Over the years, there have been times during press conferences, interviews, pre-match pump ups, where Alastair Clarkson has come out with that one-liner that gives you goose bumps, sends shivers down your spine, makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, due to its profound, poetic brilliance.

After dabbling in a bit of primary school poetry during his years as a Grade 5-6 teacher, it seems Clarko has developed a knack for such one-liners.

As we celebrate his record-breaking 300 games as coach this week, we thought it's time to give credit where credit is due. Presenting, our favourite Alastair Clarkson 'bumper sticker' quotes.

Enjoy.

"Hard times come, hard times go."- April 2017.

Okay, so we think he stole this one from the Boss (Springsteen), but we’ll let him have it.

“Leadership is about having a vision and an ideal about what the world should be.” - October 2015.

Hawthorn's version of 'I have a dream...'

“If you want to be involved in this journey, you have to prepare yourself for both triumph and tragedy.” - October 2011

Clarko the prophet – had he foreseen the triumph to come in the following four years?

“To remain what we are is not an option. We are seeking to become what we want.” February, 2017.

A new business venture for Clarko – inspirational coffee mugs.

“It’s not a long battle. It’s many short battles, one after another, after another, after another, until they succumb.” – September, 2013.

We think Clarko might have been watching a little too much Game of Thrones… 

“Kill the shark.” – September, 2008.

It’s okay, animal activists – don’t go after Clarko just yet. This one was referring to the Cats of ’08, whose fast forward momentum was likened to a shark on the hunt. ‘If they get caught in a net, there’s no water oxygen or running over their gills. They stop, they die. Kill the shark.’

“You lose a soldier; you replace him with another one.” – date unknown.

Not to be misinterpreted for cold-heartedness – there’s just simply no ‘I’ in Clarko’s team. One man goes down through injury, there are several in the ranks ready to come in and keep the wheels in motion.

“Suffering is the pathway to success.” – January, 2013

With the pain of the 2012 grand final still raw, we reckon Clarko was onto something here.

 “Who would ever rise from the depths of despair, if not for the hope and optimism that the future brings?” – November, 2016.

Get the tissues out, I’m done.