Certified Legendary Thread Alastair Clarksons.

[lockheed]

It is hard to imagine Comben going from 1 game at the age of 20 to dominating with one pre-season. He is about 2-3 years behind Larkey before he had good consistent output.

Riewoldt is fairly mobile, in terms of defensive pressure and tacking inside the forward 50 he would be top 2 amongst our forwards, he would be around Ziebell/Zurhaar in terms of that forward 50 pressure. He would also draw one of the better defenders off Larkey or stop them sagging off to crowd him.

It could work out well, could not. We don't have much experience or leadership up there, what we have is Ziebell, still seems a bit chaotic how our forward line operates.

Riewoldt as forward development coach - brilliant. If Comben is starring in the VFL but there isn't a spot for him in the seniors - less so.

Hopefully we get a competent, experienced coach this time around, and everything else will fall into place.

 

[Shermanator]

100%, have to throw the cheque book at him

And then throw the war chest at him too..

 

[lockheed]

Even the most skeptical would have to concede that we’d forever be wondering “what if?” if we didn’t take the chance and get Clarko while we can.

Is it about the risk? He’s probably the least risky of all of the options available at the moment TBH. Even if the experiment proves not as successful as hoped, the reignited interest in our club will make up for it and I believe we’ll become a destination club in terms of players, staff and fans.
It’s almost a bigger risk not to appoint an experienced big name at this point and of those available, IMO Clarkson is the best.

It feels like the stars have aligned and the time is right. Where else can he go in Melbourne?

I feel like some gossip-merchants and lie-peddlers in the media don’t want it to happen, so some of them take it off of the table at every possibility. But we have to rise above that and look at the facts. We’re an AFL club too with every right to pursue the best names out there. If these journalists are so worried about our longevity in Melbourne, wouldn’t they WANT us to bring in the biggest names possible? Wouldn’t they WANT us to make our viability bullet-proof in any way possible?

So is their concern genuine? I doubt it. Are some of them death-riding us out? You betcha. Even if it’s death by a thousand non-mentions, they are.

But we’ve always thrived in that. And the unsociable Clarko does too. With his own detractors (including Kennett) questioning him at every turn, his back was against the wall and he exceeded expectations every chance he got.

As have we.

If it’s a shinboner we’re looking for, he’s a hand in a ******** GLOVE.

People say he wouldn’t want our list/situation and would want to walk into another club ripe for a flag. I’ve said it before and want to put it out there again - I believe he’d see coaching North to a powerhouse again as the biggest challenge out there. If he pulls it off and takes us to a flag, he’s the best ever.

If he’s still got the “hunger”, I don’t think there’s a more satisfying “meal” out there than that.

And he’s mentioned us. For what it’s worth, whatever it is, he did. Unprompted, talked up our players (young and old) and literally said he’d coach us in particular.

We’ve gotta go for him. We just have to. We can’t go another 20 years down the track, peaking at 4th but never being a realistic chance of a flag, wondering why we didn’t.

Those who don’t entertain it even as a thought, remember- we’re allowed to. We went and got Barassi once, we went and got great players. We’ve had the greatest player of all time at our club for almost 15 years.

We’re a small club with huge history, we’ve always gone hard, dreamed big. We’ve also achieved big. Now we’re debt-free, we will stay in Melbourne.
It’s time to get back on the map on the field through the footy department.

The past three or four years have been hard to watch, but how much joy has NMFC given us over the years? How awesome is this club?

It’s time.
Believe.

If it was my decision, I'd offer Clarkson the option to apply for the Tasmanian coaching position when it became available, assuming that Tasmania is granted a licence. If Clarkson chooses this option, the Board will appoint a successor who will then do an apprenticeship under Clarkson; Clarkson then gets two chances to enhance his reputation.

 

[lockheed]

The sentiment from both Lewis & Hodge, who would know him better then most, is that without the proper support around him, even Clarkson will fail at North.

Getting his signature is only half the battle in turning us around. The board who has shown how incompetent it is in recent years, need to steer clear of this idea that signing the "savior" is going to fix all our issues.

I'm not sure whether I'm a fan or critic of the Board, but they got a supposed coaching legend to oversee the recruitment process for the coach, and picked a rookie coach who had a great reputation in the industry. Roos hung around to mentor for a year, and presumably to help put together a coaching structure to support Noble. The response was overwhelmingly positive when the appointment was announced.

It hasn't worked out well, but I'm not sure what they could have done better.

 

[Devington]

I'm not sure whether I'm a fan or critic of the Board, but they got a supposed coaching legend to oversee the recruitment process for the coach, and picked a rookie coach who had a great reputation in the industry. Roos hung around to mentor for a year, and presumably to help put together a coaching structure to support Noble. The response was overwhelmingly positive when the appointment was announced.

It hasn't worked out well, but I'm not sure what they could have done better.

Forced Roos at gunpoint to honour his contract.

