Alastair Clarkson explains why he chose North Melbourne over Essendon and GWS, saying ‘the timing wasn’t right’
Alastair Clarkson has revealed why he chose North Melbourne over Essendon and GWS, saying the Bombers’ offer arrived too late.
The four-time championship winner signed a five-year agreement with North Melbourne on Friday, a year after leaving Hawthorn following 17 seasons.
The 54-year-old had been associated with many AFL coaching positions, and Essendon made an 11th-hour push to entice him to Tullamarine. He ultimately opted to return to the club where he made his playing debut in 1987.
Alastair Clarkson told Fox Footy why he rejected GWS and Essendon.
The former Hawks coach said the Bombers’ offer came too late on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
He stated he spoke briefly with Bombers president Dave Barham.
For me, the entire process of trying to conduct due diligence for them on me on them as well as me on the club and determine whether we were a good fit took three, four, five, or six weeks.
While it was great that the Bombers indicated interest, the process took place over four days, of which I spent two in Adelaide and was unable to communicate with Essendon in any meaningful way.
On Friday afternoon, the 54-year-old was chosen to lead the Kangaroos.
Clarkson agreed to a five-year contract to join the team where his playing career had started in 1987.
“It was rushed. To be fair, the time wasn’t ideal and I was just too far along in the GWS and North Melbourne processes.
In addition, Clarkson admitted that transferring his family to Sydney to take over GWS ‘did not fit’ due to practical concerns.
In Brisbane, one of Clarkson’s daughters resides, and his son might move to the Northern Territory the next year.
The decision to move to Sydney would have required Clarkson to live apart from his second daughter, who is now a resident of Melbourne. Clarkson was not ready to make this choice.
Clarkson said he spoke with Essendon president David Barham for a little period of time, but he added that the Bombers’ offer came too late in his opinion.
The 54-year-old did, however, acknowledge that the Giants executives he spoke with had a lasting impression on him.
He remarked, “They [the Giants] have some great optimism about how they are going to approach it.”
Up until last Tuesday, when my manager and I notified GWS that it would simply not work for us owing to family obligations, both [the Kangaroos and GWS] seemed very genuine.
“Up until that call from Essendon, it was looking like it was going to be North at that point.”
Ben Rutten was fired by Essendon on Sunday after the club finished 15th with a 7-15 record this year.
After only two seasons in charge, the Bombers sacked Ben Rutten on Sunday. The 39-year-old paid the price after a poor season that saw Essendon finish 15th on the ladder with a 7-15 record.
Barham acknowledged that the board did not make the decision to fire Rutten, who won 17 of his 44 games as coach and guided the Bombers to an unexpected finals trip last season, lightly and that the team wants an accomplished coach to take his position.
The Herald Sun reports that Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, his West Coast counterpart Adam Simpson, former St. Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon, and former Adelaide manager Don Pyke are among candidates for the position.
James Hird, a legendary Essendon player and coach who led the Bombers to two premierships between 2011 and 2015, is another contender.
Recommended
- Rabiot ‘thinks he’ll start in United’s poor midfield’
- Erling Haaland visits Marbella after City beat Bournemouth.
- What amount? With Wolves, Nottingham Forest “reaches agreement to sign Morgan Gibbs-White for £44.5 million.”