The Hawthorn AFL premiership machine that Alastair Clarkson has masterminded also features a production line busily churning out senior coaches.
Brendon Bolton’s appointment at Carlton makes him the fifth assistant from Clarkson’s era to take over the top job at a rival club.
He joins Damien Hardwick (Richmond), Leon Cameron (GWS), Adam Simpson (West Coast) and Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs).
Only Cameron will not be involved in this year’s finals series.
It is far from the first coaching dynasty – think John Kennedy Snr and David Parkin, or Tom Hafey mentoring Kevin Sheedy and Mick Malthouse.
But Clarkson’s reign has been especially prolific.
At Bolton’s first Carlton media conference on Tuesday, he thanked Clarkson and Hawks football manager Chris Fagan for their guidance.
After coaching Hawthorn’s VFL affiliates Box Hill for two years, Bolton became an AFL assistant in 2011.
“You take your hat off to the system that’s been put in place,” Bolton said.
“Chris Fagan and Al have been huge drivers in trying to develop what I would call `leadership density’.
“So whatever role there is in the club, there’s someone underneath getting a really strong understanding.
“If one goes out, the next one can come in.
“I’m really proud to be a part of that.”
That was emphasised last year when Bolton stepped in for five games to coach the AFL side while Clarkson recovered from illness.
The Hawks did not skip a beat, winning all five games.
Bolton also singled out David Rath and Anthony Klarica at Hawthorn for helping his development as a coach.
“He (Clarkson) has just shown me how to go and innovate,” Bolton said.
“(They’re) all people who give you different insights into football.
“I want to thank them all, because they’re a really professional outfit and they’ve helped me get to this position.”
Bolton is a rarity in senior coaching because he never played in the AFL.
“It makes it more difficult to get a start in an AFL club unless you’ve played at the elite level,” he said.
“But over time, if you’ve been in there for a while, it doesn’t matter.
“In fact, I’d like to think there would be some sort of benefit in not being an AFL player, because you’ve had … many and varied experiences often.
“I know the bubble of AFL can be very closed at times.”
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