Alastair Clarkson returns to footy with surprise new contract
Alastair Clarkson turned down an offer to coach Carlton in order to take time away from the game, but he’s now decided to come back.
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Alastair Clarkson turned the Blues down, but couldn’t say no to a development position with the bid team behind Tasmania’s push for its own AFL club.
Clarkson’s future has been the subject of wild speculation in recent months ever since his messy divorce from the Hawks resulted in him leaving the club with 12 months remaining on his contract.
The 53-year-old was offered the chance to coach Carlton on a silver platter, but knocked the club back in the middle of its recruitment debacle which ultimately resulted in Michael Voss being appointed coach and Ross Lyon pulling out of the race at the last second.
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Clarkson spoke publicly last month to declare he had three options for the next step in his career — and mentioned the potential to coach a Tasmanian club interested him.
His new deal, however, is purely as an advisor. It is a position that comes with a six-month contract.
It frees Clarkson up to position himself for any AFL coaching positions available for the 2023 season.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein confirmed the deal on Thursday.
“Alastair will provide input on funding, infrastructure, a state football pathway, talent identification pathways and membership,” he said.
Clarkson will first continue with his plan to spend four months travelling overseas, studying elite sport programs in the United States.
The Tasmanian state government-backed bid team hopes Clarkson’s study abroad is able to help the task force when he returns.
Tasmania is putting pressure on the AFL to be awarded its own AFL team, after decades of putting up cash for North Melbourne and Hawthorn to host home games in the state.
The AFL has previously said the league will address Tasmania’s potential inclusion in 2022.
A Tasmanian team could be as many as five or six years away, and that’s only if the AFL Commission decides to include the southern state, which has produced a long line of football superstars.
Clarkson last month said it was a “no-brainer” for the AFL to include a Tasmanian team and even said he would be willing to be the team’s inaugural coach.
“It depends where I’m at and what I’m doing at that point in time, but yeah, without a doubt,” he said.
“If I was unemployed like I am now, I’d be putting my hand up big time to be involved in such an exciting venture.
“I think it’s a no-brainer for the AFL competition and it’s a no-brainer for Tassie to roll their sleeves up and get behind it.”
Launceston was a second home for Hawthorn during much of Clarkson’s tenure and the 53-year-old said the footballing “heartland” deserves a team and he would help take up the fight.
“I‘d like to do something for the industry and that includes perhaps doing some stuff for the Tassie push and their own team.”
It was reported in August Clarkson had genuine interest in the Carlton offer, but ultimately walked away.
Originally published as Alastair Clarkson returns to footy with surprise new contract
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