North Melbourne addresses Alastair Clarkson’s decision to take an indefinite break

Alastair Clarkson has stepped down as North Melbourne coach and there is no timeline for his return. Football boss Todd Viney has explained the decision. Plus, Chris Fagan’s reaction.

Alastair Clarkson is taking time away from North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Alastair Clarkson was “brave” to step away from his role at North Melbourne after shielding the club from the impact of the pressure that the Hawthorn investigation has been taking on him, Kangaroos football boss Todd Viney believes.

Viney fronted media on Thursday after Clarkson made the huge call to step away from the club indefinitely and said that he had been taken by surprise at the move, saying Clarkson had been wearing “a mask” to hide his personal pain as the investigation into “enormously hurtful” allegations continues to drag on.

“It took me by surprise, to tell you the truth,” Viney said.

“We often had conversations … about how he was tracking.

“Internally, he’s been so strong. The mask that he’d been putting on was so clever. He was hiding it from us internally.

“I did know things were weighing on him. But I didn’t see anything that was inhibiting his coaching. I did always think, when all this was said and done and finished, he’d be a better coach.

“It’s been a hell of a weight.”

Alastair Clarkson is taking an indefinite break. Picture: Getty Images

Viney said players and others “wouldn’t really wouldn’t have been able to tell how much pressure he has been under, because he’s done an amazing job building relationships, helping set the foundation for this club moving forward”.

“But when he leaves this workplace and he goes home and he’s dealing with the constant unknown around this investigation, it’s really taken a mental toll to the point where he just feels like he needs to get himself right before he can help his family, first and foremost, and us as a club.

“He often talks about the most important thing being your family and looking after them.

“But … if you haven’t got tour health, then you can’t look after your family and the role that he’s been employed to do here at North Melbourne.

“I just want to say how brave it was by Alastair, to get to that points yesterday.

“We don’t want him to wear a mask. We don’t want him to be in a poor mental state coming to work. We want him to be fit and healthy. I think it’s a really important message to send to our players our staff and the wider community to make sure that if you’re feeling under pressure mentally, you should be able to speak about it.

“There’s been too many people who haven’t fared well trying to keep it all in house.”

Viney credited interim coach Brett Ratten, who he said showed no hesitation when he was approached to take the reins late on Wednesday night.

Alastair Clarkson is taking an indefinite break as North Melbourne coach. Picture: Getty Images

Viney said he did not believe this was the end of Clarkson’s coaching career.

“I personally don’t (believe he’ll be lost to coaching),” he said.

“Certainly that’s a possibility, but I don’t think … I think he just needs a little bit of time.

“There’s no indication in any of the conversations yesterday that that was the end of Alastair Clarkson.

“We feel really confident that he just needs some time to heal and he can take control of the club again and help us get back to contending for silverware.”

He said he was confident that Clarkson would be back this season.

Clarkson met with president Sonja Hood, chief executive Jen Watt and footy boss Todd Viney at Arden St on Wednesday, where he told them of his decision to step away.

The players were told on Thursday morning and Hood addressed the entire club before a 10am press release was sent out.

She said there was no timeline on when Clarkson would return.

“The club is providing its full support to Alastair and we commend him for making this important decision to put his health first,” Hood said.

“Everyone involved has been deeply affected by the Hawthorn investigation and the burden on Alastair has been significant.

“We will give Alastair whatever time he needs to restore his health and look forward to welcoming him back when he is fully fit.

“We have strong leaders at our club who will step up and support and coach our team while Alastair spends time focusing on his health.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Brett Ratten’s experience and capability to coach the team in the interim.”

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said the league supported Clarkson’s decision to “prioritise his own health and wellbeing”.

McLachlan reiterated his desire for mediation between all parties involved in the Hawthorn investigation, insisting the process needed to find a “resolution”.

“We understand how much the investigation by the independent panel into allegations of racism has impacted on all people involved, including Alastair, and believe the investigation needs to find resolution,” McLachlan said.

“It is a heavy burden being carried by all parties involved and the wellbeing of everyone who is a part of this process is the key priority for our game.

“It takes great courage to stand up and say you need to focus on your own personal wellbeing and we support Alastair in doing what he needs to do in the best interests of himself and his family. We will continue to provide support to all parties.

“The AFL supports current efforts to find a mediated outcome that provides fairness and natural justice for all involved and encourage all parties to work towards a timely and just outcome.”

Clarkson has grown increasingly frustrated with the Hawthorn racism investigation and last week blasted his former club for its handling of the scandal.

The four-time premiership coach said he had been denied a chance to present his version of events to the investigators over the previous eight months, and that Hawthorn should be investigated for its handling of the issue.

FAGAN ‘SADDENED’ BY CLARKSON DECISION TO STAND DOWN

Glenn McFarlane

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan says he has been “saddened” by Alastair Clarkson’s decision to stand down as North Melbourne’s senior coach.

Fagan, who will continue on as the Lions’ coach, says the “deeply flawed process” the pair and former Hawks welfare manager Jason Burt have been subjected to during the ongoing Hawthorn racial investigation had taken “a heavy toll” on those involved.

Clarkson has stepped away from his role indefinitely to concentrate on his mental and physical well being due the pressures involved in the investigation over allegations he strenuously denies.

Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan share a lighter moment before their teams met earlier this year.

Clarkson and Fagan during their time at Hawthorn.

In a statement released just hours after the Clarkson decision was announced, Fagan said his friend and colleague had made a significant difference in the lives of many footballers during his time in the game.

“I was fortunate to work with Clarko for almost nine years, and I have known him for much longer than this,” Fagan said.

“I know him to be a person of very good character who has had an overwhelmingly positive influence on the lives of the young men he has coached.

“The football community is immeasurably better off with Clarko in it.”

Fagan said he hoped the investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct would reach a conclusion soon – for everyone’s sake.

“The deeply flawed process that we have been subjected to has taken a heavy toll,” he said.

“It has been profoundly damaging and unfair. It is my hope that it will very soon come to an appropriate end. In the meantime, Clarko’s physical and mental wellbeing must come first.

“I extend my very best wishes to him, Caryn (Clarkson’s) wife and the family.”

Originally published as North Melbourne addresses Alastair Clarkson’s decision to take an indefinite break