John Barker is stepping down from his assistant coaching role at Hawthorn and has told the AFL club he's keen to pursue other opportunities.

The former Hawks player was an assistant coach at St Kilda under Ross Lyon in 2007-08 and has spent the past two seasons back at Hawthorn as forwards coach.

"Johnny has been a great servant of our club as both a player and an assistant coach," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said on Friday.

"I would like to thank him for his contribution to the Hawthorn Football Club and wish him and his family well as he looks to pursue other opportunities."

The 2008 premiers missed the finals in 2009. They were knocked out of this year's finals race in the first week of September by Fremantle in their elimination final at Subiaco, losing by five goals last weekend.

Barker's 168-game playing career began at Fitzroy in 1994 and included eight matches with Brisbane in 1997 and 113 games with the Hawks before his retirement in 2006, kicking a total of 127 goals.

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