Clarkson's Cluster: How Hawthorn won the 2008 AFL premiership

Hawthorn stunned the AFL when they claimed the 2008 Premiership. In the first rendition of our new series, AFL Game Changers we breakdown how Clarkson’s Cluster works and the legacy it has left on football today.
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Created by Andreas and Zachary Baruhas
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[@stevespurlock713]

this is legitimately the best footy channel on youtube

[@FootyA2Z]

Thanks Steve

[@cheesie6575]

100% agree

[@JayJay-dp8ky]

@@FootyA2Z Also Tom Boyd looks awesome as a Zombie.

[@Darththorn]

I'd love to hear about Hawthorn's chip around/uncontested mark system that we used to win the three-peat with some time!

[@FootyA2Z]

will absolutely cover this down the track. Nice to hear from you on KZbin too, Darththorn!

[@Darththorn]

@@FootyA2Z Greetings! My KZbin account is actually much older than my Reddit one lol.

[@FootyA2Z]

Hahaha well there you go

[@dominic6867]

What a brilliant coach and a marvelous team!

[@hawksfan4800]

So sad he’s going

[@jvkanufan8115]

I've seen these tactical analysis videos for soccer and wished there was equivalent for AFL - now there is! Great content!

[@rorsabest]

Would love to see you cover Ross Lyon and what made his system so successful 2008-2015 and then so ineffective thereafter

[@rudiedsall1094]

I'd love to see a video on how Chris Scott changed up Geelong's game plan when he got the job in 2011. A lot of people, Cats fans even, say he just took Bomber Thompson's work and ran with it but I think it's interesting that he changed up to a long kicking plan to counter Collingwood's tsunami of frontal pressure.

[@FootyA2Z]

Thats a good one. will be interesting to see just how drastic the changes were

[@devilwarr1or]

In a Geelong book, it's written that Scott made one tweak that completely stuffed the swans front pressure game. The player being pressured simply did a dump kick over the top which went over the press and then geelongs regular handball kick game would continue. It worked so well, the pies were forced to change their starting game which they had for 2 years straight which was have a 7 man defence. On grand final day pies started with 6 hoping it would help. It didn't. The book "greatness" explains it more.

[@AlexHellene]

@@devilwarr1or Well said heywood. Chris Scott doesn't get nearly enough credit for the 2001 premiership. People say, he ''simply inherited a good team.'' As you said, him changing Geelong's tactics from the kicking it over Collingwood's press, made the difference. Geelong's high handballing game under Thompson came undone against Collingwood's high pressure tackling and press in 2010. If Thompson would of been coaching in 2011, Collingwood simply would of simply squashed Geelong again like in 2010. Funny, that after all these years of the high handballing game being undone by Collingwood in 2010, these days Collingwood under Buckley has reintroduced it, and proving at times to once again, come unstuck against cluster's and high pressure tackling, when Collingwood is in the half forward line, rather than simply kicking it in the 50 m.

[@gbruno99]

Always used to watch Tifo Football’s channel on KZbin and wish there similar content for the AFL. And you’ve done that, brilliant 👏

[@gbruno99]

Mate you comment this exact thing on every AFL vid, for someone who reckons the sport sucks you sure watch a lot of it

[@soccerlegend7774]

Hawthorn 2011 to 2016 dynasty analysis would be greatt and how they bounced back in 2018 in one of the quicker semi rebuilds that saw a "finished" hawks team climb back to the top 4 for one last time. Great content been binge watching the videos. Clarko one of the goat coaches for sure,

[@Darththorn]

We actually finished second on the ladder, not third. Great video nonetheless!

[@FootyA2Z]

Darththorn facepalm

[@johngardener4074]

this is great content, it's rare to find good footy analysis, especially of the tactics

[@CARDMAN22]

This was really well put together!

[@FootyA2Z]

Cheers Cardy

[@catattack_2754]

Great video mate! I’d love to hear you talk about the crows 2015-17 system, the fast paced slingshot through the backline and the run off half back that led to our high scoring!

[@FootyA2Z]

Added to the list. Thanks for the idea and glad you enjoyed!

[@seashoree1]

And how the 6,6,6 made it hard to replicate post 2017

[@TrueFootyAFL]

Amazing video. Thanks for this lads.

[@_dreko]

The 2 videos you've made on particular team strategies in certain seasons are some of the best AFL videos I've seen and your best content (i.e. this video and the 2000 Super Flood video). I would love to see more videos like that.

[@seanosullivan901]

Just starting watching and I love your in depth videos. You clearly put time in them and I hope you go far mate :)

[@MrDodgerdodson]

That was extremely good. Well done, great video.

