Alastair Clarkson says he was ‘blindsided’ and left “humiliated” by North Melbourne after breaking his silence on his shock axing at the Kangaroos. The veteran AFL coach was sacked this week, despite having one year still to remain on his contract as North Melbourne’s head coach.
The Kangaroos won nine games this season to almost double their tally from 2025. But after just 11 victories across Clarkson’s first three seasons at the helm, the four-time premiership-winning former Hawthorn mentor’s tenure ended with 20 wins across six seasons, prompting the North Melbourne board to make the brutal call.
Alastair Clarkson claims he was blindsided and humiliated by North Melbourne after being sacked as head coach with a year remaining on his contract. Pic: Getty
Kangaroos football boss Todd Viney said “gaping holes” in North Melbourne’s game plans had stymied the team’s progress. And club president Dr Sonja Hood said Clarkson “no longer had the belief” of enough people at the club after fronting media on Wednesday to explain the ruthless decision to show him the door.
But Clarkson says it took him completely by shock and had a profound impact on his family. In his first interview since the bombshell axing, the veteran mentor accused the North Melbourne board of a lack of respect and said he feels like his “life’s shot”.
He told The Age: “We’re just shocked, and we just thought we were owed a little bit of respect in being informed and warned. Instead, they chose to dance on my grave like this. Any deficiencies I’ve got – and you know that I’ve got them – to be absolutely blindsided like that. How we all feel to be so publicly humiliated.”
Alastair Clarkson rocked by Kangaroos axing
Clarkson was appointed Kangaroos coach in 2022 amid much fanfare. But he became embroiled in the Hawthorn racism saga later that year, despite eventually being cleared of any wrongdoing. Viney suggested the scars from that saga had not fully healed for the veteran coach and that it had taken an “enormous toll” on Clarkson.
But amid suggestions that his relationships with players and staff at North Melbourne had deteriorated, Clarkson remained bullish. “Is that all my fault, is it?” he asked. “My mantra has never changed, and that has been to have care and empathy to help players chase their dream. I feel like my life’s shot.”
North Melbourne president Sonja Hood (R) said coach Alastair Clarkson (L) had lost the support of figures at the club after explaining his axing. Pic: Getty
Former Kangaroos players and premiership coaches Adam Simpson and John Longmire have emerged as the early frontrunners to succeed Clarkson. But the pair have both indicated they’ll let the dust settle on Clarkson’s sacking before making any potential decisions.
Simpson told SEN radio on Thursday: “I am going to have a good think about it, and whether or not that opportunity presents itself will be determined by others, and not me… I am going to have a good think in the next week, and have a talk to the family and see where that lands. I am sure ‘Horse’ (Longmire) will be the same, and (Fremantle assistant) Jaymie Graham and all the potential coaches.”
with AAP