Alastair Clarkson: Essendon, North Melbourne vying for AFL coaching legend

After being seen as favourites to sign Alastair Clarkson, North Melbourne is now waiting on a call. And the Roos are steadfast they need an answer.

North Melbourne is steadfast it wants an indication from Alastair Clarkson on Wednesday about whether he remains in play to coach the club in 2023.

The Kangaroos hard line stance comes after it was revealed Clarkson had told Essendon he has interest in coaching the Bombers next year.

Talks between Clarkson and Essendon were poised to ramp up.

North Melbourne has offered Clarkson a five-year deal and were seen to be favourites to secure his signature.

GWS pulled out of the race for the Hawthorn coaching legend on Tuesday, leaving Clarkson a decision to make between the Kangaroos and the late-charging Bombers.

North president Sonja Hood has been in discussions with Clarkson and his manager James Henderson for about a month.

Essendon coach Ben Rutten remains in limbo and described the developments as “not ideal”.

It’s not known if Clarkson’s interest will equate to him accepting a job offer from Essendon, or if it’s the start of a bidding war between the two clubs.

Essendon’s 11th hour bid for Clarkson came after the embarrassing loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday, which also led to the resignation of president Paul Brasher.

A decision on Rutten’s future was not forthcoming on Tuesday.

Ben Rutten leaves the ground after his side was smashed by Port Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

He is expected to be in the coaches box when the Bombers take on Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night.

Embattled Rutten arrived at training a day after the Bombers installed new president David Barham amid a cyclone of speculation about his future.

But Rutten maintained he has the confidence of his players.

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Rutten said on Tuesday morning he was focused on doing his job.

“It’s not ideal obviously,” he said on Channel 9.

“I have got the confidence of the players, I’ve got a job to do and I am going to coach to the best I can in the next five days.”

Bombers captain Dyson Heppell backed his senior coach.

“He’s certainly got all our support,” Heppell said.

“We will see how things pan out over the coming weeks and see what goes on.”

Essendon board member Kevin Sheedy strangely suggested on Fiveaa radio in Adelaide on Tuesday Clarkson could be a good fit for its rival.

“I think Clarkson could be perfect moving into North Melbourne, I wouldn’t be surprised, take ‘em down to Tasmania,” Sheedy said.

“You don’t know what’s in other people’s thinking, do you?

“He’s been locked into Tasmania with the state government down there, because everyone wants North Melbourne to move because we’ve got too many teams here (in Melbourne) ... and most people think around Australia that we do, so you just never know if Alastair says I’m looking a bit bigger picture than just going to coach a team in Melbourne.

“This might be a huge move for him. It could even involve Tasmania, you just don’t know.”

Ben Rutten believes he still has the confidence of the playing group. Picture: Michael Klein

While the Giants had enjoyed positive talks with Clarkson, it was no surprise to GWS officials that he wanted to remain in Victoria.

It means GWS has narrowed its search down to Melbourne’s Adem Yze, who is the clear frontrunner for the senior job, Richmond assistant Adam Kingsley and interim coach Mark McVeigh.

Yze’s work with Melbourne’s midfield group, and in particular how he helped mould them into a selfless onball unit on the march to last year’s flag, would appeal to the Giants.

GWS has a bunch of highly-rated midfield stars but the club’s performance has waned through the middle of the ground this season, prompting a rethink on their playing style and list for next season.

Yze, who worked under Clarkson as an assistant coach throughout Hawthorn’s 2013-15 premiership reign, has a reputation as one of the top assistant coaches in the game, and a senior coach in waiting.

Yze had Melbourne’s full support to interview for the GWS job.

Originally published as Alastair Clarkson: Essendon, North Melbourne vying for AFL coaching legend