Sam Mitchell to take over from Alastair Clarkson as Hawthorn coach in 2023

Tom Naghten

Sam Mitchell to take over from Alastair Clarkson as Hawthorn coach in 2023 image

Sam Mitchell will take over as Hawthorn coach for the 2023 season when Alastair Clarkson contract winds up.

The Hawks announced the succession plan on Tuesday, seeing the premiership captain, Brownlow Medal winner and five-time best and fairest take over from the man who coached him to four flags.

Mitchell played 15 of his 16 seasons in the AFL with the Hawks and has long been earmarked as a future coach.

He worked as an assistant under Adam Simpson at West Coast following his the final year of his playing career, before returning to Melbourne and Hawthorn.

The 38-year-old currently works as the Hawks' head of development, while also serving as head coach of VFL affiliate Box Hill.

He was strongly linked to the head coaching job at Collingwood following Nathan Buckley's departure but, earlier this week and in light of the succession plan at Hawthorn, withdrew from that race.

When Clarkson eventually hands over the reins to Mitchell, it will bring to an a 18-year stint at Hawks coach which saw them reinstated as competition powerhouses from the relative leans years of the late nineties and early noughties.

The 53-year-old is out of contract beyond next year and has committed to helping Mitchell with the transition through 2022.

"Understanding nothing lasts forever, the decision to finish my time at Hawthorn at the end of my current contract was the best path forward for the club long-term," Clarkson said.

"At the end of last year, we made a decision to lay the foundations for the next wave of success at Hawthorn.

"My philosophy has always been to give my assistant coaches the responsibilities and opportunities they need to achieve their career aspirations.

"Sam is on this journey and the period of transition between Sam and I provides further opportunity for him to develop as he prepares to step into the senior coach role."


   
 

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett praised Clarkson's contribution to the club but said the board needed to put their emotions to the side in making the call.

"To me, Alastair has always been a teacher and the most educated coach in the AFL, with a unique ability to infuse this wisdom among his players," Kennett said.

"Part of his role next year will be to better prepare Sam for his future responsibilities.

"The Board and I see the same attributes in Sam. He is clearly ready to prove himself.

"Another year at Box Hill and continuing to work with Alastair before taking over the role at the end of next year will be the perfect preparation for him to step into the role of senior coach of our great club.

"It is the responsibility of your Board to plan and structure the transition of personnel within the club. These transitions must take place and should always occur as naturally and as orderly as possible. 

"Alastair has served us well in his time at Hawthorn, but we must put our emotions into second place and make the tough but right calls for our club’s future."

Mitchell, who played 307 games for the Hawks and is now in his third season as a member of the coaching staff, said his focus will remain on developing the club's talented crop of youngsters.

"I am looking forward to continuing my work in developing our young crop of players and coaching the Box Hill side over the next 18 months," Mitchell said.

"Development is an area of football that I am incredibly passionate about and I am confident that over the next 18 months we will continue to see more and more of what our young players are capable of."

Hawthorn's decision will put plenty of coaches on notice for next season, with the four-time premiership winner now on the market.

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.