The Hawthorn coach and Frawley are mates from way back. Both have strong ties to Ballarat, they both live in bayside Brighton and they worked together at the Hawks.
But Clarkson was an influential driver for change within the structure of the AFLCA - along with Fremantle's Ross Lyon, it must be added - and it resulted in Frawley vacating his chief executive's role after five years in charge.
This involved a few hurt feelings on both sides, but good football people are always given another opportunity in the industry, leading to Frawley's appointment on Friday as a part-time defensive coach once again at Hawthorn.
Frawley took an extended break from football in the middle of last season to recharge his batteries in the wake of his AFLCA departure. That extended to his media roles and he was a notable absentee through the heart of last season from both his Triple M and Fox Footy commitments.
"It will be good for Danny to get back involved," a coaching identity told AFL.com.au. "I think he and 'Clarko' had different ideas about the direction of the AFLCA but apart from that they've always been pretty close."
During Frawley's first stint at the Hawks in 2007 and 2008 he was instrumental in developing players such as Stephen Gilham, who played full-back in the 2008 premiership team.
This time around, he gets to mentor newly appointed defensive coach Adem Yze, whose roles at the Hawks until now have focused on the forward line and goalkicking.
He also will work with his nephew James Frawley, who crossed to the Hawks from Melbourne last month as an unrestricted free agent.
Frawley played 240 games for St Kilda including nine years as captain, and coached Richmond between 2000 and 2004.
He was unavailable for comment when contacted by AFL.com.au on Friday.