 

[bennymate]

 

[Harris 10]

If it was my decision, I'd offer Clarkson the option to apply for the Tasmanian coaching position when it became available, assuming that Tasmania is granted a licence. In these circumstances, the Board will appoint a successor who will then do an apprenticeship under Clarkson; Clarkson then gets two chances to enhance his reputation.

He’s all in or don’t bother.

 

[So You Think]

I'm not sure whether I'm a fan or critic of the Board, but they got a supposed coaching legend to oversee the recruitment process for the coach, and picked a rookie coach who had a great reputation in the industry. Roos hung around to mentor for a year, and presumably to help put together a coaching structure to support Noble. The response was overwhelmingly positive when the appointment was announced.

It hasn't worked out well, but I'm not sure what they could have done better.

If it is true that Noble lost the playing group and the footy dept in such a short time then this is a selection shortfall on our part. Noble's personality traits surely would have been well known after being in the industry for so long.

I understand that it would have been difficult to not accept the Roos recommendation though, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

[tazaa]

Can you see Clarko at North Melbourne? 5:50 in

Luke Hodge in the studio (13.7.22)

Luke Hodge joined Gerard from the Brisbane studio to explain why David Noble was "set up for failure" at North Melbourne, and to discuss Alastair Clarkson's chances of heading to the Kangaroos, Stuart Dew's interesting message to his players at half time, Brisbane's struggles recently, Carlton...

player.whooshkaa.com

Interesting call Hodge makes about how staff were/are treated post Covid. I reckon Dany Daley maybe had a word to him when he was axed and went to Brisbane? Josh Drummond too? Maybe even Nobles himself.
I know we’re hellbent on turning a profit so the AFL and media don’t come after us and eradicating the debt was a nonnegotiable, but the football department can no longer be neglected.
We need to give our staff and coaches confidence that the plan we sell to them is one they will be there right the way through for. No cuts or setbacks or tweaks. Let the people do their job so the players can do theirs on the field.
This is an issue which seems synonymous with Buckley but moreso Amarfios tenure. Hence why Clarko coming probably doesn’t want to work with an executive board that cuts and guts when things go wrong.

 

[Spud11]

If it was my decision, I'd offer Clarkson the option to apply for the Tasmanian coaching position when it became available, assuming that Tasmania is granted a licence. If Clarkson chooses this option, the Board will appoint a successor who will then do an apprenticeship under Clarkson; Clarkson then gets two chances to enhance his reputation.

I see where you’re going with that, but to me he’s either all in with us to take us to the promised land and become a legend of our club and THE GOAT…

… or nothing.

 

[Lavy_Panther]

Interesting call Hodge makes about how staff were/are treated post Covid. I reckon Dany Daley maybe had a word to him when he was axed and went to Brisbane? Josh Drummond too? Maybe even Nobles himself.
I know we’re hellbent on turning a profit so the AFL and media don’t come after us and eradicating the debt was a nonnegotiable, but the football department can no longer be neglected.
We need to give our staff and coaches confidence that the plan we sell to them is one they will be there right the way through for. No cuts or setbacks or tweaks. Let the people do their job so the players can do theirs on the field.
This is an issue which seems synonymous with Buckley but moreso Amarfios tenure. Hence why Clarko coming probably doesn’t want to work with an executive board that cuts and guts when things go wrong.

What makes you think the football department is neglected? All clubs were forced to chop up/restructure their football departments post-COVID due to the cuts to the soft cap. In the presser the other day Amarfio made it clear that the club spends 100% of the soft cap and have no plans to change that. Is your recommendation that the club pays the football dept. staff less but get more people?

I do note that the AFL have announced that they will increase that soft cap by $750k over the next couple of years. Will be interesting to see how we use that.

 

[Frank Thring]

I like- Kayne Turners signs with Nar Nar Goon as an FA and we get pick #2 compo- Yes or no?

1

Jai Newcombe midfield focus point. McGuinness tagging the oppo's most dangerous outside player. Dylan Moore rotating through the midfield, having a career best year. DGB taking actual key forwards. Josh Ward rotating from back thru the guts. Ned Reeves in the ruck.

Lewis and Kosi pushing Gunston out as focal point (compared to 2020, Jack wasn't available for 2021).

There's a reason Clarko hand picked Mitchell as his replacement, because he's a jet of a coach.

Kosi and Lewis are playing the same positions as per last year, Newcombe was drafted under Clarko and played immediately in the midfield. Reeves when not injured was being played by Clarko. Josh Ward, hardly playing a key role.

 

[Zebrah]

The hesitation from Hodge and Lewis was more about Clarkson than us.

Hodge said he is difficult to deal with, needs to know his place, can’t get everything he wants.

A couple of red flags. I am sure the pros outweigh the cons, but buyer beware based on that and Clarkson’s messy exit.

 

[shintemaster]

And then throw the war chest at him too..

And then throw a brick at him - keep him on his toes and make sure he knows we mean business.

