Alastair Clarkson has left the Kangaroos in a massive AFL bombshell.
The club confirmed on Wednesday morning it has “decided to part ways” with the veteran coach.
Channel 7 journalist Tom Morris reports Clarkson was sacked.
According to the club, the decision was made after a consultation period with football department staff and players at the conclusion of the AFL premiership season.
“We asked Alastair to give our club stability and strength and help return us to the top of the AFL ladder,” Kangaroos president Dr Sonja Hood said.
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“Four years later, we have created an environment where our staff and players want to be at our club. This is a testament to the culture Alastair has helped create and the belief that he has built in this group.
“Although we have clearly made progress and won more games, we won’t shy away from our desire to want more from this talented group.
“We are incredibly grateful to Alastair for the work he’s done over the last four years and we wish him all the very best for his next chapter.”
The former Hawthorn premiership coach arrived at the Kangaroos spruiked as the man to pull North Melbourne out of an era of failure — but his tenure is ending with the club still in disarray.
Clarkson won 20 games during his four seasons in charge at North Melbourne, with his team recording nine victories in 2026, falling short of the wildcard round and finals.
North Melbourne players reportedly learned of the news when summoned to an emergency meeting at club headquarters from 11.30am.
According to SEN journalist Sam Edmund, staff from across all departments of the club were summoned to attend.
Multiple players were spotted arriving at Club HQ before the news of Clarkson’s departure was first reported.
The 58-year-old was heading into the final year of a monster five-year contract which reportedly made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the game.
While North Melbourne has shown signs it has the potential to climb the ladder, the club is now back at square one as it heads into the AFL Trade Period without a senior coach.
Clarkson has been under pressure in recent weeks with the club falling apart in the second half of the season.
The Roos won just one of their final eight games and finished the season with a 53-point loss to the Swans, who played without the so-called “Pullman Five”.
North will be the third AFL club to appoint a new coach in 2026 after Mark McVeigh was appointed as Brad Scott’s successor at Essendon and Josh Fraser was elevated from interim to head coach at Carlton following Michael Voss’ sacking earlier this year.
Premiership coaches — and North Melbourne cult figures — John Longmire and Adam Simpson do not have senior coaching positions heading into 2027 and are the obvious candidates to replace Clarkson.
The club said in a statement on Wednesday it will now begin a “process” to recruit its next senior coach.
Hood and football operations boss Todd Viney will front the press at 2pm.
North Melbourne’s AFLW team face St Kilda on Saturday.
More to come…
Originally published as AFL premiership coach Alastair Clarkson leaves North Melbourne