[@FootyA2Z]

Thank you!

[@bladeofduck]

Love the strategy videos and the topical videos. However, I especially love your historical videos that focus on individual stories in the AFL (Jim Stynes, Cazaly). Would love to see more. You could do a video discussing the people behind the names of the major AFLs awards - Norm Smith, Charlie Brownlow, John Coleman, etc. Keep it up boys.

[@FootyA2Z]

Thanks Darcy, happy to hear you’re liking the vids. We’ve got plenty more historical figures planned including all the big awards :)

[@piratekerry]

Great video very informative- thanks👍

[@pauljames5452]

You say the Cluster, I say the rushed behind exploitation, something that was made illegal following that game

[@r0bz0rly]

I friggin love your channel. hope you get more traction and subscribers cause I see the effort and love you put into each video. I agree with the fella who mentioned the 2000 bombers, should be able to get a few of my essendon supporting mates on to your channel with that :)

[@FootyA2Z]

Thanks mate means a lot! Hearing a lot of support for the 2000 bombers. Might have to bump it up the order a bit

[@dominic6867]

Very well put together aswell lads!

[@FootyA2Z]

Thanks mate, knew you'd like this one!

[@adhityavjiyer7617]

Nicely done. Keep it coming :-)

[@FootyA2Z]

Thank you very much! Plenty more in the works

[@Monte34]

Cracking Analysis!

[@Reeswoods999]

This channel deserves 100k

[@coolcoconuts4453]

Jeez hearing those names again it's easy to forget just how insanely fucking stacked that Hawks side was

[@ryza.5]

Great vid guys 👍

[@FootyA2Z]

Thanks dude :)

[@thebulldogsking2511]

Nice video guys and congrats on 1k subs

[@FootyA2Z]

Thanks mate :)

[@raffarmenio6933]

Pushing the cats out to the flanks to have their shots at goal was a key factor in them missing alot of them. They only managed to get through the cluster when we made mistakes moving the ball. That's how Mooney and Ottens had those simple shots that they missed which personified how the match turned out. If it wasn't for the brilliance of Ablett who was the only one able to regularly get his way through they may have lost by more.

[@christiansrensen5958]

As blessed as cats fans have been, and as grateful as I am for the success and entertainment, this one hurt the most. It broke what could´ve been a 3peat, and would have easily been the best individual team/season of all time. The 2008 side was statistically better than 2000 bombers, and that team is viewed less favourably given their choke/waste in 1999 and 2001. Most cats fans regularly say they´d trade 2009 for 2008 (not 2011, fuck collingwood). It was a brilliant blind-side, and imo the most stunning upset win, eclipsing the 1999 PF blues. It is the only game in the last 30 years that still burns deep in our souls (maybe Nick Davis in 2005 SF). It should go down as Clarkson´s greatest achievement.

[@bmrcoachingacademy8531]

I would suggest that hockey is where allot of Clarkson ideas came from

[@billywilson2856]

I think clarkson is definitely the best modern day coach if not one of the best ever

[@FootyA2Z]

He certainly has a strong claim to both!

[@jpol4412]

The left Back pocket also Hardwick

[@billyhoyle2780]

James Polites none of those guys are a patch on the great Kevin Sheedy

[@davefrancis4529]

I think you are missing the significance of the rushed behind, so much so that it forced a rule change. I would also contest that Geelong lost that game, as did St.Kilda the following year.

[@turn567]

I'd love to see a video on the good old fashioned man on man game style with those great Geelong sides. Attractive footy and why people love it so much.

[@lchave2681]

“Tough nut Campbell brown leading the way “ 🤣🤣🤣

[@Bernfardt]

so great. keep em coming! wondering if youd ever consider a video on how the swans became successful during the paul roos era, 03-06?

[@FootyA2Z]

We've definitely got something in the works you might enjoy ;)

[@Bernfardt]

Footy A2Z awesome... everything you cats do is great x

[@robhowell339]

This is great. Would be interested to see your take on Melbourne's 2021 defensive model. Most of the time they appeared to set up quickly in a grid like formation - it would be interesting to know how this "Goodwin's Grid" differed from or was similar to Clarkson's Cluster.

[@jackaspley3283]

Definitely worth exploring the Ross Lyon gameplan especially around 2009 at St Kilda which is probably the most effective defence we've seen in any AFL season and any legacy of this today.

[@jiggy2484]

1k. More like road to 50k. Mad content once again

[@fredvalentine9540]

great video 👍

[@FootyA2Z]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ajdynon]

Love your channel! As a Bombers fan, I'd love to see a video on Kevin Sheedy someday! Also, do you know of any channel like this for cricket?

