Hawks mend bushfire fences

Hawthorn development coach Chris Fagan, coach coach Alastair Clarkson, player Brendan Whitecross and Blaze Aid team leader Vivian Walker with property owner Rob Turner behind Picture: Kim Eiszele Source: The Mercury

IT WAS the sweatiest, hardest, dirtiest work they will do all year.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, head of coaching Chris Fagan, and repatriating star Brendan Whitecross went bush at Boomer Bay yesterday to rebuild fences destroyed in the Dunalley bushfires.

The digging was hot and hard, and the rocks unforgiving.

The Hawthorn men worked in blackened bush to put in steel droppers and huge straining posts cut from nearby trees and rolled into place.

Despite actual blisters on their hands, they plan to do the same again today for nothing more than a sandwich, bottle of water and a well-earned thank you.

The fences may have been as straight as a politician's promise, but the trio revelled in the challenge.

It was Clarkson's idea to put together a crew to work in the Dunalley area.

He left his team behind in Melbourne to prepare for Saturday's NAB Cup clash against Richmond at Aurora Stadium.

Clarkson, who will joined them when they arrive in Launceston tomorrow, was hardly prepared for the damage caused by the fires.

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Hawks mend bushfire fences