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After trumping Carlton by 12 points at Etihad Stadium last Friday night, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett still shows no urgency towards re-signing coach Alastair Clarkson ahead of next year.
Kennett’s indecision comes as a surprise to many, as the Hawks locked up a guaranteed top four finish last week with two rounds remaining until the finals.
In front of 53,034 fans, Hawthorn successfully exposed an inaccurate Carlton team, despite a late fourth quarter fight back from the Blues – but apparently, none of that has been enough to please the boss.
With the setbacks the Hawks have endured this season, Kennett isn’t doing anyone favours by prolonging the inevitable contract extension.
In particular, forwards coach Leon Cameron is one of many backbenchers often forgotten about in the mess – a man who is highly sort after by the Western Bulldogs to fulfill the vacant coaching position left by Rodney Eade.
But even with commitments still remaining at Hawthorn until season’s end, Cameron’s future with the Hawks looks to be done come the off-season. Cameron feels he has what it takes to be a top dog in the AFL, and after West Coast assistant Scott Burns may steer away from becoming a senior coach until 2013, he has a smorgasbord of options to consider.
Perhaps Cameron feels attached to Hawthorn right now though; at least until a Clarkson deal is finalised. Cameron does not want distractions to stand in the way of the Hawks finals chances, but there’s no reason the interview process can’t take place as of now from a Bulldogs standpoint.
There’s even more reason for Cameron to assert himself as an option for the Bulldogs following Paul Williams’ success post-Rodney Eade. After the Dogs hammered Port Adelaide by 60 points on Sunday, Eade’s former assistant is quickly becoming a standalone favourite to kick-off a new coaching era. But even so, Cameron already has seven seasons of experience as the Bulldogs assistant coach next to his name.
At Hawthorn, Cameron has made a name for himself after only being acquired by the Hawks earlier this year.
“It’s been three years since the 2008 grand final, and I think I’ve improved a little bit since then,” key forward Lance “Buddy” Franklin told reporters at Waverly Park on Monday.
“I think every year I’ve taken a step forward in the way that I play and Leon Cameron has been a big part of that, too.”
Cameron’s enthusiastic relationships with forwards looks to be a bonus should the Bulldogs succeed in signing him. Barry Hall kicked six goals against Port Adelaide on the weekend, two behind Franklin’s efforts in the previous week, prompting fears that the 34-year-old may be pulling the plug too early.
If Kennett is ready to sign Clarkson to a new deal once the home and away season ends, why not fast track the process by signing him now?
Cameron’s chemistry with forwards isn’t the only thing he has going, as the Hawks large list of injuries to stars such as Jarryd Roughead was made that much easier by relying on a structured coaching staff. The emergence of players like Shane Savage and Luke Bruest also speaks volumes of how important a good assistant coach is.
Now, we’re just waiting on Kennett to hurry-up the process. Cameron can consider his options, and Hawks fans can know that Clarkson is sticking around.
Two things that could have been done weeks ago.
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