NORTH Melbourne can cross Alastair Clarkson off its wish list for its vacant coaching job.
The Hawthorn mentor moved to emphatically shut down any speculation of a new challenge at Arden Street as his Hawks departed for a date with Brisbane on Saturday night.
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Eyeing his fifth premiership at Waverley Park, Clarkson said he had all intentions to honour his current contract until the end of 2022.
"In my particular case, as is the case always when these things come up, I'm very committed to what we're doing here," Clarkson said on Friday.
"I'm in the third wave of trying to secure some silverware for our footy club.
"The first one was obviously 2005-2008 and then 2009-2012 we built ourselves to a position to challenge for silverware again.
"We're in the middle of a phase right now where we're trying to do that again. I'm very, very committed to that and my contract status with the club reflects that.
"I don't anticipate I'm going anywhere, and I don't want to unless the club tap me on the shoulder and said we think it's time. If that's the case, then I'll look elsewhere but that's not going to be the case."
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Looking to win consecutive matches for the first time this year, Clarkson said the impact of former lieutenant Chris Fagan and pupil Luke Hodge at the Lions was less important than 12 months ago.
"History would say it's probably helped them out because they beat us in both games last year," Clarkson said.
"We don't really focus on that as much, we've got some things we've got total control of ourselves.
"Both of those guys have been gone from our club for a fair time now, so there's things we're doing now with personnel and method that's a little bit different than when both were at our club."
The Hawks welcome back Isaac Smith and Mitch Lewis, with Clarkson brushing off reports linking Smith – who remains contracted until 2020 – with a move to the Western Bulldogs.
"You could come up with anything, couldn't you?" Clarkson said.
"It's just speculation and innuendo, until he comes to me, or his management or the Western Bulldogs come to our club, it's the middle of the year for Christ's sake.
"We don’t have to worry about trades and that sort of stuff until October so let's just leave it 'til then."
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Clarkson famously held conversations with premiership stars Sam Mitchell (West Coast) and Jordan Lewis (Melbourne) about extending their careers elsewhere before they departed to new clubs.
He said it remained to be seen if he would replicate those talks with the 30-year-old Smith at season's end.
"There's nothing in his game that suggests to me, in terms of attitude, the way he wants to play or how we want to use him that the conversation will be happening in the next little while, no," Clarkson said.
"Who knows what happens, all we're really focusing on is this week against Brisbane and all that stuff that usually happens in September and October … we'll wait 'til then."
At 5-5, the Hawks will be out to consolidate their spot in the top eight before next week's mid-season bye.
