Coaches - Official AFL Website of the Hawthorn Football Club

masthead

Hawthorn Football Club

The Club > Coaches

Senior Coach: Alastair Clarkson

DOB: 27.04.68

Playing Career:

Kangaroos 1987-1995
Games 93
Goals 61
Premierships 0

Melbourne 1996-1997
Games 41
Goals 24
Premierships 0

Coaching Career:
As Clarkson found out last season, it’s difficult to produce an adequate encore to appease the masses after winning a premiership. And it’s even tougher when your team endures a hellish run with injury, like the one that not only ended the Hawks’ hopes of back-to-back flags but kept them out of the finals.

As such, Clarkson enters his fifth season as Hawthorn coach accompanied by enormous expectation to return to the glory of 2008. Barring further injury concerns, the Hawks are superbly placed to again occupy a position in the AFL’s upper ranks, having added the brilliant Shaun Burgoyne and steady Josh Gibson to a talent-laden playing list.

Although the Hawthorn mentor has lost right-hand man Damien Hardwick to the top job at Richmond, he gained the highly sought-after former North Melbourne captain Adam Simpson, who will add crucial know-how to the midfield brigade.

Even when his club was under siege last year, Clarkson helped some players produce breakthrough seasons, gave valuable game time to other youngsters, and found a few surprise packets along the way, thus increasing the club’s depth coming into the 2010 campaign.

Assistant Coach: John Barker

DOB: 19.02.75

Playing career:

Fitzroy 1994-96
Games 47
Goals 12
Premierships 0

Brisbane 1997
Games 8
Goals 1
Premierships 0

Hawthorn 1998-2006
Games 113
Goals 114
Premierships 0

Coaching career:
In his second season back at the club where he played his best football in 113 games (114 goals) from 1998-2006.

Spent the 2007-08 seasons as an assistant coach to Ross Lyon at St Kilda. Will manage the club’s forward set-up.

Box Hill Hawks Senior Coach: Brendon Bolton

DOB: 18.04.79

Coaching career:
Enters his second season as Box Hill Hawks coach after several coaching stints in Tasmania, where he led North Hobart to the Southern Football League premiership in 2003.

Also coached the now disbanded Tassie Devils in the VFL in 2006 before taking over at Clarence.

Assistant Coach: Chris Fagan

Coaching career:
In his third season as head of coaching and development, with the mentoring of coaches one of his key roles.

Previously football operations manager at Melbourne and was also an assistant to Neale Daniher at the Demons.

Assistant Coach: David Flood

Coaching career:
In his second season as the Hawks’ development coach responsible for fast-tracking first, second and third-yearplayers.

Played 58 games for Essendon from 1986-95, was development coach for the Bombers from 1999-2003, coached the Coburg Tigers in the VFL in 2004-05 and theCalder Cannons in the TAC Cup in 2007-08.

Assistant Coach: Rick Macgowan

DOB: 25.11.70

Coaching career:
In his second season as a Hawthorn assistant coach after two seasons coaching Sturt in the SANFL.

Played 222 matches for Central District in the SANFL, including some under Alastair Clarkson.

High Performance Coach: David Rath

DOB: 02.01.69

Coaching career:
Industry leader in sports science, biomechanics, skill development and information technology. High-performance coach who previously worked at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Assistant Coach: Adam Simpson

DOB: 16.02.76

Coaching career:
In a recruiting coup in coaching ranks, the North Melbourne stalwart joins the Hawks as an assistant coach under former teammate Alastair Clarkson.

Tactically attuned to the modern game and highly rated for his ability to impart his wealth of knowledge, he takes on the role of midfield coach.

Ended his distinguished playing career last year, finishing with 306 games, equal second on the Roos’ all-time list.

A best and fairest winner (with four other top-three placings), All-Australian and dual premiership player, he captained the club for five seasons.

Assistant Coach: Ross Smith

DOB: 03.02.65

Playing career:

Kangaroos 1984-1996
Games 224
Goals 36
Premierships 0

Victorian Representative 1990; International Rules Series 1990.

Coaching career:
In his sixth season at the club and will again manage the defence. Has held a host of coaching roles in the AFL, VFL and TAC Cup and led ACT team Ainslie to a premiership in 1997 as captain-coach.

Played 224 games for North Melbourne from 1984-96, represented Victoria three times and toured Ireland with the Australian team in 1990.

Opposition Analyst: John Wardrop

Professional career:

John Wardrop is a highly regarded opposition analyst within AFL ranks having performed the role for the past 15 seasons. John's experience includes stints for the West Coast Eagles from 1994 to 1999 and Collingwood from 2000 to 2007. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern tactical analysis, being the first full time opposition analyst employed within the AFL.

Damian Monkhorst

DOB: 21.08.69

Coaching career:

Following his stellar career at the Collingwood Football Club, Damian Monkhorst returned to Woori Yallock to continue playing.

At the start of the 2010 pre-season, Monkhorst was appointed head ruck coach of the Club, to help impart his ruck knowledge onto young ruckmen.

Sensis Ad 1

Club Corner

Sensis Ad 2

JSPanel