A STRESS-FREE Alastair Clarkson says he's more than likely to coach again and could even throw his hat into the ring later this year.
Clarkson's 17-year reign at Hawthorn came to a messy end last season, but the time away from the game has allowed him to refresh and explore other opportunities.
The 53-year-old joined Tasmania's bid for a stand-alone team, spent an extended stint overseas, linked up with mental health groups and also joined a medical cannabis firm.
But it seems the coaching bug is still present for Clarkson, who is weighing up a return to the hot seat.
"It's amazing how stress-free you become this time of year given that we're on the eve of a pretty exciting season," Clarkson told SEN Breakfast.
"I think more than likely I'll coach again, but given what I've experienced over the last six months, there's some blue sky on the side of this coaching caper.
"We'll wait and see either the end of this year or the end of next year.
"I think if I was to come back into coaching, I wouldn't want to stay out of it for too long."
Clarkson had the chance to join either Collingwood or Carlton last year, but made the decision to step away from the game for 12 months to allow him to refresh and tackle new challenges.
The four-time premiership coach said he would only return to the coaching caper if it was the right fit.
"Probably what club it is and where I am in that particular stage," Clarkson said when asked what factors he would weigh up.
"When Collingwood and Carlton were playing off in the granny, they were the two biggest clubs in the competition at that point in time.
"I was mesmerised as a young country kid.
"Last year I had the opportunity perhaps to put my hand in the ring for either one of those clubs to coach and just the circumstances didn't suit myself or my family at that point in time.
"So, who knows if I will coach again.
"I didn't know that the grass would be so green on the other side in terms of the freshness that I've had out of having a spell having done it for so long."
Sam Mitchell, who worked under Clarkson as an assistant, will coach Hawthorn this season.
The original plan was for Clarkson to coach for one more year at Hawthorn before handing over the reins to Mitchell, but the succession plan fell apart in spectacular fashion.
