Mark Robinson on Ben Rutten’s treatment and Alastair Clarkson’s appointment

The coach and the players are the most important commodities and they were treated as afterthoughts. Make no mistake, this a bloodbath at Bomberland, writes Mark Robinson.

Ben Rutten and Ben Hobbs after Essendon’s big loss to Port Adelaide.

One club, North Melbourne, has hope and exhilaration and another club, Essendon, has a major crisis on a historic day in football.

Alastair Clarkson’s signing with North Melbourne on a five-year deal is a moment to savour for the Kangaroos — and for football.

The battlers landed a coaching giant, ala Barassi back to Melbourne and Malthouse to Collingwood, and suddenly hope springs eternal at Arden St.

It’s a wonderful story on many fronts.

It warmed the hearts in this ultra-professional competition when Clarkson spoke of being a nine-year-old boy in a man’s world and being at a “pleasant Sunday morning’’ at Arden St back in 1977.

Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Football is always a journey for whoever you are and for Clarkson, it started at the Kangaroos, first as a young lad and then as a young player.

His return completes a circle of life. Did he owe them? Yeah he did. And he said as much on Friday.

“The Shinboner values have been here forever and a day and those things tear at your heartstrings,” Clarkson said.

“We are all human and feel compelled to be connected to something.”

In the telling will be the efforts of Roos president Sonja Hood.

Criticised for her comments at the press conference when David Noble departed — by Leigh Matthews no less — Hood set her sights on Clarkson.

A romantic with vision and conviction, Hood courted Clarkson for a month — and vice versa.

Her heart would’ve been beating strongly and proudly when she walked into the press conference on Friday, and she was absolutely beaming at Clarkson as Clarkson told his story.

She probably still can’t believe it’s happened, that she was able to bring Clarko home.

What a fantastic story it is for a girl who used to sit at the boundary fence with her aunt and family, eat sandwiches, and watch the Kangaroos in the 1970s and ‘80s.

North president Sonja Hood and Alastair Clarkson. Picture: Michael Klein

That girl became the president and on Friday became part of Kangaroos folklore.

As Hood received the deserved accolades, not far away, Essendon chairman David Barham was drowning in apologies.

If confirmation was needed that the Bombers were officially the laughing stock of the AFL, then Barham gave it on Friday.

For a media mogul, it looked like it was the first time he had seen a microphone.

He stumbled through the expected examination of his football club and apologised twice for his failings.

In the first week of his presidency, it was hardly the ideal presentation to Essendon fans and members. Twice he apologised, to coach Ben Rutten and to the players for his lack of communication.

In a football club, the coach and the players are the most important commodities and they were treated as afterthoughts.

Clearly, Barham made his hero run for Clarkson far too late — he met Clarkson on Tuesday — and he didn’t have the conviction to tell Rutten it was happening.

Cam Zurhaar and Sonja Hood embrace after North’s win over Richmond.

Stealth kills the spirit inside of footy clubs and destroys the confidence in fans, and an apology doesn’t seem adequate enough for such backstabbing behaviour.

“If I’m the president of Essendon and the best coach of the past 20 years has expressed an interest to come to Essendon and I don’t go and see him, what will the members and fans think of me?” Barham said.

Sorry, but it can’t be all about you Dave, it’s about treating people with respect, especially those who are giving their life to the club.

Rutten deserved better. Barham needed to be better.

Barham spoke to Essendon staff, players and the football department in three separate meetings on Friday. Apparently it was a free-for all on Barham, like, he was challenged on many fronts by many people.

And mostly because the board, they believed, abandoned the staff this week.

Ben Rutten takes Essendon training on Friday. Picture: Michael Klein

Ben Rutten’s job was on the line as the Bombers circled Clarkson. Picture: Michael Klein

The Bombers need stability, which might come with a clean-out, which might mean a board challenge.

It’s so sickly at the Bombers, a board challenge not only is expected, but it would probably win, because this week has laid bare the reality there is a major cultural issue at the club.

Chief executive Xavier Campbell is safe, according to Barham, which might surprise people, while Rutten, who has been the man of enormous dignity this week, is doomed.

In hindsight, Barham should’ve sacked him last Monday.

And now, he’s have to be sacked because if he wasn’t, Barham would have had to explain exactly why he launched the board coup in the first place. That he toppled Paul Brasher only to launch an external review?

New Essendon president David Barham.

Make no mistake, this a bloodbath at Bomberland.

Contrary to Barham’s comments about former coach James Hird on Friday, the Herald Sun has been told that several key Bombers are aware that Hird is committed to go through the coaching process.

Barham smacked away Hird inquiries at his press conference, but he knows the lay of the land. He just chose not to say it.

Clarkson at North Melbourne will be a wonderful watch next season and, to be honest, he looks far better in the blue than he did in the brown and gold.

If Hird returns, it will be a fascinating watch.

This bloke almost died, was in a clinic, and has slowly rebuilt his life to the point where he is back in the coaches box at GWS.

The possibility of that being at Essendon next season is alive.