North Melbourne boss details Alastair Clarkson's next move after AFL bombshell

North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood says head coach Alastair Clarkson will continue to take a leave of absence in the wake of the AFL's independent investigation into allegations stemming from the Hawthorn Football Club coming to an end. Clarkson stepped down from the head coaching role earlier in May, citing the stress of the then-ongoing investigation as part of the reason for his decision.

Assistant coach Brett Ratten has taken over in the interim, with Dr Hood saying on Thursday that the Kangaroos were happy for Clarkson to take as much time as he needed to focus on his personal wellbeing. In an announcement on Tuesday evening, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said no adverse findings had been made against Clarkson, nor Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan or former Hawks official Jason Burt.

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Dr Hood acknowledged the entire process had ultimately done harm to all involved, including First Nations players who had initially made the allegations. However she said the club's faith in Clarkson had been justified, having chosen to stand by their recently-hired coach when the allegations first surfaced in the lead-up to the 2022 grand final.

She added that the club's discussions with Clarkson, as well as many of his former players, including First Nations players, had left them feeling confident about the former Hawthorn coach's position. She described the outcome on Tuesday evening as 'a long time coming'.

“In terms of Alastair’s situation, I am pleased but not surprised that the independent panel cleared him of the allegations of wrongdoing,” Dr Hood wrote in a letter to North Melbourne members.

“Having heard Alastair’s story, spoken to many of his past players (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) and colleagues, and had a chance to review the documentation presented to the independent panel (much of it as late as last week), this is a just outcome, albeit one that was a long time coming.

“The past eight months have taken a huge toll on Alastair and he has been remarkably stoic. He has remained loyal to the process throughout despite having been denied natural justice for so long.

“For now, he will remain away from the club as he looks to get his own physical and mental health in order. We’re happy for him to take as much time away as he feels is necessary.”

North Melbourne backs Clarkson as Fagan rips into investigation 'farce'

Clarkson's former assistant coach, now Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan, released a statement of his own soon after the AFL decision to end the investigation was announced. He slammed the entire process, describing the investigation as a 'farce'.

The investigation was first initiated in 2022, after Hawthorn's 'cultural safety review', also known as the Binmada Report, resulted in allegations emerging as a result of an ABC report detailing incidents raised by past First Nations players from the club. McLachlan acknowledged that the situation had been a difficult one for all involved. In the wake of the announcement, Fagan issued a statement of his own saying the process amounted to a 'travesty of justice'.

“I have been in footy for a long time – most of my life,” Fagan’s statement read. “In that time I have had the interests of the welfare of my players as my foremost consideration. I have treated all players with equality and fairness.

“I have always respected the tremendous contribution that First Nations people have made to our game and I respect them greatly. I always have. I always will.

"And I am conscious that this farce of a process cannot have been easy on those First Nations people who were complainants. Those whom I knew, I hold no grudges against and hold only a wish that whatever pain they are suffering can be healed over time.

“These matters are also fully justified. I have always categorically denied all of the allegations against me. The allegations are false. I am completely innocent. I have never deviated from that position as I knew from the beginning that the allegations were false. I have never had my chance to publicise my position on the allegations that the ABC chose to air publicly.

“I have made no concessions. There are none to make. I have always vigorously defended myself, and will always do so, as I have done nothing wrong."

Hawthorn could potentially still be sanctioned under AFL rules, with more to play out 'with respect to the commissioning and oversight' of the Binmada Report, according to the AFL's statement. McLachlan said there were a range of rules Hawthorn could potentially faces sanctions under regarding their handling of the report.

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