Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson 'humiliated' by junior football swearing incident
WATCH NOW: THE AFL has backed a junior football league's decision to ban Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATE: THE AFL has backed the South Metro Junior Football League's decision to ban Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson for abusing a league official.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the local league’s action underlined the importance of ensuring football participants at all levels, and particularly in junior competitions, show respect for umpires and the role they play.
“Regardless of the circumstances, I would urge all football leagues to enforce a similarly strong stance to protect umpires and umpiring officials,” Mr Anderson said in a statement.
Mr Anderson said that it was especially important for people at football’s elite level to set a positive example about respect for umpires and match officials across football.
“It is a constant challenge to recruit and retain umpires and match day officials at every level of the code. Sadly, one in four umpires still give the game away each year because of abuse and poor match day environments,” Mr Anderson said.
“Alastair Clarkson is an excellent contributor to the game at community level. However, the AFL, like Alastair, is very disappointed with this incident and notes that he has apologised and acknowledged the appropriateness of the sanction imposed by the South Metro Junior Football League.
“Taking into account the sanction already imposed by the SMJFL, Alastair’s apology and commitment to contribute at community level to the SMJFL, the AFL will not take any further action in this matter.”
EARLIER: Alastair Clarkson says he has been left humiliated after getting himself in to a situation in which he should have known better.
The Hawthorn coach has been barred from the first four rounds of next season's South Metro Junior Football League after abusing a league official at his son's under-9 game last Sunday.
Clarkson fronted the media this morning after former Hawks president Jeff Kennett and ex-Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse weighed into the debate.
Malthouse says the AFL should not impose any extra sanction on the Hawthorn coach, but Kennett said he would have suspended Clarkson for a week if he was still Hawthorn president.
Clarkson said today his version of events matched those of the official he swore at, 19-year-old Thomas Grundy, at last night's tribunal hearing.
"That was heartening,'' Clarkson said this morning.
"But the bottom line is I acknowledge my role in it and it was inappropriate and the manner in which I spoke to him was out of line.''
Clarkson said "there are a lot of lessons to be learned'' from the incident.
"I got myself involved in a situation, with my profile and experience from the game, that I should have known better,'' he said.
"I should have pulled myself out of that situation or handled myself better in that situation.
"I'm really disappointed with my actions, I'm disappointed it's brought such attention to the whole football world, I'm disappointed that it's brought Thomas to the attention of the whole football world - he's a 19-year-old lad who's gone to the football to officiate in the manner that he did and he doesn't expect any person, let alone the coach of an AFL club, to talk to him in that manner.''
Clarkson said he believed the four-match suspension - which carries over to next year as this year's under-9 season has concluded - was appropriate.
"Whatever the South Metro Junior Football League thinks is appropriate penalty then I'm happy to abide by it.
"My conduct was inappropriate and my whole idea of going to the tribunal last night was to talk to the tribunal panel about the incident, together with Thomas, so that they had the full facts to make a judgment on what that penalty would be.
"I was prepared to accept whatever penalty they deemed appropriate.''
Clarkson has had several ill-tempered moments, including abusing Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd on the field after a heated 2009 clash between the Hawks and Bombers.
He also punched a hole in the wall in the Hawthorn coaches box last Saturday as he was walking out to address his side at quarter time.
"Everyone knows I'm no angel in regards to this,'' Clarkson said.
"But I think I'm getting better since the Lloyd incident which caused huge embarrassment to myself and the footy club and once again probably to Lloydy too.
"I've tried really hard to not get embroiled in this sort of stuff. I didn't go to that game on the weekend with the view of wanting to bring myself in to attention, or Thomas.
"It just occurred unfortunately, I wish I could have my time again.
"But where the club have been tremendously supportive is that as long as your up front and honest and are prepared to cop your whack whatever the penalty is ... they've been very supportive in terms of me just being prepared to face the music for my actions.''
More updates from Mark Robinson and Matt Windley to come plus full video package and Robbo's analysis
Earlier, Kennett said he would have penalised Clarkson for a week if he were still the president of Hawthorn.
"What Alastair did at that junior event was wrong and Alastair will feel that more than anyone else, I know the man very, very well. I think I would have handled it slightly different had I been at the club," Mr Kennett told 3AW.
"For no other reason, as leader of the band he sets the standard.
"I’m not worried about how the plaster gave away at the football ground - that's immaterial, he’s a passionate man and his passion is what partly makes him so successful.
"But I do think the other was bad. I know he's apologised, I haven’t spoken to him and I know he would be feeling this desperately.
"I probably would have suspended him for a week's coaching at the club because I think you have to set the standard."
The South Metro Junior Football League handed down its ban after hot-tempered Clarkson pleaded guilty to "unacceptable behaviour" in his role as a runner at a tribunal hearing.
His ban will not stop him from coaching Hawthorn in the AFL against Essendon at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night.
But SMJFL general manager David Cannizzo said no exceptions were made for Clarkson, who was considered a role model.
What do you think of the ban handed to Alastair Clarkson? Have your say below
He said: "The SMJFL has a very clear code of conduct in relation to the behaviour of team officials, players and spectators.
"Any individual, regardless of their external standing, is dealt with as per the SMJFL by-laws and procedures relating to such incidents.
"It is vital they are setting the right example for all participants and spectators, in particular the players who are young and impressionable."
Malthouse said Clarkson was already being punished by the media interest.
"No (he shouldn’t be fined). He’s got his penalty, he’ll serve his penalty,” he told 3AW.
"It was for a minor infringement and we acknowledge the fact... it shouldn’t happen. But his family, his kids, have been dragged through two or three days of media scrutiny Which if it wasn’t Alastair Clarkson it wouldn’t... I’m not saying it wouldn’t happen, that the person wouldn’t go up, but that media scrutiny - they’ve suffered enough. I think the League (AFL) should acknowledge the fact the competition has sanctioned him for a month and leave it be.
The charge arose from an incident in a lightning cup match on Sunday, when Clarkson, 44, allegedly told umpire's adviser Thomas Grundy, 19, to "f--- off" when the official told him to stop coaching players on the ground.
Clarkson was acting as runner at the time for his son's Ormond Blues team and under league rules he had to leave the ground after giving messages to players.
He apologised during the week for the outburst, which came a day after he punched a wall in a coach's box at the MCG.
Clarkson will serve his SMJFL ban in the first four weeks of next season as the 2012 under-9s competition finished at the weekend.
The State Opposition has used the incident to target the Baillieu Government, claiming it has withdrawn funding for its code of conduct in community sports which was helping to stop behaviour like Clarkson's.
“I find that it's a real concern in light of these sort of instances that are still occurring. And even on the elite end, so it’s more important than ever that this State Government reintroduced the sporting code of conduct and fund it appropriately," Shadow Sports Minister John Eren told 3AW.
Neither the AFL nor Hawthorn would comment last night, but Clarkson is expected to hold a media conference today.
