Hawthorn Senior Coach Alastair Clarkson celebrates his 200th match at the helm on Friday night against West Coast at Etihad Stadium.

hawthornfc.com.au spoke to some of the Hawthorn players and coaches during the weeks about Clarkson and what he has done for them in their playing and coaching careers to date.

Clarkson becomes the third man to coach Hawthorn for 200 games, joining John Kennedy Snr and Allan Jeans.

Read their comments below.

Ben Stratton: “Clarko has been a really assertive coach, he really helps you learn and makes you want to learn. You get better from being with Clarko and having his as your coach.”

Lance Franklin: “He’s been a massive part of my career, he first got to the club when I did so he’s been here from the start. He’s had a big role in my career and a big part of the football club.”

Matt Suckling:  “Clarko has been amazing for my career, it was a long journey to get a crack into the AFL and he’s always stuck by my side and told me to play to my strengths and that’s given me a lot of confidence to finally break in these last couple of years. Since I’ve been injured too, he’s been fantastic and I’m really looking forward to getting back and playing under him next year.”

David Hale: “He brought me over from North Melbourne three years ago – and these last three years in my football career have been really good, enjoyable and helped me enjoy my footy again. I’m very grateful to Clarko for what he’s done for me.”

Luke Hodge: “A huge congratulations to Clarko, I guess to coach 200 games, the third longest at Hawthorn Football Club, it’s a huge effort. The things he has been through in his career so far, you can tell he looks a little older now - he’s got a few more grey hairs but has done a fantastic job. He’s always been ahead of the game by changing the game plan and you can tell he’s got a great footy brain. He’s great for the footy club and all the players and we’re all rapt to have him as a coach”

Josh Gibson: “Clarko has been a wonderful support for my career, he’s obviously one of the guys that was really strong in getting me across from North Melbourne and since I’ve come here he has given me real confidence to expand my game and really backed me in. I think my footy has definitely improved since I’ve come across to Hawthorn and Clarko has played a big part in that so I love having him as a coach.  He challenges you but at the same time, he rewards you and gives you the confidence to play out of your skin and rapt that he’s made it to 200 and I’m proud to be part of it.”

Brent Guerra: “I’ve been at two clubs prior to Hawthorn and I’ve played my best footy here so he’s done a lot for my career. Who knows where I would have been if it hadn’t been for Clarko. I’d like to thank him for that - he’s been a massive part of my career”

Grant Birchall: “He’s very passionate in the way he goes about his coaching and the way he teaches us players – he encourages the boys to play their role and back themselves in. He’s been fantastic throughout my career and I owe him a lot.”

Taylor Duryea: “It was almost a four year wait so when the opportunity came I was very pleased -he’s been one of the coaches that has helped make the transition from VFL to senior footy easier. He’s very supportive of the younger guys coming in and lets them know they can play a big role in the side, which is good.”

Paul Puopolo: “I am definitely grateful to Clarko for giving me an opportunity, he had faith in me. I guess he saw a little bit of himself in me maybe - a small, little, hard at it player. I’m grateful for the way he’s brought out my game too, being that tough little footballer and he loves it and I love playing like that. So he’s brought the best out of me.”

Jack Gunston:  “Clarko has been a great coach for me so far, he’s obviously shown faith in me coming over from Adelaide. He’s always the first one after the game to come up and give you his feedback and that’s what you want as a player. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s always the first one to help you out. Hopefully I’m here for a few years and hopefully he’s here for every bit of my tenure here.”

Shane Savage: “It’s such a great thing knowing that the coach has such belief in you and especially the last couple of years, to get some really consistent games and at AFL level has really been good for my game. Especially this year, he has really backed the young boys. The depth of the group is outstanding and that’s a credit to him and how he’s set up the culture at Hawthorn and I’m looking to be here a long time.”

Max Bailey: “He’s been really loyal to me and that’s I guess the one outstanding trait he has – he sticks by you regardless of what’s going on so I’ve got to thank him for that.”

Brad Sewell: “Clarko has been the coach I’ve had for the majority of my career, I had ‘Schwabby’ (Peter Schwab) early on for 2 years early on but he’s basically given me an opportunity and instilled a lot of discipline in me and probably everything I’ve learnt about the game – most of which has certainly come from playing under him. Well done Clarko on 200 games, well deserved.”

Isaac Smith: “Clarko gave me the opportunity to play AFL footy, so I’m very grateful for that. He definitely puts a lot of time into us and tries to get the best out of us, he’s a great motivator in that sense.”

Jordan Lewis: “He has shaped my career but also shaped who I am as a person in terms of my football ability. He’s been the only coach I have ever had so it’s amazing for a coach to stick around for a solid 10 or so years and maintain that stability around the club. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend all my time at this club with him and I’ve certainly learnt a lot from him.”

Head of Coaching and Development, Chris Fagan: “I met Clarko 16 years ago when I first started working at the Melbourne footy club. He’s a fierce competitor, has a great sense humour, is a fiercely loyal sort of bloke too, we’ve always been great friends. He is a tremendous coach and he has worked hard to become the best coach he can be and I think the Hawthorn footy club is very lucky to have him.”