Magpies legend Tony Shaw has warned his former club not to oversell to acquire Alastair Clarkson, but insists it should inquire about his desire for the job.
On Tuesday, Hawthorn announced a coaching succession plan involving Clarkson and Sam Mitchell, where the latter is slated to take over from Clarkson in 2023.
"If Alastair Clarkson is available, of course you have to talk to him but do you sell the bricks and mortar to get him?" Shaw told The Age.
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"You might be forcing him into something but you have to ask the question. Does he want it? Does he have the passion? Is he available?"
The 1990 premiership captain that his former club should also take caution due to the ambiguity of the situation.
"I just don't think we know the full story at Hawthorn, there has got to be other reasons in the background," Shaw said.
"Why is it coming to this at Hawthorn? You don't know what happens behind the scenes.
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"He spoke about the Five Fs (footy, family, friends, farm and fitness) all suffering from his long-term job. You don't know if he has the passion to coach still".
The ex-Magpies coach also expressed doubt over Hawthorn's decision to implement a coaching succession plan.
"I don't really understand the succession," he stated.
"I didn't like it at Collingwood. Mick [Malthouse] wins a flag and could have won two premierships in two years and then you say someone else is better than you?"
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Nathan Buckley succeeded Malthouse at the start of the 2011 season, less than a year removed from Collingwood's 2010 grand final triumph.
