In one of the last games for the Australian Football League (AFL) season today, it looked like the Hawthorn Hawks would defeat the Richmond Tigers. With only five minutes to play, the Hawks were up by five goals, and the Tigers looked like they were ready for the off-season.
For the Hawthorn coach, Alistair Clarkson, this was his last of his 390 games coaching the Hawks. After 17 years, the Hawthorn Football Club felt it was time to renew their coach, so they appointed a former club captain as their coach for next year.
After a stellar coaching career, it would have been fitting for Alistair to go out with a victory. And with five minutes to go in the game, it appeared that he would get that last win. However, the Tigers kicked five unanswered goals in the last five minutes of the game to draw the game at 83 points each.
A draw in Australian rules football is always a hollow feeling. Unless it is a finals match, you don't get to play extra time to win. A draw is a draw, and no team wins or loses. So the send-off of this great coach was a bit of an anti-climax, but I am sure Clarko will be back coaching another club in the years ahead.
For the Hawthorn coach, Alistair Clarkson, this was his last of his 390 games coaching the Hawks. After 17 years, the Hawthorn Football Club felt it was time to renew their coach, so they appointed a former club captain as their coach for next year.
After a stellar coaching career, it would have been fitting for Alistair to go out with a victory. And with five minutes to go in the game, it appeared that he would get that last win. However, the Tigers kicked five unanswered goals in the last five minutes of the game to draw the game at 83 points each.
A draw in Australian rules football is always a hollow feeling. Unless it is a finals match, you don't get to play extra time to win. A draw is a draw, and no team wins or loses. So the send-off of this great coach was a bit of an anti-climax, but I am sure Clarko will be back coaching another club in the years ahead.