Alastair Clarkson's return sparks 'disconnect' claims at North Melbourne

What should be an empowering moment for Alastair Clarkson and North Melbourne has ended up raising further questions about the struggling AFL club's direction, in the wake of the head coach announcing his return from an indefinite leave of absence to coach once again in 2023. The AFL word was left somewhat confused by Clarkson's announcement on Wednesday that he would be making a comeback to the coaches' box in the round 21 clash against Melbourne, just a day after suggesting it would be 'disrespectful' of him to do so following his lengthy absence.

While the return of Clarkson has been welcomed by North Melbourne, many AFL observers have been left confused by the way it played out. The Kangaroos will no doubt be hoping the return of Clarkson can spark some progress, in a season in which they haven't won a game since their round two triumph over Fremantle.

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While no AFL commentators were critical of Clarkson's decision to step away, which came amid the ongoing Hawthorn racism saga, the circumstances of his return have certainly raised some eyebrows. North Melbourne head of football Todd Viney sought to clarify the situation on Thursday, suggesting Clarkson had been reluctant to give the impression his return would run roughshod over the work carried out by the likes of interim coach Brett Ratten.

“We’ve had this not in ink but in pencil for a period of time. I think he was mindful of coming to the environment for the first time and didn’t want to be seen bulldozing his way through,” Viney said. He also added that part of the confusion from Clarkson's earlier statements stemmed from the fact that he was 'gun-shy' about announcing his comeback.

However the likes of AFL 360's Mark Robinson and Footy Classified's Damian Barrett were still left feeling like it was a less than smooth transition, despite the fact Ratten will still be at the helm for the fortnight to come. Robinson said the club and Clarkson had every right to bring the former premiership coach back into the fold with no hesitation.

“From the Kangaroos’ point of view, they can look at him and say, ‘hey buddy, we’re paying you a million bucks, we need ya! We’ve lost all these games in a row. Can you come back? We’ve got to try and start next year this year with you’," he said.

“Two days ago he said he might not be back and 24 hours later he’s back in two weeks’ time! I also understand why he says I’ve been away for 13 weeks, I’m not walking back in and saying ‘right bang, bang, bang’. Maybe North Melbourne said ‘you have to, you’re the senior coach’.”

Alastair Clarkson's return sparks confusion among AFL commentators

Over on Channel 9, Barrett was somewhat more critical of the latest turn of events. He said the confusion was symptomatic of a 'disconnect' between coach and club that has reared its head several times in Clarkson's relatively short tenure.

“Not for the first time in Alastair Clarkson’s short time at North Melbourne, there’s been a disconnect with what he’s said and what the club has thought he was going to say in advance,” he said. "For Alastair to say and put it out there that he may not (return this season), was certainly contrasting and conflicting with what conversations they’d had as a club and with Alastair.

“There’s no suggestion he’s been forced to come back in this time frame. It’s been a gradual return. They’ve mopped it up today and it’s not the first time they’ve had to mop up a public statement."

Co-host Matthew Lloyd questioned whether the Kangaroos had leaned on Clarkson to return perhaps sooner than he'd have liked, while Gerard Whateley labelled it an 'awkward situation', questioning what the overall benefit would be if Clarkson was still unsure whether he was committed to a return.

"We're so pleased that Alastair can return to the role of senior coach," North Melbourne chief executive Jennifer Watt said. "The time away was critical for Alastair to address his physical and mental health and it's obvious to everyone that he's hungry and ready to resume his place as our senior coach.

"Alastair, and indeed the whole club, has been incredibly grateful to Brett Ratten and the entire coaching group, for stepping up in his absence. We have been very purposeful with Alastair's return and integration back into the program to ensure a seamless transition for our playing group and to provide Alastair with the time to reacquaint himself with both the game and the program."

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