AFL 2023: Kangaroos will fight for free agent Ben McKay, says Alastair Clarkson

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has offered his strongest view yet on the club’s pursuit of a draft assistance and free agent Ben McKay’s future.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson Photo by Michael Klein.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has warned clubs seeking to lure free agent Ben McKay that the Kangaroos will be “fighting to keep him” as he launched an attack on critics of his club getting draft assistance calling out past help given to the Gold Coast Suns.

As Clarkson declared he wouldn’t revert to curfews or restrict player behaviour after former skipper Jack Ziebell was bashed outside a bar and Luke Davis-Uniacke injured while surfing, the Kangaroos coach made the case for the AFL battlers to get draft help after four years of finishing “on the bottom”.

North would have to spring a surprise and beat the Gold Coast Suns in their final match to get out of 18th spot, and a third-straight wooden spoon, which would come with the No.1 pick in the draft and the first chance to snare gun youngster Harley Reid.

Clarkson said no-one should argue with the Kangaroos being in the position to get the top pick after suffering from compromised drafts during the AFL’s expansion.

“The whole idea of equalisation … for goodness sake, the league put in place some things several years ago for the Gold Coast Suns to actually equalise and get better opportunity … getting Darwin as a zone, getting academy access to their players,” he said.

“It’s just accepted that Gold Coast have got three picks in the top-10 this year and it’s like ‘oh well, that’s OK’.

“North Melbourne have put their hand up to say, ‘We’ve finished bottom for the last four years and we might actually need a little bit of help’.

“The team on the bottom for the last four years isn’t given any assistance at all and we’re decrying this, ‘should there be a lottery system’.

“Just let it play out … bottom line is the team that finishes on the bottom of the ladder should get the benefit of the best young player in the land.”

The Kangaroos face a battle to keep key defender McKay but reiterate the threat to match any offer for the restricted free agent and said even a potential top-five compensation pick would not be used to look at a key defender if he was to depart.

Clarkson says the Roos will fight hard to retain free agent defender Ben McKay. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

Clarkson said the club would do all it could to hang onto McKay as the key defender is linked to several suitors, including Essendon and Port Adelaide.

“We want him to stay at our footy club … we reckon his best seven years are going to be the next seven,” Clarkson said.

“If we don’t feel like we’re going to get the compensation necessary for him, then we’ll be fighting for him to stay.

“Take pick 2 or 3 for Ben McKay’s compensation … well, let me know if there’s a six-foot-five, six-foot-six fullback or centre half-back in the draft to replace him – there ain’t.”

Clarkson also confirmed retired former captain Jack Ziebell was “recovering well” after an alleged assault outside a South Yarra bar following his final game. Ziebell suffered serious facial injuries that required surgery

“(Ziebell) has gone bush for a couple of days just to get a bit of fresh air,” Clarkson said.

“He’s recovering well … it was unfortunate, but another part of us says, ‘Gee he was lucky, it could’ve been a lot worse.

“It’s a reminder for all players around the league – not too much good happens after midnight.”

It comes as the Roos coach declared Luke Davies-Uniacke’s season was over after the star midfielder failed to recover sufficiently from a toe injury sustained in a surfing accident in time for Saturday’s clash against Gold Coast in Hobart.

Clarkson says Luke Davies-Uniacke was ‘sheepish’ following his surfing injury but wants the Roos star to continue to enjoy his leisure time. Picture: Michael Klein

Clarkson said Davies-Uniacke’s injury while surfing on his day off was a “delicate area” to address but no restrictions would be imposed.

“LDU didn’t go out into the surf to intentionally hurt himself … he just got dumped in a wave, landed awkwardly, hurt his foot. He was pretty sheepish when he came in (last) Thursday,” Clarkson said.

“We’re disappointed with that, but we just can’t take away … that’s a release for him, that’s his leisure.

“We don‘t want to be imposing curfews and discipline around when they drink, and how much they drink.

“I‘ve had three serious accidents in the last four years, one which hospitalised me for 10 days.

“If someone was to turn around me to say you can‘t go to the farm now because you missed 10 days of work then I think they’d get a rude reply.

“We’ve just got to hope that these guys just risk manage a little bit … just don’t surf as big a wave or make sure you wear booties, whatever it may be.”