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'A real watershed moment for our club': Roos rejoice as Clarko signs on, Hird to Bombers rumours grow stronger

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18th August, 2022
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2021 Reads

Alastair Clarkson will coach North Melbourne in 2023.

After a week of speculation over whether the four-time premiership coach would return to AFL ranks at the Kangaroos or Essendon, the 54-year old will call Arden Street home on a five-year deal that runs until the end of 2027.

Clarkson had told media earlier in the week that he would have a decision by Friday, with the Bombers having thrown themselves into contention at the eleventh hour.

The news is a major coup for the Kangaroos, who have won just two matches in a disastrous 2022 season that saw coach David Noble sacked mid-year.

But it wasn’t without a last-minute scare, with the Bombers making a last-ditch bid for Clarkson’s services, leaving incumbent Ben Rutten’s future at the helm in limbo.

“This is a real watershed moment for our club,” Kangaroos president Sonja Hood said in a publicly released letter to fans.

“Today is a good day. Alastair’s coming home. To our home.”

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Hood also praised caretaker coach Leigh Adams’ role in shepherding the team through the back end of a difficult season.

“I hope to see as many of you as possible at Marvel tomorrow to thank Leigh Adams and his team for the outstanding job they have done over the last six weeks of the season. 

“I’ve lost count of the number of people who have remarked about how well Leigh has acquitted himself in the top job and we’ve been so blessed to have him. So to Patch, thanks for your hard work and congratulations on a job well done.”

Clarkson played 93 games at the Kangaroos from 1987 to 1995 in an at times controversial career.

However, his greater claim to fame came when he took over a struggling Hawthorn at the end of 2004. He would shepherd the Hawks to a surprise premiership in 2008, before winning three consecutive flags from 2013-15 to cement his place among the greats.

Clarkson’s 390-game stint at the Hawks’ helm came to an abrupt end in late 2021, when club and president Jeff Kennett’s desire to replace him with current coach and club great Sam Mitchell led to a messy departure.

Senior coach Alastair Clarkson of the Hawks

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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Ever since, the 54-year old’s coaching future has been the subject of intense scrutiny, having been linked to a number of clubs including GWS and the as yet unconfirmed new Tasmanian team.

Meanwhile, the Bombers are reportedly deeply considering a shock coaching return for favourite son James Hird, having missed out on Clarkson.

Hird’s tenure at the club between 2011 and 2015 saw him at the helm for the infamous supplements scandal, that saw 34 players suspended for the 2016 season and Hird banned from coaching for 2014.

The club legend returned to the Bombers in 2015, but poor on-field performance saw him depart the same year.

The Herald Sun reports the 49-year old, who has recently been involved in GWS’ coaching staff alongside former teammate Mark McVeigh, is a ‘serious contender’ for his old job.

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