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.”
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.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
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.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Ah.......of his 90 odd senior games at North - - the London exhibition one doesn't count. His debut game stood out - - kicking the winning (and his third) goal after the siren. Actually his second season - 1988 - he went okay - 34 goals from 19 games including two bags of 4 and another couple of 3's.
IDeals22
Roar Rookie
Yes and at Melbourne he is rumoured to be the one who (brilliantly) infiltrated the player profiles adding some very funny jabs at his team mates. I remember the 'Likes" list of one player's profile included "Looking at myself in the mirror". :laughing: - Loved it!
IDeals22
Roar Rookie
Agreed Bobbo. Hird was a great player but his post-playing decision making indicates a flawed thought process. His inability to accept his fault & learn indicates a flawed character.
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
Hardwick will have to travel. He doesn't like it
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
I think he is sly and always knows what he is saying
George Apps
Roar Rookie
More to the point - how many will want stay!
George Apps
Roar Rookie
ABR - anyone BUT Robbo!
Willow
Roar Rookie
Geelong is regional...not metro Melbourne. Not yet anyway. Despite the collapse of Pyramid Building Society in the late 80's, (former Cat David Clarke one of the central figures), and the closure of the Ford plant, the city of Geelong continues to thrive, so too does the footy club. Their, (G.F.C) wings spread far and wide across south western and central Victoria. They're the only Victorian club not based here in Melbourne.
Willow
Roar Rookie
Didn't he also have a brief stint at Melbourne...as a player? As for his 90-odd games for North Melbourne, only 1 stands out...and for all the wrong reasons. 1987, Lords. He king hit Ian Aitken and broke his jaw. Back in the early 70's, when Barassi took over at Nth, he had the added advantage of the 10 year rule. All of a sudden, the likes of Doug Wade, John Rantall, Barry Davis and Stan Alves jumped on board. No such luck this time around.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Hope is the most important narrative once that is chipped away your left with a once proud club in a awful mess. I see where you are heading Mr Right & your conclusions seem plausible.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
When you say difficult times, what does that specifically mean in relation to Fitzroy. I remember watching the Hawks, Pies, Dons, Carlton, Tigers games on FTA TV every Saturday afternoon from Sydney. They were playing in front of huge crowds. Also, very good crowds for Footscray, Geelong, Melbourne, North etc. The AFL has a lot more resources now than the VFL had back in the 90s. The current TV / Foxtel deal is about $415M a year with a 10% rise next year. Plus, about $20M from Toyota. We didn't get much coverage up here re merger with the bears, but when a traditional Melbourne club is only drawing 10K crowds when there was no TV coverage to most of those games, there is something wrong. Thru my eyes, it would have seemed like they would be sending good money after bad to prop them up?
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Dispense with the wingers at the cucumber oval :laughing:
Chanon
Roar Rookie
It was difficult times in the late 80’s & early 90’s that most likely contributed to the small band of supporters &!the constant barrage of negative media curtailed the positive outlook of Fitzroy Football Club.Lots of missing pieces to the puzzle but the outcome was dreadful for Fitzroy fans the hardcore supporters still feel wronged to this day.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
There will be new clubs north, east or west of Melbourne. Tasmania is the only possibility of a new club. Tasmanians don't want a relocated club so I think all Vic teams are safe. Over the last 10 years, the Swans have averaged >35K crowds for home games. The crowds would be even bigger except that the SCG is not a user friendly to access via public transport. Everyone criticises the Gold Coast efforts, but they will win 2 more games this year than Fitzroy totalled in their last 3 seasons combined. Fitzroy were playing in front of home crowds <10K. What happened to their fans?
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Stop thinking about your words & come out & tell us how you really feel!!
IDeals22
Roar Rookie
When Clarko joined Hawthorne he had a bottom end club, with early draft picks and his new zoning game plan. Steady improvement followed as quality players were drafted and learned his plan. Today that plan is well known - some may say obsolete. It's been replicated, used and now it's old. The question is what will Clarko bring. Is he a one-hit wonder, or will he write another equally brilliant script?
Chanon
Roar Rookie
True Chris feel terribly sorry for poor suffering Fitzroy supporters
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
yes, we don supporters will have different views about Hird coming back.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
not sure a coach would not know what is going on. a decent coach should be all over what is happening on the strength and conditioning.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
it would be weird to follow another team.