 

[imtheduck]

I think Clarkson signs at GWS, I remember him saying in an interview how well structured they are off the field, something very important to him. Had a meeting with McCartney last week and then off to Hong Kong with a decision likely already made.

 

[FlyHigh18]

The hesitation from Hodge and Lewis was more about Clarkson than us.

Hodge said he is difficult to deal with, needs to know his place, can’t get everything he wants.

A couple of red flags. I am sure the pros outweigh the cons, but buyer beware based on that and Clarkson’s messy exit.

This now adds to the comments from King and Carey wanting Ross Lyon over Clarkson.

Some would like to believe it's a red herring, but it's way more simply than that. These are knowledgeable ppl who don't want the bloke at out club and hinting as such.

Only thing i have no idea why

 

[imtheduck]

This now adds to the comments from King and Carey wanting Ross Lyon over Clarkson.

Some would like to believe it's a red herring, but it's way more simply than that. These are knowledgeable ppl who don't want the bloke at out club and hinting as such.

Only thing i have no idea why

Duck has never liked Clarko for some reason, maybe he refuses to believe that such a mediocre player (who he played with) could become one of the greatest coaches ever

 

[King Corey]

Where are you seeing the vibe of Carey disliking Clarkson? Have never picked up on that.

Fwiw I though Clarkson was a decent player. Probably should've won Melbourne's 1996 B&F.

 

[Tas]

Interesting call Hodge makes about how staff were/are treated post Covid. I reckon Dany Daley maybe had a word to him when he was axed and went to Brisbane? Josh Drummond too? Maybe even Nobles himself.
I know we’re hellbent on turning a profit so the AFL and media don’t come after us and eradicating the debt was a nonnegotiable, but the football department can no longer be neglected.
We need to give our staff and coaches confidence that the plan we sell to them is one they will be there right the way through for. No cuts or setbacks or tweaks. Let the people do their job so the players can do theirs on the field.
This is an issue which seems synonymous with Buckley but moreso Amarfios tenure. Hence why Clarko coming probably doesn’t want to work with an executive board that cuts and guts when things go wrong.

Outside of the first couple of years of Brad's time, we have spent more than some fat cats on the football department and we now spend the soft cap. The problem isn't so much do we spend enough, it is where does it go.

 

[Cyber_punk]

Duck has never liked Clarko for some reason, maybe he refuses to believe that such a mediocre player (who he played with) could become one of the greatest coaches ever

Medicore players often make the best coaches for some odd reason. While the greats onfield are less than stellar in the coaches box. A few exceptions, but that's the general trend.

 

[The acurate one]

I will never try and besmirch a coach who is rated highly.

What is he rated for? Park the flags for a tick. His last 3 seasons he had roughly a 33% W/L record.

Did he forget how to coach? Or was his mind elsewhere?

Pagan was a terrific coach, " right today we're going to mix it up- I want you to kick it to Carey lol, was joking boys . see ya's all around 5 pm.

At the Blues he had a five year stint for a 25% win record

Did he forget how to coach as well?


Now as much as landing an Al would look great on many levels I'm thinking he wouldn't be our best bet.
I'd rather Lyon or Pike purely from a tactical POV.
Which I think we need.

I won't be crying should we land Al, quietly I'll be relieved if we don't.

 

[r_boy]

I will never try and besmirch a coach who is rated highly.

What is he rated for? Park the flags for a tick. His last 3 seasons he had roughly a 33% W/L record.

Did he forget how to coach? Or was his mind elsewhere?

Pagan was a terrific coach, " right today we're going to mix it up- I want you to kick it to Carey lol, was joking boys . see ya's all around 5 pm.

At the Blues he had a five year stint for a 25% win record

Did he forget how to coach as well?


Now as much as landing an Al would look great on many levels I'm thinking he wouldn't be our best bet.
I'd rather Lyon or Pike purely from a tactical POV.
Which I think we need.

I won't be crying should we land Al, quietly I'll be relieved if we don't.

Why would you be relieved?

 

[Grogg]

If you're talking tactics, it was Clarkson who came up with an antidote to the best ever modern footy side I've seen in Geelong.

Anybody who can nut out a gameplan, be able to teach that plan & stop a juggernaught in full flight is a ****ing wizard.

It's all about the fire with him. If he's got it & he wants us, it's a total no brainer.

He aint just a firey little angry ant (which he totally is), he's also a brilliant teacher.

Exactly what we need.

 

[The acurate one]

Why would you be relieved?

I just don't have a great feeling about Clarko is all. As to him being the right fit. More of a gut feeling, I trust my gut.

 

[The Dingrel]

The hesitation from Hodge and Lewis was more about Clarkson than us.

Hodge said he is difficult to deal with, needs to know his place, can’t get everything he wants.

A couple of red flags. I am sure the pros outweigh the cons, but buyer beware based on that and Clarkson’s messy exit.

yeah its a good point,,,,perhaps he needed a strong figurehead like an outspoken former state premier to keep him in check.