Alastair Clarkson’s emphatic declaration that he will see out his Hawthorn contract has convinced former Hawk Jordan Lewis.
Clarkson told reporters on Friday afternoon that despite Sam Mitchell being set to take over as club coach in 2023, he would remain in charge across 2022 and would not be tempted out by other roles.
"I'm contracted until the end of next year and I am staying here," the four-time premiership coach said.
Given how the coaching succession situation played out at Collingwood, with Mick Malthouse departing the club earlier than expected to coach Carlton, some have questioned whether the same would happen here.
Lewis however cannot see it happening now.
“From my point of view having spent a lot of time with him and having listened to him in the press conferences, it’s pretty emphatic that he wants to see out of the contract,” Lewis told AFL Nation.
“No (he won’t be at another club next year). Not from listening to that. He has come out and said he will be there until the end of next year.
“For me, that offer to coach another club will always be there. It might be a therapeutic process to continue on at Hawthorn next year and to see him out in a softer way and hand over the reins.”
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy agrees and believes Clarkson and Mitchell will make the transition work.
“I didn’t think he was going to coach someone else (next year),” Healy said.
“Clarko is strong on what he says to other players and he’s said this publicly that he felt a debt to Tom Mitchell, Chad Wingard, Jaeger O’Meara and others and while that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to stay at all costs, the likelihood of him moving was not significant.”
“Having heard his press conference, I think it’s a dead story. He’s staying. He’ll make it work.
“He makes most things work. I’ll be staggered if these potential issues that people are talking about come to the fore.
“He’s too smart a coach to have a bloke like Sam Mitchell and not have the treadmill going in the same direction and make this a win. I think they can make it a really strong win like Paul Roos and John Longmire did for them.”