Alastair Clarkson will, in 2015, become the longest consecutive serving coach of the HFC in it's history, breaking the previous record of 10 Seasons set by John Kennedy Senior from 1967-1976.
For mine, Clarko is not even half way along in his coaching stint/career with us. These past 10 years seem almost like he has served his apprenticeship & is only just now coming into his element in term of the peak of his powers as a senior AFL coach!....At 46 years of age, he should have at least another 10-15 years left in him.
Without wishing to put the proverbial 'Mochas' on him, he now has the chance to cement his place in terms of our clubs history as it's greatest coach by setting a record that will be near impossible to match.
Although his record in home & away games sits at a mere 62% (Due in no small part to his first 2 seasons of a re-build), his Finals record is supreme at a staggering 72% & 75% in Grand finals!....In comparison to Allan Jeans record which sits at 75% in Home & Away games, but drops away to 62% come finals time & 50% in Grand finals....Of course, Jeans had the power teams of Carlton & Essendon to contend with, whilst Clarko has only really had to deal with & overcome the Cats juggernaut!....(Anyone even mentioning/thinking Sydney as a fair dinkum adversary leave this forum now!)
The squad is now all his own with the obvious exceptions of Hodge & Mitchell, who continue to remain it's most vital components....Peter Schwab deserves eternal credit for his brave & self-sacrificing decision in 2001 for trading away both Croad & McPharlin in order to secure these 2 champions & legends of our club....Without whom, none of the current success would have been possible!
Anyhow, although it probably deserves a thread of it's own, Kudos to Clarko for putting this club back up where it belongs, & becoming it's longest consecutive coach into the bargain.
The calls for Barney to return to the club have now well & truly subsided into the shadowy never world of the past!....He has proven me wrong!