[@FootyA2Z]

Not that I know of, let us know if you find one though!! We've got a video coming later this week you might enjoy as a bombers fan. There is no doubt we'll get to Sheeds himself one day as well!

[@AlexHellene]

Wow, what a channel. These tactical vids are awesome. Question Footy A2Z... You mention that the cluster has been overcome by the running game's the Bulldogs and Richmond employed. Running game tactics normally involve a high percentage of handballing, do they not? Because normally, high handballing gamelan's have been proven to come unstuck against and opposition that employees, high pressure tackling clusters?

[@sanchezgaming2146]

Would’ve loved to hear more about the legendary 3peat

[@FootyA2Z]

The 3peat will have it’s own video down the track :)

[@spektra1988]

Hey man, great work! I was just wondering what kind of software you use for this? I would love to learn!

[@FootyA2Z]

Thanks mate! The animation was done in adobe after effects :)

[@simonrobertson8066]

Feel like you also forgot about the fact they took advantage of the rush behind rules that changed instantly after this grand final

[@itwasagoal]

Clarko is in a real cluster now

[@wheresgolberg]

Some interesting ideas for a break down. Geelong 07 - 11 central direct play, play on and forward press. Collingwood 09-11 stretching teams and playing around the outside. Stoppage game plans from Paul Roos, John Worsfold and Ross Lyon. Very boring but has no doubt shaped modern footy as we know.

[@BoxofficeForney6969]

Collingwood mid-2010 - PF 2011 were probably the most dominant team I've seen.

[@jewdavid5627]

The Hawks had Cyril Rioli. One of the best goalsneaks ever. That is the reason they beat WCE in 2015.

[@harrybaruhas5576]

Nice video. how about a video on the great Tom hafey the father of the modern running game plan? That's why he had the fittest teams.

[@FootyA2Z]

Might have to do some reading first ;)

[@chrismackie-wright768]

I’ve got two suggestions for you, mate: If you can find enough research for this, can you do the dominant 2000 Essendon team that lost only one game? Or could you do the infamous ‘flooding’ game plan from Terry Wallace’s Bulldogs that led to Essendon’s only loss that year? Keep up the good videos mate, and I hope to see more from you. Great content.

[@FootyA2Z]

Thanks mate video suggestions are always more than welcome. We’ve actually got a “Terry Wallace flood” vid in the works! Will add the 2000 bombers to the list too

[@chrismackie-wright768]

Footy A2Z That’s great. Can’t wait to see it. Being a Bulldogs supporter, and having a father that supports Essendon, I can guarantee that these videos well be amazing.

[@JimmyRaptis]

I thought that GF was won on rushing it behind every time the Hawks had it to break any momentum.

[@lizardking9529]

Spot on, cheap chesse tactics which the league outlawed the very next season.

[@troyo1992]

100% agree, can't believe that the rushed behinds didn't get a single mention in this video.

[@Fantabiscuit]

They both had similar shots at goal. Geelong couldn’t do the basics: shoot at goal

[@thechemistamvs5033]

@@Fantabiscuit Indeed. Mooney missing on half time broke my heart. But that isn't an argument against OP. You know what those 25 meter rush behinds prevent? The potential for more geelong shots on goal.

[@Fantabiscuit]

@@thechemistamvs5033 It’s like saying we shouldn’t spoil a mark because the opposing team will mark it ? It stopped the shark. Smart play

[@bigdeagz]

Wow I didn’t know footy could be so strategic Great video man 👍

[@FootyA2Z]

Thank you :)

[@dougaldhendrick3497]

2020, oh how things change!

[@brendonwatt6098]

They finished 2nd.. I know cause they hosted my team the doggies in the qf final.. 17-5 to our 15-6-1. And it was 13 times. And of course he's had an influence cause all the coaches that have won after Clarkson have worked under him. Hardwick was assistant coach Beveridge was the defence coach Simpson was an assistant coach and the midfield coach. You'll also find horse ( John Longmire ) and clarko were team mates from North Melbourne. Everything has a connection in football even in the smallest ways.

[@raffarmenio6933]

They definitely finished 2nd. They only finished 17-5 because we dropped 2 games to bottom 6 teams during the year. We were easily the 2nd best side throughout the year. Cats only beat us by 2 goals too late in the season when Hodge made 2 crucial errors that cost the game. Gave us huge belief the cluster was doing its job stifling alot of the Cats ball movement.

[@OhElvira]

Now this is how to coach defensively without making the game boring.

[@ezyroller]

Would love to see a video about Essendon’s roids up the mainline game plan, especially if you could focus in on the success it brought the club, both in terms of premierships and the public relations success.

