Former Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton has revealed the inner workings behind Alastair Clarkson’s appointment as coach of Hawthorn in 2005.
Speaking on SEN’s Crunch Time Brereton divulged how Clarkson won over the board through a defensive structure that left many at Hawthorn impressed.
Brereton was the Hawks' football director at the time and as such had a big part in appointing Peter Schwab's successor.
“Alastair Clarkson got the job, and he came to us with a plan, and he has this anchor shape on a footy field, the base of the anchor was at full-back and the stem of the anchor went up to centre halfback. Wherever you were in the backline you brought it back to the anchor,” Brereton said.
“Some of the people on the (Hawthorn) board fell in love with it and guess what? After the third belting, he scrapped it.
“That was what he won the job on, but we hoped right because it dawned on us that he was adaptable.”
The GWS Giants and Leon Cameron parted ways after their Round 9 loss to Carlton and former Bomber Mark McVeigh will fill the interim senior role until the season ends.
The five-time premiership player spoke of the hope that goes into the appointment of a new coach and says that as much as GWS will dissect any possible candidates, they can never be entirely sure it will be the right fit for the club.
“Once you appoint them do you know what you still have? Hope,” he said.
“From then on he was able to adapt new game plans as he saw the game change.
“You appoint coaches, and you shake hands, they exit the room and the next minute you go that’s a good appointment I think he’s going to be really good, but I hope we've made the right choice.”
The Giants are the first to have a coaching change in season 2022, although several are a chance to follow before 2023.