.

Clarko clearly wanted to set a few things straight...he clealry points at Dunstall keeping him at the club through the tough times with kennet.

Very insightful journalism and makes Clarkson look good...what more could we ask for??

 

[flashmanvc]

I enjoy the vernacular Clark uses, employing old-fashioned language like "soldiers" and "saluting". He has always struck me as very loyal to his players, willing to cause a big stink with the media so he can draw media heat away from his players and onto himself. I reckon this is a big part of why his boys are so obviously playing for him.

True leadership from the great man. Just a shame that this piece, like the bulk of Caro's stories, focusses on politics rather than footy. It's summer fer Christ's sake, throw us a frickin' bone and write about how the boys are going.

 

[HAWKS HEROES]

same love how he defends the players against the jurnos and anyone else, even though it got him in trouble a couple of times

 

[Brown Blood]

Just a shame that this piece, like the bulk of Caro's stories, focusses on politics rather than footy. It's summer fer Christ's sake, throw us a frickin' bone and write about how the boys are going.

Thats what she writes about - you will never see carro write about a "football" piece.

 

[Davo23]

An OK piece but I really am tired of the concentration on the coach / president relationship that seems to be the only angle these days to an article about Clarko. Much of Caro's piece was going over old ground really. Would like to discover new aspects to Clarko's persona.

You've got this right: all of Caro's writing involves going over old ground;

And, you can guarantee that, if the Hawks have a bad run during 2012, Caro will have the knives out pretty quickly, and Clarko will be the main target.

And much of his comments in this interview will be turned against him.



.

 

[Thaihawk]

After reading the article, I wondered just how much Caro pushed the relationship between JK and Clarko. While it was a good read, I feel CW would have pursued the friction more than the article showed.

 

[HolyRioli]

I enjoy the vernacular Clark uses, employing old-fashioned language like "soldiers" and "saluting". He has always struck me as very loyal to his players, willing to cause a big stink with the media so he can draw media heat away from his players and onto himself. I reckon this is a big part of why his boys are so obviously playing for him.

True leadership from the great man. Just a shame that this piece, like the bulk of Caro's stories, focusses on politics rather than footy. It's summer fer Christ's sake, throw us a frickin' bone and write about how the boys are going.

Agree with this, though I suspect it goes a bit beyond the vernacular, in that Clarkson likes instill that soldier-like camaraderie, where everyone is that tight and would take a (metaphorical) bullet for each other.

Enjoyed reading how tight Clarkson and Dunstall are, given that they are now the two senior heads of the club. Will definitely be a big hole if and when the chief moves on. Has done an outstanding job for the Hawks.

 

[Brown Blood]

Will definitely be a big hole if and when the chief moves on. Has done an outstanding job for the Hawks.

Shows the absolute folly of having fixed terms for directors seeing dunstall will now need to resign at the end of next year.

 

[HAWKS HEROES]

that is what i am worried about with him it should be open ended we need someone like him to be there