AFL 2025: North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson expects response from disappointed Roos

North Melbourne is desperate to “atone” its disappointing drop off against Gold Coast last week and will do so with the addition of a top draft pick.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson is expecting a fierce response from the Roos against Carlton on Friday after a “disappointing fade out” last weekend.

The Roos led an undefeated Gold Coast by a goal in the shadows of three-quarter time but fell away to eventually suffer yet another heavy defeat, a fourth loss in five games this season.

Clarkson has been questioned about his capacity to lift the Kangaroos out of the bottom reaches of the ladder where they have resided for too long.

He said there was enough in the early effort against the Sunns to be hopeful declaring players had pulled up 100 per cent from the steamy conditions and were “keen to atone” the loss.

“They’re hungry to atone a pretty disappointing fade out in the last 40 minutes of the game,” he said.

George Wardlaw is back for the Kangaroos (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“You know six minutes to go in the third quarter we’re six points in front last weekend, to lose that by 50 points or thereabouts is really disappointing.

“They’re pretty keen to atone that and they’ve pulled up pretty fresh, we’re expecting our boys will be able to go 100 per cent.

“If it’s going to be hot again tomorrow, we’ve just got to deal with it, we didn’t deal with it well in the last part of the game last week, we’re hoping with those experiences we’ll get better over time.”

Leading a hungry North Melbourne will be top pick George Wardlaw, who is set to play his first game of the season.

Clarkson says the Roos will manage Wardlaw’s minutes but won’t be able to hold the young bull back when he’s on the field.

“George will unleash himself, there’s no question about that,” he said.

Alastair Clarkson, Senior Coach of the Kangaroos (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“We probably need to have a little harness on him, not when he is on the ground but a harness in terms of the amount of game time he has.

“He’s had a really good conditioning block over the last four weeks and that has captured two games of footy in the reserves.

“We feel he is well prepared to but there’s always a big step up in level of intensity from one level to the next and we understand that.

“Our conditioning staff and George himself reckon they’re ready to play, so we back them in and let the lad get to work.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson expects response from disappointed Roos