Clarko passionate about reinvigorating grassroots footy

Four-time Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson has spoken of his passion for community football during a trip to Shepparton in country Victoria this week, as part of his role as community coaching ambassador with the AFL.

The former Hawthorn coach has been visiting community leagues and clubs around the country in 2022 and wants to see towns and clubs thriving again after two years severely disrupted by the pandemic.

“We're all creatures of habit, and what has become habit over the last two years is you can't get involved in your sporting club, so maybe our habit is sitting on the couch and maybe not getting back involved in the club, so we need to break that habit,” Clarkson said at Kialla Park Reserve after meeting with staff from AFL Goulburn Murray and AFL North East Border teams.

“The only way we can do that is we're open and alive and ready to go again and invite people back in, then reconnect them with these clubs."

“Historically, sporting clubs have been such a big part of the community and part of every young kid's upbringing and it's been a beautiful part of this country and this culture. We need to get back to that if we possibly can.”

As part of his visit to Shepparton, Clarkson also held a coaching masterclass for local coaches and attended training sessions for the Shepparton Bears, Shepparton United and Shepparton Swans Football Clubs.

Alastair Clarkson at Shepparton Bears training

While high-profile AFL names have been getting to communities across the state to help bring community footy back, including former Carlton and Adelaide great Eddie Betts who pulled the boots on for Rumbalara a few weeks ago, Clarkson urged community leaders to help bring the game and hopes his visit will inspire others to tell their stories of how community football has impacted them.

“If we can as many people telling their stories as we possibly can, that's going to inspire the younger generation to want to get involved in sporting clubs, then pass that down to their generation in years to come.”

Clarkson’s name has been widely linked to a return to AFL coaching, but he’s adamant that he will consider that down the track.

“All my focus, really, is on the roles that I've got at the present time.

“Whether it's the role with the AFL (community coaching ambassador), or whether it's with the Tassie Taskforce, we're trying to get a 19th team in the competition, I'm really excited with the work that I'm doing and I'm very passionate about both those fields.

“I'm still uncertain whether I want to get back into the thrust of AFL coaching, but it's too premature for me to make that decision now and I'll do so later in the year.”