North Melbourne respond to claims Alastair Clarkson can’t be controlled

North Melbourne has hit back at allegations of being unable to control coach Alastair Clarkson amid recent controversy surrounding the club. Here’s what they said.

North Melbourne chief executive Jennifer Watt has disputed claims coach Alastair Clarkson cannot be controlled and that the club is sending mixed messages following its handling of the recent controversy involving its new coach.

Watt came to Clarkson and the club’s after criticism from senior AFL Media journalist Damian Barrett who believes there is “mixed messaging” from the Kangaroos in the aftermath of Clarkson’s run-in with Channel 9 journalist Elizabeth Moss.

After apologising to Moss for what were perceived as threatening comments, the fiery Clarkson admitted he “can’t give a guarantee I won’t do that again in the future” as he defended his actions as he was “doing what (he) thought was in the best interests of the club”.

North Melbourne CEO Jennifer Watt has defended claims the club is sending mixed messages following coach Alastair Clarkson’s incident with Nine journalist Elizabeth Moss. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

The club’s general manager of football, Todd Viney, later said that part of his role was making sure Clarkson was “not a bulldozer” and that he kept his temper in check – comments Barrett believed were in contrast to Clarkson’s defence of his actions.

Barrett declared the Roos were “not on the same page” and that the club had “no one to control him” in reference to Clarkson.

On Wednesday, the club’s new CEO hit back.

“It is the most aligned environment I’ve seen and I don’t think we are sending mixed messages,” Watt said.

“I think what ‘Clarko’ is saying is he cannot guarantee that his passion wont display again, and sometimes your strength is your weakness and he’s deeply passionate about his people, his club, and his team,” she said.

“So, I think there’s strong alignment and Clarko’s words were probably a little misconstrued and what he’s saying is he won’t stop being passionate.”

Alastair Clarkson coach of North Melbourne Football Club in Hobart ahead of the 2023 AFL season. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Watt said claims Clarkson could not be controlled were far from the truth, noting his ability to work well alongside Viney as well as club president Sonja Hood.

“All I can speak from his my experience and I do not sense that at all,” she said.

“He [Clarkson] is actually driving this ‘one club’ idea more strongly than I’ve ever seen a coach demonstrate it.

“All I can speak from is what it’s like in the club, and his respect for Sonja [Hood], for me and what I’ve experienced, for Todd [Viney], it’s just not true,” she emphasised.

Watt’s comments came at the club’s official Tasmanian season launch in Hobart where they’ll play four home games in the 2023 season.

Originally published as North Melbourne respond to claims Alastair Clarkson can’t be controlled