COACHING great Alastair Clarkson dedicated his Hawthorn life membership at Tuesday night's club annual general meeting to his wife Caryn in an emotion-charged speech.
The four-time premiership coach's incredible contribution to the Hawks across 14 seasons and 329 games includes 205 victories at a 62.3 per cent winning rate.
However, it was the "culture" Clarkson created that both Hawthorn premiership player and coach David Parkin, and champion player-turned-coaching-protégé Sam Mitchell remarked upon.
Parkin described it as "the most admired culture in the competition", while Mitchell, who has returned to the club as an assistant coach, went even further in calling it "the culture of this generation".
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Clarkson has always shied away from comparisons between his achievements and another legendary Hawks coach in John "Kanga" Kennedy snr, who led the club to three premierships.
But there is no doubting the 50-year-old's prominent place in Hawthorn history, long before this latest recognition.
"John Kennedy was my coach when I first came down to play at North Melbourne and you wouldn't think at that point in time I'd have Hawthorn royalty having such an impact on me at such a young age," Clarkson said.
"That helped shape me enormously."
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Clarkson, who played 134 games for the Kangaroos and Demons, was appointed as Hawthorn's new coach on September 9, 2004, which he also remembers as the start of his family's "significant sacrifice".
"To Caryn, this is acknowledgement for all the sacrifices she's made," he said.
Clarkson's honour seems overdue, but it took a change to the constitution for not just Clarkson, but also long-serving off-field members David Rath, Andrew Russell and Andrew Lambart to become life members.
Previously only directors or players who fulfilled a certain number of years' service or played 150 games could be considered.
Former head of football strategy and innovation Rath – the first man Clarkson appointed in 2004 – now works for the AFL, while ex-high performance director Russell accepted a similar role at Carlton in the off-season.
Physiotherapist Lambart is heading into his 15th year at Waverley Park.
Andrew Russell and Alastair Clarkson in discussion at Hawthorn training in 2015. Picture: AFL Photos
Hawks chief executive Justin Reeves said all four men deserved life membership.
"These four individuals have given so much of themselves to the Hawthorn Football Club over the journey," Reeves said.
"They all joined the Hawks at the end of 2004, at the beginning of Alastair's tenure, and each has played a significant role in our history, all of them contributing a great deal to our four premierships in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
"Although David and Andrew Russell no longer work for the club, they will always be Hawthorn people, and we will be forever grateful for the impact they and their families made on the brown and gold.
"We are thrilled that we have the opportunity to acknowledge both Alastair and Andrew (Lambart) in this way while they are both still actively involved in helping the Hawks achieve their next premiership."
Footballers Jack Gunston, Paul Puopolo, Ben Stratton and Ryan Schoenmakers also received life membership after meeting the criteria.
Gunston (158 games for Hawthorn), Paul Puopolo (168), Ben Stratton (169) and Ryan Schoenmakers (121, but 10 years' service) all played in at least one flag under Clarkson.