[@danielkennedyrey1759]

you should have also mentioned how clarkson forced the creation of the deliberate rule into your own goal. as the hawks would simply just handball the ball into their own goal whenever they felt like resetting, the Cats ended up with 23 behinds to the hawks 7

[@raffarmenio6933]

Which created the myth Geelong kicked their way out of the game. They didn't. Actual shots at goal were the same. 11-12-18-7. 11 rushed behinds. That happened because the cluster wasnt in the position it needed to be so we had to reset.

[@ConnorTheRed65]

As a Tigers Tragic I'd love to hear more about them, especially how the mosquito fleet and pressure helped revitalise us for 2017!

[@FootyA2Z]

Will 100% do the mosquito fleet. I think there’s a few tigers tragics out there in the same boat as you!

[@ConnorTheRed65]

@@FootyA2Z Woo Hoo! Can't wait 🐅🐅

[@f3rdi881]

Also Dimma’s undersized ruck in the same ‘17 season. He almost conceded the ruck and then would either win the clearance or have the mids and mid-size tuck apply pressure.

[@bencunnington8783]

What team do you go for?

[@anthonypirera7598]

I would like you to explain the 1989 Grand Final and what was Geelong's game plan?

[@joshuagiuliani3619]

Do something on the blues 1995 GF win. I want to enjoy some Carlton success again lol

[@BigFellaGames]

I remember that hawthorn grannie so well. I was in a pub in hawthorn, when the siren ended the game, i got up, skulled a full jug of beer and the rest of the night was a blur. I couldn't believe it. ***edited, jug.

[@FootyA2Z]

Andrew Parry must have been one hell of a jub...!

[@BigFellaGames]

@@FootyA2Z That's how i was pronouncing it by the end of the night.

[@jaymothman]

forward press and how it came from water polo, or ross lyon's ethos

[@johnnyasvestas8206]

Awesome account🥰

[@swamistyle]

Hawks finished 2nd on the ladder in 2008, not 3rd; Croad had already come back 1 year before Clarkson arrived & Lewis was not a developed player but was drafted in the same draft as Franklin & Roughead.

[@marcuslightbody6933]

Minor correction Hawthorn finnished 2nd on the ladder in 2008 not 3rd

[@mickmorrissey16]

So how many rule changes happened due to tactics Clarkson employed in the 08 GF?

[@urbanyouths]

Can you do one on how Geelong's gameplan smashed Port in the 2007 Grand Final?

[@mattlamb4418]

Please review Paul Roo's coaching strategy

[@jacob7201]

this is easily the best afl channel, would love to see a video about geelongs premiership run

[@FootyA2Z]

We’d love to look into the cats run down the track :)

[@wizzard5442]

Kennett curse maybe but Paul Chapman who said Geelong will never lose to Hawthorn again, played in those 11 games where Cats beat Hawks. But come the all-important 2013 prelim finals game between Hawks & Cats, Chapman wasnt named in the side, was out injured. Hawks won that game and then went on to win 2013 GF. So had Chapman played, would Geelong have won?

[@mgeb1241]

Why is this on my recommended the day he announces he is leaving

[@HRinc]

what about the rushed behinds

[@andrewtarrant3523]

I am enjoying how you know so much about the tactics that have changed the game. I don't like Collingwood, and I enjoyed their years of mediocrity, but much to my displeasure, they seemingly improved overnight and made the Grand Final in 2018 and ever since, they have been one of the most menacing teams in the AFL. They always start fast, they seem to rely on blowing teams away early and it often works for them. They did it in the 2018 Prelim Final against Richmond (a game where I was confident that they would be stopped, but weren't). How did Collingwood go from being so average to so menacing? Buckley's job was questioned by his own fans, but not now. Also, did Ross Lyon copy the cluster by Clarkson? His teams (St Kilda and then Freo) seemed to be all about defence only and whilst they were winning teams, they turned the game into a yawn fest.

[@TheCandyButcher807]

Inspired by tifo football im assuming, this is really cool

[@Dr_Footbrake]

I'd like to point out that Franklin, Rougie and Lewis were all taken in the same draft!

[@troyjackson9743]

Now he hates the draft

[@1979RayDay]

I'm guessing Clarko watched alot of NBA and European Soccer around this time.

[@FootyA2Z]

Yeah listened to an interview, unfortunately after this video was made where he cited pressing in soccer as a big inspiration to his tactics

[@daddyj6917]

The tactics hawthorn used in 2013-2015 grand finals

[@raffarmenio6933]

Zigzag ball movement. Emphasis on short sharp kicking to targets forcing the opposition press to shift out of position. Can't put pressure on the opposition if your marking the football. We had a very skillful side that could pull it off with star power everywhere. A half decent game plan would have been enough.

