Declaring he has unfinished business, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has shot down the suggestion he might be a left-field option for AFL strugglers Melbourne.
Clarkson has joined West Coast counterpart John Worsfold in ruling himself out after the Demons sacked Mark Neeld on Monday.
The Demons made a strong pitch to Clarkson’s management before eventually signing Neeld in late 2011.
Clarkson will reach the 200-game coaching milestone on Friday – all with Hawthorn – when they host Worsfold’s Eagles at Etihad Stadium.
“I have unfinished business here,” Clarkson said before Thursday training.
“I love everything about my association with Hawthorn and I think I will be continuing to stay involved here.”
Hawthorn are flying and go into Friday’s match on top of the ladder.
It’s a far cry from the aftermath of their narrow round-one loss to Geelong.
Immediately after that match, outspoken former Hawks president Jeff Kennett called on Clarkson to leave the job at the end of this season.
Kennett later apologised, but Clarkson conceded at the time that he probably should go if he cannot lead the Hawks to another flag before his contract expires at the end of next season.
Under Clarkson, Hawthorn upset Geelong to win the 2008 premiership and were at the wrong end of another grand final boilover last September when Sydney beat them in an epic duel.
But before Clarkson and the Hawks can think of grand final redemption, he concedes they must pick up their form.
While Hawthorn are on a 10-game winning streak, they struggled early against Carlton a week ago.
The Eagles are outside the top eight only on percentage ahead of Friday’s Etihad Stadium clash and Clarkson said his team must be ready for a desperate opponent.
“We’ve been a little bit below our best, perhaps,” Clarkson said.
“Hopefully we can get some of our best form going in the next few weeks.
“We think they (Eagles) have the talent to be a couple of wins above where they are.
“All we know is we’re expecting a pretty torrid battle tomorrow night.
“They’re probably going to push out their best side on paper for the year.”
The Eagles made six changes, regaining captain Darren Glass, fellow defender Beau Waters and forwards Mark LeCras and Josh Kennedy as well as Bradd Dalziell and Patrick McGinnity.
The Hawks recalled Shane Savage for Isaac Smith (corked calf).
Meanwhile, livewire Hawthorn utility Cyril Rioli is close to resuming from the hamstring injury he suffered in the round-five win over North Melbourne.
Rioli’s bad run of hamstring injuries means the Hawks will be extremely conservative with his comeback.
“The old adage where you say ‘get them ready and give them a week extra’ – we’ll get him ready and we might give him two,” Clarkson said.
