Long-serving Hawthorn forward Luke Breust says his "inspirational" coach Alastair Clarkson deserves every plaudit he gets ahead of his milestone AFL match.
Clarkson hits 300 games as coach of the Hawks at Domain Stadium on Saturday night against Fremantle.
In doing so he will take the record for most games coached at Hawthorn, overtaking legendary boss John Kennedy Snr.
Kennedy Snr oversaw the club's first three premierships in 1961, 1971 and 1975 and was named as Hawthorn's coach of the century.
Breust, who has played in three of Clarkson's four winning grand finals, says his boss deserves to be feted.
"He's been huge for this club from the day he stepped in the door back in 2004," he said on Tuesday.
"His ability to take this group from where it was to where it is now has been inspirational.
"Any chance he gets he's passing on his knowledge of the game ... he's been massive for this footy club and to break John Kennedy's record speaks volumes for what he's been able to do."
Breust has backed Clarkson's contentious moves in the player market and at the selection table this year, justified as necessary to grow the next generation of flag-winners at Waverley.
The Hawks rebuild has gathered pace in the past month with an away win over league leaders Adelaide and a draw with highly-fancied Greater Western Sydney.
"He has had to evolve, to take a step back and see what we're doing and what our way forward was," Breust said.
"(That means) getting games into those young guys and giving them the experience.
"Games like Adelaide Oval with 50,000 people, (young players have) never experienced anything like that so how do you coach them to get up and make sure they don't get overawed?
"He's been unreal in making sure they're calm and collected."
Clarkson, 49 is known for his gruff and abrasive demeanour.
Breust said it was one of his most intense moments that provided him with a favourite Clarkson memory from nine seasons at the club.
"I think it was a Geelong game when he punched the wall," he said.
"Matt Suckling missed that inside kick and he hit Suckers up for some money to help with the plaster bill.
"Suckers told him he had enough."
