There are plenty of hard and honest conversations to be had in football clubs.
Hawthorn vice-captain Jordan Lewis and coach Alastair Clarkson have had plenty over the journey.
A frank conversation after the Hawks’ Round 6 loss to GWS was the latest of those.
Clarkson said he couldn’t definitively say whether Lewis’ spot in the team was secure after he had just 15 touches in the 75-point defeat – his lowest tally since Round 2, 2014.
“I think what he (Clarkson) has worked out is (giving a spray) works best for me, even to the point this year where after the GWS game, he couldn’t guarantee me a spot in the side” Lewis said on AFL360 Tuesday.
The four-time premiership midfielder said it wasn’t the first time Clarkson had given him negative feedback, but said the coach delivering some home truths spurns him to respond.
“I was fully aware of (my form) and (not having a guaranteed spot) is Clarko’s way of giving me a rocket and I respond well to that, whereas some guys don’t respond well to that,” Lewis said.
“I think we’ve got that relationship where it’s more about respect, but he knows which button to push.”
Lewis’ form since Hawthorn’s heavy defeat against the Giants has been outstanding.
He’s averaged 30 disposals and seven clearances per game over the last seven weeks.
The 30-year-old said the Round 6 loss made him analyse his game closer than usual.
“It certainly made me look at my game from a different perspective. I thought I was working quite hard within games, but I was just running to all the wrong spots,” Lewis told hawthornfc.com.au.
“It wasn’t as if I wasn’t trying, but I probably wasn’t playing my best and it takes a little prod sometimes to look at your game and analyse it a bit differently.”
“It was just a few simple things I had to change and fortunately Clarko gave me the chance to change them.”
The loss to GWS also coincided with Luke Hodge’s knee injury, requiring vice-captain Lewis to fill the leadership void left by the inspirational Hawthorn skipper.
“(Being captain) puts the spotlight on you a bit more because people are looking for you to lead, it doesn’t really change the way you play – I suppose you’re more conscious of leading in the right manner and not doing anything too untoward or selfish,” Lewis said.
“I’ll be happy when Hodgey comes back and to support him in any way.”
Lewis will become just the seventh player in AFL history to play 250 games under one coach this week against the Gold Coast Suns, with he and Clarkson joining illustrious pairings such as Coventry and McHale (Coll), Fletcher and Sheedy (Ess), Hird and Sheedy (Ess) and Cox and Worsfold (WC).
“It’s nice to be able to play all those games under one coach, it means he’s shown faith in me and he’s been able to keep it interesting throughout my career,” Lewis said.
“No doubt when it’s all said and done we’ll have that special bond which a lot of our players will have from having Clarko around for 12-plus years as coach – you certainly don’t underestimate the value of stability within a club.”
