Clarko called out over ‘dangerous’ presser move as club great warns ‘it can end really ugly’

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has been called out over his post-game press conference in the wake of another loss.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has been labelled “disingenuous” for his post-game press conference on Saturday night, after a humbling 65-point loss to Sydney.

Clarkson’s side were somewhat in the contest at half time trailing by 22 points, but a 10-goal to three second half in favour of the Swans blew the home side out of the water, and back into the spotlight.

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Speaking to journalists post-match, the former Hawthorn coaching mastermind heaped praise on the red and white throughout his eight-minute chat — noting that they played on the last Saturday in September.

“To their credit, they’re a very good side. They made a grand final last year, and were the best side really for the bulk of the year … they’ve been a very good side for a reason,” Clarkson told media.

“They showed what a good side they were to us tonight.”

Two-time premiership Kangaroo David King wasn’t buying into any discussion around Sydney being too good on paper for his old side, as he and Fox Footy reporter Jay Clark revealed on First Crack.

Alastair Calrkson presser video 2

“No disrespect to Alastair Clarkson, but I thought there was a few excuses in his press conference there,” Clark began by saying, before handballing to his 241-game panellist.

“Excuses? My god. This team is not the team that played grand final day – and far from it. Look at some of the names that have gone in and some of the names that have gone out. It is half the team,” King exclaimed.

“That team is on par with what the Kangaroos put to the park on Saturday, and they were humbled.

“You’re talking to your members in these press conferences. To be disingenuous like this and suggest they are the grand final team of last year, is 100 per cent wrong.

“He knows that, he’s playing with words. It’s a dangerous game to try fool the North Melbourne faithful, because it can end really ugly.”

The Swans were missing more than a third of their side that played on grand final day last year against premiers Brisbane, as well as captain Callum Mills and veteran Taylor Adams who didn’t take to the field that day.

The Kangaroos had more of the ball than their opponents at Marvel Stadium over the weekend, but were woeful kicking inside forward 50 at six per cent less than the league average. The Swans registered 19 more inside 50s and 10 more marks inside their attacking arc — but most importantly, had a whopping 15 more shots on goal than the home side.

North were humbled by the Swans. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“Just stick to the facts and be honest: ‘Got beaten, got bashed, dark day’, whatever you want to say. But don’t try and spin things into something they’re not. They see through it straight away,” King continued.

“These coaches sometimes think they’re wordsmithing themselves to magnificence, it gets seen through, we can see through this straight away. Just be honest. That there is not being honest with the North Melbourne people.

“They knew they (Sydney) were going to use the corridor, you heard him say that. Well, why didn’t they guard it? Why didn’t they protect it?

“If you can’t get it done, just say it: ‘We put this plan in place and we failed’. Whether it’s the players or the coach, I don’t really care, the group failed as a collective.

“Let’s not talk about (Sydney) as being Errol Gulden, Papley and Parker of old. it’s just not the case. Just treat the fans with respect.”

David King wasn’t happy with the Roos coach. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Now in his third year at Arden Street, pressure on Clarkson has plateaued after an impressive start to 2025. But after a performance that looked far more reminiscent of their past than their future, Clark noted that his role as head coach of the club will a constant talking point until success is sustained long-term.

“Alastair Clarkson is going to continue to be a discussion. Internally the expectations of this football club and football team is rising,” the Herald Sun’s Chief Football Reporter said.

“We saw the win against Melbourne and thought: ‘Here is the green shoots’. They’ve lost those credits, that was as uncompetitive as it gets.

“So the focus turns on Clarkson, because he’s here before and done it with Hawthorn. He’s got the credits in the bank, so we need to see that connection between the coach and the group and taking them on a journey.

“They need to be in games like this for all the reasons you just said. He’ll continue to be in the spotlight and they need to turn it around.”

North Melbourne face an in-form Gold Coast in Gather Round this Saturday, and will be a part of the first-ever AFL game in the Barossa Valley.

Originally published as Clarko called out over ‘dangerous’ presser move as club great warns ‘it can end really ugly’