Clarko backed to stay for flag

HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett believes coach Alastair Clarkson will remain at the Hawks until they win their next premiership.

Kennett’s confidence in retaining the game’s best coach and Clarkson’s declaration on Monday that his preference was to be a one-club coach almost certainly rules out Clarkson being poached by a rival club. Clarkson, 50, is contracted until the end of 2019.

Kennett said last night he believed Hawthorn will be Clarkson’s last coaching gig in the AFL.

“He is the best coach, the best educator, he travels every year to see different codes and techniques and the thing that motivates him is the next piece of silverware,’’ he said

“Whether we can achieve that this year, next year or the year after, I don’t know, but I’m almost certain he won’t go until he’s a three-peat [coach] himself.”

Clarkson has overseen 319 games since taking over from Peter Schwab ahead of the 2005 season for 198 wins, two draws, 119 losses and premierships in 2008, 20013, 2014 and 2015. While he understands speculation about his future, he’s comfortable with his situation at Hawthorn.

“Right at this point in time — never say never — but I’d be pretty certain that my tenure at the Hawks will be the last one,” Clarkson told Fox Footy’s On The Couch.

“That might still go for some time I might add because I’m really excited by the next wave of players coming through for our footy club.

“I’m really excited by what we can do over the next few years.”

After finishing 12th last year, Hawthorn is out of the top eight in 10th by percentage only after 15 rounds.

Several premiership players such as Jarryd Roughead, Grant Birchall, Isaac Smith, Cyril Rioli and Shaun Burgoyne remain in Clarkson’s charge. He feels a sense of commitment to them as well as the likes of relatively new arrivals Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O’Meara and others.

“There’s a sense of obligation for the Birchalls, the Burgoynes and these sort of guys … they want to go again and they want to win it again,” he said.