Hawthorn will again rotate the roles of captain and senior coach throughout the pre-season competition.
 
As recent tradition dictates, the role of Hawthorn’s senior coach will be rotated amongst the assistant coaching staff, while the captaincy will be shared amongst the club’s leaders.
 
Senior Coach Alastair Clarkson will resume his usual post for Hawthorn’s opening match against Geelong, before handing the reins to his deputies.
 
Cameron Bruce will come to the helm for the Hawks sold out clash with North Melbourne, while Adem Yze will steer the ship when the team heads to Noarlunga, SA, to take on Port Adelaide. Damian Carroll and Brett Ratten will oversee the coaching process and support Bruce and Yze across the two weeks.
 
The captaincy rotations across the JLT community series are yet to be decided.
 
According to GM- Football Operations Jason Burt, Hawthorn see the JLT Community Series as an opportunity to foster growth across the entire football club.
 
“While it is a great platform to get some experience into our younger players, we also see it as a chance to help our leaders and assistant coaches develop their skills and experience,” Burt said.
 
“It gives our assistant coaches exposure to the demands of coaching not only on game day but in the week leading in and taking charge of the football program.

“We’ve felt it’s really beneficial for the growth and development of the guys.”
 
Following the Hawk’s JLT community series clash with Geelong, Clarkson will head to Harvard School of Business to undertake a leadership development course. He will return in time for the club’s final pre-season hit out against Port Adelaide.
 
Hawthorn’s opening clash against Geelong will take place at UTAS Stadium, Launceston, on Friday 17 February.