North Melbourne Parts Ways With Coach Alastair Clarkson
The Kangaroos ended Clarkson's tenure a year early after four seasons without a finals appearance, with a reported $1 million payout owed.
The Departure
North Melbourne has parted ways with senior coach Alastair Clarkson after four seasons in charge of the Australian Football League club.
Clarkson was contracted at the Kangaroos until 2027, but the club chose to end his tenure early. Nine.com.au reported that North Melbourne will have to pay out his 2027 salary, which The Age put at about $1 million.
According to Nine.com.au, players and staff were called to the club's Arden Street headquarters on Wednesday for an emergency, unscheduled meeting. The ABC reported the same base facts of the split without describing that meeting.
The Record at Arden Street
Under Clarkson, North Melbourne won 20 of their 82 AFL matches, including nine this season. He took over after the club collected back-to-back wooden spoons, the label given to the team that finishes last, in 2021 and 2022, having also finished second-last in 2020.
Nine.com.au reported that since Clarkson took the reins in 2023, the team finished 17th twice and 16th last year. The 2026 season was the club's best under him and its most successful since 2019, with a 14th-place finish from nine wins and 14 losses.
The Kangaroos have not played finals in a decade. Their last run came under Brad Scott, with consecutive preliminary finals in 2014 and 2015 and an elimination final in 2016.
Statement and Succession
Club president Sonja Hood said North Melbourne asked Clarkson to give the club stability and strength and help return it to the top of the AFL ladder.
"Four years later, we have created an environment where our staff and players want to be at our club," Hood said. "Although we have clearly made progress and won more games, we won't shy away from our desire to want more from this talented group."
Clarkson, 58, previously coached Hawthorn to four premierships and is regarded by Nine.com.au as one of the best AFL coaches of the century. Nine.com.au listed John Longmire and Adam Simpson, premiership coaches with Sydney and West Coast who both played for North Melbourne, as options on the market, and noted James Hird missed out on the Essendon job last week and said clubs had contacted him. The club has not named a replacement.
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