Praise for Sam

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says Sam Mitchell reminds him “in so many ways” of Alastair Clarkson when he first became senior coach of the Hawks in 2004.

Mitchell will be the senior coach of the Hawks in 2022 after Hawthorn made the decision to end Clarkson’s time at the club after 17 seasons, 390 matches and four premierships.

The Hawks have copped criticism for the way they went about the coaching succession,

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell

initially Clarkson was going to stay at Hawthorn for the 2022 season.

But at the club’s Peter Crimmins Medal event on Thursday night Kennett said he was confident the “good times will return again” for the Hawks and Mitchell was the man to lead Hawthorn to them.

“So Sam Mitchell comes in and takes over the leadership of our football group, our players and takes responsibility to build our future success,” Kennett said.

“I remember when Alastair came to us in 2004. He was an assistant, he was enthusiastic , he had a plan and he wanted to prove himself with the body of people who employed him.

“Sam Mitchell is very much in the same mould.

“I am absolutely confident that Sam Mitchell is not only the person who has done his apprenticeship, but in so many ways has the same degree of enthusiasm that Alastair showed in 2004.”

The Hawks won three and drew two of the last six matches of Clarkson’s tenure at the club.

Kennett said the “indebted to him”.

But Kennett said the Hawks needed to move forward.

Clarkson spoke at the event but didn’t touch on what he would be doing beyond 2021. club was