[@magicjohnson3121]

Could’ve been better if you showed actual video footage of the plan in action

[@billywilson2856]

Could you do the mosquito fleet?

[@FootyA2Z]

Absolutely! We've got it on our list for this series

[@billywilson2856]

Footy A2Z cool

[@georgefarmakiotis7824]

Please do the 3 peat

[@Codewordthecerealkiller0]

Tbf the main reason they defeated Geelong in 08 was actually the rushed behinds

[@wizzard5442]

But that wasnt planned.

[@TheCleaner76]

One mistake you made, Hawthorn finished 2nd at the end of the home and away season, not 3rd

[@JimmyRaptis]

Can you please become an adviser for the Carlton Football Club. They need a system, any system!

[@glenncoreyjp6854]

Any chance at the end of the year about how Tom Mitchell has gone this season.

[@FootyA2Z]

Hey mate, we're definitely keeping a eye on him at the moment. If you haven't already seen the video on him we made be sure to check that out!

[@glenncoreyjp6854]

Footy A2Z actually instead making the vid if you could about Tom make it about the hawks midfield

[@jerseyforhawks]

They won in '08 because Stuart Dew lit the Cats up, in one quarter.

[@brfcpol]

and all the rushed behinds

[@PaulDimopoulos]

3:37 they actually finished 2nd, not 3rd

[@kylecurphey8561]

What steve spurlock said

[@thechemistamvs5033]

"Alright boys remember, if we get it anywhere in defence what do we do?" "RUSH BEHIND" "You boys are ready"

[@GHOSTY345]

The Hawks finished 2nd on the ladder with a 17-5 record in 2008, not third.

[@jecos1966]

Geelong lost the 2008 Grand Final in other word stuffed up in many ways that tried to win it all in the first quarter miss goals two meters out they were rushing things and Hawthorn did make the 8 in the next season

[@TheJonkerr7]

So what? There are mistakes in any game. What did happen was that the Cats could not maintain their forward momentum and as front runners couldn't handle the pressure on the day. To their credit, they took that on and changed, showing in their next flags that they could rough it out with the best of them and did deep. Hawthorn won this GF pal, check the 3rd qtr.

[@will5361]

Now his gone for hawks :(

[@harrisoncole2255]

Terry Wallace & Alistair Clarkson ruined football. The modern game is unwatchable because so many sides tried to (and try to) replicate their flood methods. If flooding is against the spirit of the game and decreases quality of gameplay by nullifying skill level, bringing a defensive tactic into midfield is going to make the football world shoot themselves in the head collectively. The zonal midfield flood meant the club whose coach subscribed to the tactic didn't even need particularly skilled players. Thanks for ruining the modern game so you could win some cheap premierships by playing boring football. This channel is superb by the way, although I did notice you didn't mention the 2008 Hawthorn side rushing 11 behinds on Grand Final day and being the reason there's a deliberate rule. Big love on the channel!

[@themetalpig7613]

Jeff Kennett technically wasn't wrong though. While Geelong beat Hawks 11 times in a row, Hawks broke the drought in a game that mattered. He was right, in that era, Geelong never beat Hawthorn when it really mattered.

[@themetalpig7613]

@Soussy I thought of that game but wasn't the Kennett curse over by then?

[@themetalpig7613]

@Soussy Whoops I was thinking of 2016 I think, when Isaac Smith missed after the siren. Does that 2011 qf really count, they weren't knocked out, didn't Hawks then lose against the Pies in the prelim?

[@williams6334]

Great video, but Hawthorn finished 2nd on the ladder :)

[@robwhitmore3040]

"It's undeniable that Clarkson's approach to the game has left a mark on the AFL." Yeah, the rushed behind rule. The hawks played boring footy, exploiting a rule to a point the AFL were worried fans would stop watching.

[@aaaaab5909]

the tifo football of afl

[@depressedessendonfan5702]

Do slingshot!

[@andymcrae4661]

Dude the cats could have been playing Bundoora football club on grand final day. And Bundoora would have been premiers. Nothing to do with Hawthorn, Geelong beat themselves on that day. This is why Geelong won the premiership the following year and years and Hawthorn couldn’t even make the finals in 2009. A bit of perspective Geelong were still the best team in 2008

[@Magpie_Mark92]

Because of this team the stupid AFL introduced the deliberate rush behind rule which i hate as defenders are often penalised when under pressure

[@adrianbarichievich7756]

hawthorn did not need to use this brand of footy