Could the investigation into Hawthorn’s treatment of First Nations players during its golden run under Alastair Clarkson have an impact on rival clubs this trade period?
Both Clarkson, who recently signed a five-year deal with North Melbourne, and ex-Hawks footy boss turned Brisbane coach Chris Fagan are at the centre of the damning allegations, having been stood down by their respective clubs throughout the exteneral probe launched by the AFL despite the duo denying any wrongdoing.
It comes as the Kangaroos have been linked to several players from rival clubs including Fremantle pair Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker and St Kilda duo Bradley Hill and Hunter Clark ahead of the trade period under a bold recruitment drive under Clarkson.
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However former Adelaide and Geelong forward Josh Jenkins questioned how the unravelling situation at the Hawks given could affect North Melbourne’s bid for such targets – as well as its current players who were nearing new deals – amid uncertainty around Clarkson’s future.
“All of their eggs are in his (Clarkson’s) basket. They don’t have a CEO, they don’t have much of a recruiting department, they let go of around half their assistant coaches,” Jenkins said on AFL Trade Radio.
“The most interesting part for me – and this will be one to watch over the trade period – are the players that either recommitted largely due to the fact that Alastair Clarkson was to be the coach, or some who have said they want to come to North Melbourne because Clarkson will be the coach.
“If I’m in that situation and I’ve recommitted because of Clarkson, you never recommit because of one thing, it’s a whole heap of things that fit together. But if one of the major reasons was Clarkson, you’re giving serious thoughts about if there is an ability to back out, you just are.
“I don’t know what mechanisms there may be for the players it’s a really unique situation, and we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves with that. But if we did go down that path, it would be a big watch.
“It’s a curveball – that hopefully doesn’t – but could really knock them for six.”
Jenkins also implored Essendon to get an answer from AFL football operations Brad Scott as the Bombers search for their next senior coach given doubts round North and Brisbane’s positions.
Melbourne assistant Adam Yze is considered the frontrunner for the Bombers role, while Scott is still weighing up whether he’ll throw his name into the mix.
“They need to find out (Scott’s plans), they need to get to work,” Jenkins said of Essendon’s coaching search.
“We know what’s also bubbling away elsewhere with the Kangaroos and Brisbane. There’s a potential that either neither will need a coach or both will need a coach.
“So Essendon may have two more competitors for a coach all of a sudden. The (coaching) pool already feels relatively thin. There’s only really a few names being thrown up.
“If there are three clubs all of a sudden needing a coach, then it gets a lot more serious for Essendon.
Scott coached North Melbourne in 211 games from 2010 to 2019 including in consecutive preliminary finals appearances.
