Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has delivered an emotional speech to the media following a busy past few weeks of conjecture surrounding his future with the club.
Since the Hawks' announcement that Clarkson will step away from his duties at the end of next season and hand the reigns to assistant Sam Mitchell, questions and theories have ignited debate as to where the champion coach's future lies.
A reported rift between Clarkson and Mitchell had emerged earlier this week, causing more concern for those from the outside looking in.
However, when fronting the media for his weekly press conference on Friday, Clarkson began proceedings by clearing some air.
โItโs a little bit disappointing itโs had to transpire the way it hasโฆ it should be a really exciting period for he and us as a club,โ he said.
โOn six different occasions Iโve signed a contract with this club, and on every one it was in sickness or in health, weโre going to continue until the end of the contract.
โIn lots of occasions when going on with this journey weโve been in a healthy position, but like in life, thereโll be times when itโs a challenge.
โOnce I was no longer going to be the coach of the Hawthorn Football Club at the end of next year, the sceptics were saying โheโll move straight away.โ
"Iโm going to continue on and do this role until the end of next year.โ
Clarkson admitted that he and Mitchell made a "mistake" with the timing of the decision and beliefs of the immediate reactions from the media and AFL world.
โThe mistake that both of us madeโฆ these decisions are usually made post-season when thereโs a coaching change, theyโre rarely made in-season, (especially) when a transition is mooted.
โWe were hoping this would just be business as usual, โletโs deal with whatโs going on on the side here so we can inform our members and the footy world this is going to be the transition.โ
โWe understood thereโd be speculationโฆ I laugh in one way because if theyโre saying that they donโt know me really well.
โWhat weโve realised in the last week is that itโs not me that really should be solely looking after the day to day of whatโs happening at the club now and itโs not Sam that should be just solely responsible for whatโs going in the future.
โItโs Sam and I looking after whatโs going to go on.
โHeโs got my full support - heโs had it for 17 years and despite what been said over the last four weeks heโs got it for the next 18 months really because ... I want these relationships to be lifelong."
Clarkson also revealed that he and Mitchell meet on a daily basis, with reports of a fiery mediation perhaps seen in the wrong light.
The four-time premiership coach has led the Hawks since 2005, managing 209 wins from 359 matches as senior coach at Hawthorn.
