Amateur to face board over Clarkson clash

An amateur footballer involved in an altercation with Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson in Adelaide will be asked to front his own club’s board.

Hackham Hawks player Luke Helps clashed with Clarkson outside an Adelaide hotel last weekend after the AFL team lost to Port Adelaide.

Hawthorn officials have been in contact with the amateur club and police are also investigating the incident.

“He wasn’t representing the club at the time but, unfortunately for the young fellow, he does sort of represent us just as a member and a player all the time I suppose,” Hackham president Graham Thompson told ABC radio on Wednesday.

“So he does have a little bit to answer to.”

Thompson said Helps was quite distraught over the incident and, with his parents overseas, was being supported by the club.

“We want to look after Luke and make sure that he’s OK at the moment,” he said.

On Monday, Clarkson said he regretted the explosive clash and acknowledged as a father, coach and leader he was in a position to set an example.

“Having been confronted and threatened by a group of intoxicated men and after politely asking several times for some space, I regret that I pushed away one particular individual,” he said in a statement.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!