This weekend, we will see Alastair Clarkson come up against Hawthorn for the first time since his tumultuous departure from the club at the end of 2021.
The Hawks initially wished for the four-time premiership coach to helm the club in 2022 before handing the reins over to Sam Mitchell as part of a succession plan.
That quickly fell apart, with Clarkson departing a year early and the Hawks needing to pay him out almost $1 million.
Hawthorn under Mitchell have entered a deep rebuild to reshape the club in his image and this weekend down in Tasmania the two teams will clash.
Essendon great Tim Watson is expecting a spirited affair on Saturday, with things being “genuinely personal” between the two coaches.
“There’s no faking the promotion between Sam Mitchell and Alastair Clarkson who are facing off this weekend down in Tassie. That is personal. That is genuinely personal,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“You look at the background to all of this and what Sam put in his book about Clarko and that sort of stuff – there is genuine feeling between these two and they would love to coach the winning team this weekend.”
Garry Lyon wonders whether the Hawks will temporarily pause their long-term approach in favour of doing everything they can to get these four points.
“So will Sam Mitchell tweak things to give them a better chance of winning as opposed to focusing on a style of football that is going to hold them in best stead two years from now?” Lyon asked.
Watson: “I think there might be a bit more instructive and defensive type coaching that goes into his preparation as a result of that”.
“I think Mitchell genuinely, genuinely, on behalf of Hawthorn, would like to win this game.”
Lyon agrees and believes Clarkson will be equally motivated.
“I tend to think that will also be at the back of his mind. Then you’ve got the old fella on the other side, you reckon he’s not going to be working hard to win this one?” the Melbourne great said.
North Melbourne could find themselves 3-0 with a win over the Hawks heading into their Good Friday clash with Carlton.