Hawthorn has taken one of the biggest gambles in club history.
Get this - they are moving on perhaps the best coach in AFL history, a man who has won four premierships, who at 52 years of age is hungry still and in his coaching prime - for an untried coach.
On Tuesday, Clarkson revealed that Collingwood moving on Nathan Buckley after Round 13 forced Hawthorn's hand. The club had no choice, it was Sam Mitchell or Clarkson.
Stunningly, Mitchell won.
The move came just one month on from these comments on SEN from new CEO Justin Reeves regarding coaching succession plans.
“It’s dangerous to go down that path and we’ve never gone down that path with any of our assistant coaches,” he said on SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“We’ve had five or six assistant coaches go off and get senior jobs and generally we’re really happy for their development.
“If that happens with Sam or any of our others … we’ll support them and have those conversations and do what’s in the best interests.”
How quickly things change.
So the biggest winner out of this shock decision is Collingwood… and maybe Carlton.
The Magpies were seriously considering the untried Mitchell. Now they might have one hand on the best coach in the modern era.
Does anyone seriously believe Clarkson is all in at Hawthorn in a baby-sitting role for 12 months when the biggest, most lucrative and high-profile job in the AFL is vacant right now?
I don’t.
President Jeff Kennett said yesterday that there is no non-compete and he wouldn’t get in Clarko’s way if he wanted to leave.
Leigh Matthew shared his view on Sportsday last night.
If Eddie McGuire was still president at the Pies, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Clarkson coaches Collingwood.
I imagine Pies footy boss Graham Wright was on the phone yesterday afternoon sounding out his old Hawthorn colleague. What a start it would be for Wright if he could strike a deal.
If Collingwood somehow fail to get a deal done for Clarkson, Carlton must.
With respect to David Teauge, he can’t compete with Clarkson, now that he is available.
I hear the links to Gold Coast as well, the AFL money, the connection with Mark Evans, the exciting young list.
But why would Clarkson want to coach Gold Coast when he can stay in Victoria and take his pick of Collingwood or Carlton?
Imagine what it would do for his legacy if he produced a premiership for either club.
It is one of the biggest gambles the Hawks have ever taken. They have just handed one of its rivals the best coach in the league.
I can’t believe they were brave enough to do it.