FORMER captain Sam Mitchell will become coach of Hawthorn for the 2023 AFL season, having been locked in to replace the long-serving and highly successful Alastair Clarkson as part of a succession plan.
Clarkson, who has coached the Hawks to four premierships (2008, 2013-15), will stand down when his contract expires at the end of the club’s 2022 campaign.
Mitchell, who is coaching Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate Box Hill, will be given the reins for a further three years in charge of the Hawks when Clarkson steps away.
The club came to the decision at a board meeting two weeks ago but opted to hold off on the announcement as not to take away attention from Shaun Burgoyne’s 400th game.
Mitchell informed Collingwood in recent days he would be pulling out of the process for the Magpies’ senior coaching job, which has been left vacant by Nathan Buckley’s departure.
The midfielder played 307 AFL games for Hawthorn, winning four premierships under Clarkson’s tutelage.
Mitchell finished his decorated playing career in 2017, signing off with a single season for West Coast.
He started his coaching apprenticeship at the Eagles, learning from Adam Simpson as West Coast won the 2018 premiership.
Mitchell was then lured back to the Hawks by Clarkson as an assistant coach for the 2019 season.
Clarkson is the most experienced coach among the league’s current crop, having sat in the coaches’ box for 383 games since replacing Peter Schwab in 2005.
The 53-year-old broke the news to Hawks players on Tuesday morning before fronting a media briefing.
Clarkson considered it an honour to be mentioned in the same context as other Hawks coaching legends John Kennedy Snr and Allan Jeans.
“Understanding nothing lasts forever, the decision to finish my time at Hawthorn at the end of my current contract was the best path forward for the club,” Clarkson said.
“We are all temporary custodians of the brown and gold, and we do our best to serve the colours well during our tenure. I am proud of what we have achieved as a club over the past 17 years.
“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.
“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.”
Hawks president Jeff Kennett conceded tough decisions had to be made for the club’s future.
“Alastair has always been a teacher and the most educated coach in the AFL, with a unique ability to infuse this wisdom among his players,” he said.
“Part of his role next year will be to better prepare Sam for his future responsibilities.
“Alastair has served us well in his time at Hawthorn, but we must put our emotions into second place.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
