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Alastair Clarkson doesn’t deserve any action to be taken against him after some drunken spectator got in his face as he was leaving Adelaide Oval last night in the wake of the Hawks’ narrow loss to Port Adelaide.
Clarkson should have had security around him as he was making his way back with support staff to the hotel from the ground – or transport waiting for him outside the Hawthorn change rooms.
You would hope that would be a given from now on.
There’s also the issue of why those patrons seemed so drunk and action hadn’t been taken to remove them from the ground.
There are those in the media that have already taken and will take the moral high ground on this issue regarding Clarkson’s temper.
Media outlets have already mentioned past incidents like Clarkson putting his fist through the MCG coaches box, abusing an official at a junior football match, being rude towards a journalist in Launceston after a match and of course the old chestnut punching Carlton’s Ian Aitken behind the play when playing for North Melbourne the Oval exhibition match way back in 1987.
There’s enough evidence there of a reasonable wrap sheet, but all he did here was get someone who was way too close to his personal space.
There have been reports that Clarkson punched the spectator, who was right in his face. The footage, if it shows anything, shows he pushed the man away.
The individual in my opinion, with plenty of alcohol on board, was bordering on bullying. He was poking the bear and in the end Clarkson had had enough.
Again the moral high ground will be put forward that he has form and he can’t keep that renowned bad temper in check.
There’s the view taken that he’s a role model and he needs to lead the way, but that person and whoever was filming this exchange and if there was anyone else part of this should all be banned from the game for life.
If that person hadn’t consumed so much alcohol or had his mate or mates with him, would have he had the courage to approach an obviously annoyed Clarkson, whose team had just lost to Port Adelaide after being thrashed in the opening half?
I would think not. Bullies and bullying are too prevalent in our society and there are so many forms of it.
Schools and workplaces no matter how hard they try still battle to curb it and on Saturday night after a pulsating game you saw some guys thinking they would have some fun at the Hawthorn coach’s expense and that’s how teasing starts and then escalates into bullying.
The Hawks no doubt will speak to Clarkson behind closed doors about trying to stay in control, but I can understand why he did what he did and it’s been blown out of proportion.
As for those fans, we don’t need you. If you want to drink stay away from the footy and annoy each other, not head coaches of clubs.
The game and the action on the field are so good at the moment. Round 4 has been a cracker – too good to have to worry about the focus on a few fools.
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