AFL 2024: North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson expected to apologise after expletive-laden Jimmy Webster rant
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has apologised for an angry, expletive-laden rant at St Kilda players in the wake of Jimmy Webster’s bump, with the AFL now stepping in.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The AFL has issued Alastair Clarkson with a please explain after it deemed his apology for an expletive-laden rant at St Kilda players was not a sufficient penalty for the league.
Four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson apologised for “inappropriate” and “unnecessary” language on Monday after abusing St Kilda players in the minutes after Jimmy Webster’s bump on Jy Simpkin.
Clarkson was visibly angered by seeing his co-captain Simpkin concussed for the third time since round 12 last year in an incident that will be sent directly to the AFL tribunal on Tuesday.
That incident in the first quarter of the contest occurred on the boundary line with only 60 seconds remaining, as St Kilda and North Melbourne players scuffled before breaking up as Simpkin received medical care.
Clarkson is understood to have told Webster in forceful terms he would receive a lengthy ban, with St Kilda players then firing back in an exchange of words.
Clarkson used the expression “c***sucker” in an explosive exchange of words with players including Dougal Howard.
The AFL will give Clarkson several days to respond but he faces yet another AFL fine in a long list of offences that have often involved abusive language.
Clarkson, whose strike on opponent Ian Aitken sparked the Battle of Britain, has now three times abused a rival player who was involved in an on-field incident that left his player worse for wear.
He abused Essendon star Matthew Lloyd after he collided with Hawks star Brad Sewell and Port Adelaide VFL players who had been involved in a behind-the-play incident with Box Hill player Sam Iles.
Last year Clarkson said after apologising to a Channel 9 reporter over his conduct he would continue to call out “unjust or untoward” behaviour.
On Monday afternoon he said his language was unacceptable.
“I was deeply disturbed seeing our captain Jy Simpkin forced from the field as a result of a heavy collision just before quarter time,” Clarkson said.
“Jy has had a great pre-season and has now had three concussions in 12 months and I was so disappointed to see him leave the field in that way.
“At the quarter-time break, I voiced my displeasure to St Kilda players Jimmy Webster and Dougal Howard as they made their way to the quarter time huddle.
“This was an exchange that was emotional in defence of our captain, but unnecessary and the language I used was inappropriate.
“I have reached out to Ross Lyon and both the St Kilda players to apologise.”
The AFL is yet to comment on whether it will further investigate the incident given Clarkson’s long string of offences.
It came as St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said 30-year-old Webster was “devastated” by the bump after meeting him for coffee on Monday morning.
He said there was “no defence” for the hit.
“He’s really concerned for Jy. Very remorseful but it was a split second action. It’s very difficult. It’s just a very difficult situation. Really concerned for both lads, in particular Jy because it was a very heavy physical contact. Jimmy’s remorseful.“
It continues a nasty aftermath to a horrific incident with Webster’s family posting insensitive messages on private facebook posts about the incident.
Those messages have since been deleted but with Webster likely to contact Simpkin to express his regret only fan the flames in what is another test case for the AFL.
The AFL could ask for a ban of up to eight games for Webster, with the league’s hierarchy including executive football boss Laura Kane and legal boss Stephen Meade likely to have their say.
In a case of such consequence it would not surprise if AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon also weighed in on what the league’s advocate should ask for as a sufficient penalty.
AFL match review officer Michael Christian will likely assess the incident as severe impact given the force at which Webster accelerated into Simpkin.
It is then up to the AFL to decide how many weeks it will request as a suspension at the Tuesday tribunal, with tribunal boss Jeff Gleeson and his jury then open to making their own call.
Clarkson has long let his temper get the better of him, famously putting his hand through the MCG coaching box in fury in 2012.
He had to be held back by his then-football boss Mark Evans as he verbally attacked Essendon’s Matthew Lloyd in 2009 after Lloyd’s high and late bump broke the cheekbone of Hawthorn’s Brad Sewell.
A security guard alleged Clarkson told Lloyd: “You had better f---- retire you f---- weak c---.” Clarkson was hit with a $5000 fine, suspended for two years following the incident.
In 2012 he admitted to swearing at a junior football club official when he was told to leave the ground while organising his son Matthew’s Under-19s team.
“During the conversation with the league official, I used a couple of expletives and I apologise to the official for the language used,” Clarkson said.
In 2013 Clarkson lashed out at AFL reporter Matt Thompson after the journalist asked if he was expecting an easy win for his side in the upcoming game.
He told Thompson his question was foolish then walked off as he called Thompson a “c***head”.
In 2015 Clarkson grabbed a Port Adelaide by the throat briefly as he crossed a walkbridge on the way back to the CBD, with the Hawks claiming “extreme provocation” from intoxication fans.
”I regret that I pushed away one particular individual,” Clarkson said days later.
In 2017 he was fined $20,000 by the AFL (with $5000 suspended) after he said he was not able to comment on the “disgraceful umpiring” in his team’s loss to Gold Coast.
“I apologised to the umps and also to the AFL. But it’s a really emotional game and I just got caught up with it,” he said in the aftermath.
In 2023 in his first year at North Melbourne Clarkson had to apologise to Channel 9 reporter Elisabeth Moss after he told her “your time will come” as she attempted to interview him over the Tarryn Thomas’ controversy.
He said after that incident: “You would think, with the experience … I’ve continually learned my lessons. But this has been with me ever since I was a kid.
“If I see something unjust or untoward, I will defend. And I saw something that was unjust and untoward.”
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the league was taking Clarkson’s latest transgression seriously.
“First of all I think senior coaches and officially approaching players during breaks in play isn’t something we want to see. When you overlay what has been reported, Alastair has said it’s inappropriate. It’s something I don’t like and we don’t need in our game. We don’t want to get ahead of the process. We will give Alastair time to reply. Once we have got all the information and talked to St Kilda we will weigh it up against what the rules are and deal with it that way,” he told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“If there has been a breach of the rules (fining coaches) has happened and coaches are treated under the AFL rules the same as any other person.
“Ultimately you have to look at every incident on its merits and we will go through a process to find out those facts before we make a final determination.”
In 2023 in his first year at North Melbourne Clarkson had to apologise to Channel Nine reporter Elisabeth Moss after he told her “your time will come” as she attempted to interview him over the Tarryn Thomas’ controversy.
He said after that incident: “You would think, with the experience … I’ve continually learned my lessons. But this has been with me ever since I was a kid.
“If I see something unjust or untoward, I will defend. And I saw something that was unjust and untoward.”
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL 2024: North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson expected to apologise after expletive-laden Jimmy Webster rant
Join the conversation
AFL’s round 1-16 Thursday night blockbusters revealed
The AFL has answered the calls of footy fans by scheduling Thursday night football in almost every round for 2025. See which games are scheduled for the first 16 rounds.
Read more
Cats v Dogs: Smith to face former side in blockbuster clash
Geelong is set for more big games in 2025, and one of them is a bumper match-up between Bailey Smith and the Western Bulldogs.
Read more