A fresh and revitalised Alastair Clarkson will enter a season at the helm of the Kangaroos for the first time without the Hawthorn racism saga hanging over his head, finally confident that the team’s lowest point is behind them.
Clarkson took a break for much of 2023 due to the toll the saga (an investigation into historical claims of racism from a group of former players found no adverse findings against Clarkson, who denied wrongdoing) was taking on his health and wellbeing, and the Kangaroos then lost their first 11 matches last season by an average margin of 52 points.
It tested the mettle of the four-time premiership coach, who spent very few of his 17 seasons at Hawthorn leading a side that was out of contention.
Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson is ready to go after several years spent laying the foundations for success at Arden Street.Credit: Getty Images
“[You are] in the midst of winning regular finals and big games, and then you get in the position where it just seems like you can’t do that at the minute – it’s just like ‘gawd’,” Clarkson said.
He said that although those at the club knew positive steps were being made in the background to provide the stability necessary for success, selling that message had been hard. But Clarkson hopes those days are now behind the team.
“Who can ever put an exact figure on how many games you are going to win? But what we would expect is that we can compete for longer,” he said. “Teams are going to know we are not going to be an easy rollover.”
Luke Davies-Uniacke shapes as a key re-signing at the Kangaroos. Credit: Getty Images
The Kangaroos have copped criticism for a range of matters, including selling home games to play in Perth in the middle of the year, drafting midfielders rather than talls (until they traded into the first round of last year’s draft to grab Matt Whitlock), and receiving draft assistance – but none of that worries Clarkson.
He said he knew when he signed up to coach the club he played with for nine years between 1987 and 1995– and was joined by trusted lieutenants Todd Viney, Cam Matthews and Damian Monkhorst – that the path was going to be rocky.
“You get involved in this game because of the journey and the challenge, and knowing full well there are going to be some hard yards,” Clarkson said. “If you don’t want hard yards, or you want to shy away from it, then don’t get involved in AFL footy. I knew that from the get go … it was the drawing card to get back to North.”
Now Clarkson has to get the team winning for recent history to fade in the memory, and also to increase their prospects of hanging on to forever-improving midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke, who is a restricted free agent and attracting interest from other clubs, including St Kilda.
Although Clarkson said publicly it’s “not the end of the world” if Davies-Uniacke leaves, he has made it clear to the 25-year-old that he hopes he accepts the seven-year deal the Kangaroos have tabled.
“I told him what I had said and that I can’t be blowing too much wind up your backside,” Clarkson said.
“We want you to stay, you know that, but having said that, we also have to be prepared there is a chance you don’t stay, so if you don’t, you get on with it, and we get on with it.
“If he chooses to go, we will be disappointed, but it’s not the end of the world.”
“Getting on with it” has always been the mantra underpinning Clarkson’s outlook as he prepares for another season of battle.
The next generation of Kangaroos, from left: Colby McKercher, Zane Duursma, Finn O’Sullivan, George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel on draft night. O’Sullivan will make his debut in round one. Credit: Getty Images
Number two draft pick Finn O’Sullivan will debut in round one alongside a trio of premiership players recruited from other clubs – Luke Parker, Jack Darling and Caleb Daniel.
Competition for time in North Melbourne’s midfield is heating up and Clarkson is praying for his tall defenders to stay injury free.
The sharing of time in the midfield will be intriguing, with North skipper Jy Simpkin showing his class in the middle in the Indigenous All-Stars game. He is likely, however, to spend as much time at half-forward as in the centre bounce with the Kangaroos.
Clarkson said the midfield would be most effective if players rotated through from on the ball to half-forward, the wing and half-back.
“That is what we are going to need to do with our midfield at North, because if we just leave it to three or four guys in there to do the bulk of the work, they will be good players for us but there will be three or four really, really highly rated players that end up sitting on the interchange bench for extended periods, or [the] emergency list or not even playing,” Clarkson said.
Simpkin is likely to spend time at half-forward, with the midfielders expected to be versatile enough to play outside the square.
Harry Sheezel, Simpkin, O’Sullivan, Davies-Uniacke, Tom Powell, Colby McKercher, Will Phillips, Bailey Scott, Daniel, Dylan Stephens, Parker and, when fit, George Wardlaw could all be part of the rotation.
“Ultimately, that sense of team and that selflessness, and that sharing of the load, is what won Hawthorn premierships and [we need] to indoctrinate that at North Melbourne, where there is a similar type of depth of midfield – albeit [one that is] very, very young,” Clarkson said.
Clarkson revealed that Darling may have to shoulder some of the ruckwork to give Tristan Xerri support, while Parker and Daniel’s leadership would be crucial.
“We haven’t recruited them solely for their leadership and guidance, although that was a key part of our strategy in getting those guys there,” Clarkson said.
The main focus will be on the older and younger players on the list, but Clarkson believes improvement from the middle tier of players, who have proved themselves to be good enough without dominating, will make a big difference.
He referenced Paul Curtis, Jackson Archer, Powell, Phillips and defender Charlie Comben as the ones to watch from that perspective.
Comben’s growth as a defender is critical as he plays in an area of the ground where North Melbourne are vulnerable. Clarkson believes in the names on the board in defensive roles, but he needs them to stay healthy.
Griffin Logue played well in his two-game return from a knee reconstruction before hurting his wrist. Corr and Comben have battled injury and Luke McDonald was underdone after a torn hamstring ruined last year’s pre-season. There are high hopes for inexperienced defenders Josh Goater and Riley Hardeman.
Clarkson said 22 players had rolled through the defence in the past two seasons – an indication of how unstable the team was in that part of the ground.
“We have been a little bit hamstrung in that area of the ground in the past couple of years, just with lack of continuity,” he said.
“A lot of these lads have not done a lot of training and certainly haven’t played together. I have been waiting for the opportunity for these guys to get some continuity in their football and the synergy of playing together.
“I am hoping like hell we might get a bit of a run of it at the back end this year.”
Getting a clear run at it is all Clarkson has sought at the Kangaroos. And now he has it, the club is at full-strength as they attempt to move back up the ladder.
“We still have a hell of a lot of work [ahead],” Clarkson said. “We just have to roll our sleeves up and get to work together.”
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