‘Scars haven’t healed’: Damning admission after Clarkson sacking
North Melbourne general manager Todd Viney said he is “not sure the scars have fully healed” for Alastair Clarkson in relation to the Hawthorn racism allegations, after the Kangaroos sacked the legendary coach with a year left on his contract.
The decision to part ways with Clarkson means the Kangaroos will have to pay out his 2027 salary, which is about $1 million according to The Age.
Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson has been sacked. nna\sbrunsdon
Fronting media on Wednesday afternoon, club president Sonja Hood read out a pre-prepared statement, which had already been sent to members shortly before the press conference, to explain the Kangaroos’ decision.
“In 2022, we overtly targeted Alastair Clarkson as our senior coach. Quite simply, he was the best coach available, and the best coach for our club,” she said.
“I don’t need to back over any of that. Rather than describing the club as it was, let me point to the club as it is now – stable, strong, aligned and full of excellent people. North Melbourne is a place people want to come to and want to stay at.
“Alastair’s strength and knowledge gave us the time and the space to make changes we needed to make, and to lay the foundations for the club we are now.
“But now, having consulted widely across the club, it has become clear that Alastair no longer has the belief from enough people at the club that he is the right coach to take this group forward. Once we knew that, it felt disrespectful to him to have him coach into 2027, knowing we would not extend him.
“We have made progress and won more games, but we won’t shy away from our desire to want more from this talented group. This is unashamedly a football decision. Alastair, of course, believes he can turn this around – that’s part of what makes him so special. We don’t agree with him, and hence we are at this point.
“The decision to move on from Alastair was tough, but we have made this decision in the best interests of our football club.”
Hood doubled down in the media address, while also saying the club had “met their obligation” to pay out Clarkson under the termination clause.
The president was also quizzed on her own future and whether she could remain in charge of North Melbourne given the Clarkson tenure didn’t pan out.
“He absolutely was the right person to bring into this club,” Hood said.
“It’s for others to decide what happens from here in terms of my leadership. My job is to make the best decisions in the interests of North Melbourne.”
The Kangaroos finished 14th this year with nine wins and 14 losses. Since taking the reins in 2023, Clarkson’s team have finished 17th twice and 16th last year.
North’s season finished last week with a loss to the embattled Swans.
The 58-year-old previously coached Hawthorn to four premierships and is regarded one of the best AFL coaches of the century.
Alastair Clarkson and Sam Mitchell after Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership. nna\cdesilva
However, according to Viney – who has been friends with Clarkson for many years – the allegations of racism from his Hawks tenure that became public after he signed to coach the Roos, have impacted the coach long-term.
“What I do know is, when we first started this journey, a week in unfortunately all the Hawthorn stuff happened,” the club’s general manager said.
“That took an enormous toll on him for the first two or three years and in fact, I’m not sure the scars have fully healed to this point. He’s gone through enormous trauma, he’s done an amazing job to get us to where we are right now.
“I’m not sure of the exact impact, but I know it’s had an effect. He’s been through a lot and he’s managed it well and coached us well … but it’s definitely had an impact. He’s not the same bubbly person that I knew early days.”
Viney said he would remain at North Melbourne “for the long haul” and also said it would be his “intent” to remain friends with Clarkson, but conceded it would “take a little bit of time” to return to that point.
“It’s enormously hard, leadership isn’t easy … when times are tough, and you have to make strong decisions, it is difficult and to add layers to that with the friendship I’ve had with Alastair for a long time, it’s tremendously stressful,” Viney said.
“I know Clarko really well, he was frustrated and disappointed, he’s a fighter. He was surprised with the decision, he didn’t see it coming.”
Alastair Clarkson is leaving North Melbourne. Getty Images
Clarkson released a short statement through his manager James Henderson, suggesting he will step away from AFL coaching.
“We set out to stabilise the club and lay the foundations for a return to playing deep in September,” Henderson posted to X, attributing the quote to Clarkson.
“The challenge was a difficult one that I embraced with my whole being. My family and I have been privileged to be involved in AFL football for over 40 years, but it is now time for a new chapter.”
Players and staff were called to the Ardern Street headquarters on Wednesday for an emergency, unscheduled meeting, where they were told Clarkson was gone.
Hood and Viney both reiterated that the decision was football-related and designed to move the Kangaroos forward from a results perspective.
The hunt will now begin for a new head coach and there are several options already being floated.
John Longmire and Adam Simpson, who both played for North Melbourne, are AFL premiership coaches with Sydney and West Coast respectively, and are currently on the market.
James Hird missed out on the Essendon job last week and later told Nine’s Footy Classified he has been in contact with other AFL clubs about potential jobs.
“There have been a couple (of clubs) reach out in the last couple of weeks before this,” Hird said a week ago.
“I’ll have a good think about what I’m doing.”
