ALASTAIR Clarkson says he isn't worried by the prospect of the Brisbane Lions trying to lure Hawthorn football department staff during finals.
Hawks assistant coach Brett Ratten and respected football operations boss Chris Fagan have both been linked to the Lions, who are searching for a senior coach to replace Justin Leppitsch and a new head of football.
The Hawks lost assistant coach Brendon Bolton to Carlton on the eve of last year's finals campaign but still went on to clinch a third-straight premiership, and Clarkson isn't concerned if a similar scenario plays out this year.
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"We're not in control of that, and to be fair we don’t really worry about it too much," Clarkson said.
"It's not something we haven't had to deal with before. Last year we were right in the midst of it with ‘Bolts’ who secured the Carlton job and then we had to appoint a new forward line coach for the last part of the year.
"A couple of years earlier it was Leon Cameron (GWS) and Adam Simpson (West Coast) in the same sort of boat, so you can't control that.
"But this year there's probably been less activity in that space than we've had in past years."
Clarkson protégés have become hot coaching property, with Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge and Richmond's Damien Hardwick also mentored by the four-time premiership mastermind.
But Ratten is a slightly different case, having already coached Carlton to 60 wins from 120 games before he was controversially sacked at the end of 2012.
The 45-year-old joined the Hawks shortly after his dismissal and has helped guide the club to the past three premierships, earning rave reviews from players for his approachable man-management style.
Speaking on Tuesday ahead of another finals campaign, Clarkson reiterated Hawthorn's stance of encouraging staff to chase their goals.
"We've gone on record saying we'll encourage any of our staff to seek greater opportunities and seek their dreams in terms of the roles they play in football," he said.
"That has been the case with many of our assistant coaches who have gone on to secure senior jobs at other clubs and we're really proud of that development process we've got at our footy club.
"They've been great servants of our footy club, all of them, whether it's Bolton, Hardwick, Cameron or Simpson.
"Mark Evans was heavily involved with footy operations at our club, he goes to the AFL, Andrew Newbold was our president, he's now on the AFL Commission.
"When there are opportunities to progress, we shake their hands, pat them on the back, wish them well and thank them for the service they've given to our footy club.
"If that transpires again we'll do exactly the same with whoever it might be."
