Alastair Clarkson expected to inform Essendon, North Melbourne of coaching decision by weekend

North Melbourne and Essendon are holding their collective breaths waiting to hear if Alastair Clarkson picks them, but the decision won’t come until at least the weekend.

North Melbourne and Essendon are expecting Alastair Clarkson to decide his club of choice for 2023 by the weekend.

The Kangaroos had hoped to hear from Clarkson’s camp about his intentions for next year by Wednesday, but the Hawthorn premiership coach flew to Adelaide for personal reasons.

It’s understood the Kangaroos were told of Clarkson’s interstate trip, but the next 48 hours will be crucial as Clarkson makes a final call on the two job offers.

The North Melbourne board met Wednesday night where it was decided they would remain all in on Clarkson, parking any discussion about a plan B.

Roos president Sonja Hood said the club had remained in close contact with Clarkson and his manager James Henderson, saying she was “really happy” with the process, despite Essendon’s late bid to scuttle their plans.

She confirmed the Kangaroos expected an answer from Clarkson about his intentions by the end of the weekend.

Alastair Clarkson is expected to inform North Melbourne and Essendon of his decision by the weekend.

Asked about the Kangaroos board meeting on Wednesday, Hood told Channel Seven: “We talked about a whole lot of stuff, including the coaching position for next year and we’re pretty comfortable with where things are at.”

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“We are pretty confident we will know something by the end of the weekend and we are really happy with the way things are going.

“We think we have presented well to him (Clarkson); he has presented well to us. We understand where each other is at and we’ll see how that plays out.”

Hood added: “We have had fantastic communication with both him and James (Henderson) all the way throughout. We just needed to know where things were at, so that if we needed to move on to plan B, we could move onto plan B.”

North Melbourne president Sonja Hood says Alastair Clarkson is still the Roos No.1 target. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

The Bombers on Wednesday were continuing their talks with Clarkson’s management about taking over from embattled coach Ben Rutten as the week of drama continued at Tullamarine.

New Essendon president David Barham told Bombers’ staff over email on Wednesday he had spoken to Rutten and the senior leadership group about the senior coaching situation.

Clarkson has indicated he is interested in continuing his brilliant coaching career at Essendon after winning four premierships at Hawthorn.

He spoke to Channel 7 Adelaide and, when asked about when he would make a decision on his future, he said: “It is secondary to what I am dealing with in terms of my mates and what that community has got to deal with.”

“Let’s keep everything in perspective.”

Rutten was preparing to take Essendon training on Thursday, likely to front a press conference on Friday and was expected to coach the Bombers against Richmond on Saturday at the MCG.

If the Bombers sack Rutten the club faces a payout of about $600,000 which must be included in the club’s soft cap along with Clarkson’s salary for next year.

Ben Rutten leaving Essendon training on Tuesday. Picture: Tony Gough

It is believed Clarkson would be paid about $1.1 million a year at his next club. His close mate, and former Hawthorn premiership assistant coach Todd Viney, is expected to be his right-hand man at his new club, in a Neil Balme-style role.

The waiting game over Clarkson comes as Kangaroos’ legend Wayne Carey said Clarkson’s character would not allow him to backflip on joining the Roos after one month of talks.

The Roos have spoken exclusively with Clarkson about replacing former coach David Noble.

“I’d be very surprised knowing Clarko – knowing the way he conducts himself – I’d be very surprised if he did a backflip,” Carey said on Triple M.

“I know a lot of people thinks he will but I’d be very surprised if he did a backflip just knowing what type of character he is.

“I can’t remember a coach that’s been given so much fanfare about being able to choose where he wants to go and had so many clubs want his services.

“He’s been sitting, waiting for a year – we know all of that but this has never happened in my time.”

Inside Rutten’s address to players on ‘elephant in the room’

—Mark Robinson, Nick Smart, Will Hogan

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 Herald Sun reported on Tuesday Clarkson had told Essendon he has interest in coaching the Bombers while Channel 7 cameras spotted the former Hawthorn coach touching down in Adelaide on Tuesday night to visit a sick friend.

For Bombers players and current coach Ben Rutten, it remains business as usual for now with their focus still on playing Richmond on Saturday night.

Essendon vice-captain Zach Merrett revealed a “strong and courageous” Ben Rutten brought up the “elephant in the room” with the players during a “very odd day” at Tullamarine on Tuesday.

Merrett said he arrived at the club on Tuesday still expecting Rutten to be in charge.

“For me driving in, it was Ben is going to be there, he’s going to be coaching,” Merrett said on Fox Footy’s AFL360.

“Yeah, I thought he was pretty strong and courageous to show up chest out ready to help us prepare to play against Richmond on Saturday night,” he said.

“He didn’t shy away from the fact, he was open and brought it up.

“I won’t go into the details of what he said but he brought it up, he brought the elephant into the room and chatted through the situation and I think players respected that.

“And I think the common theme in the room was players feeling sorry that we’re in this position and that he was in the position.

“I think he’s guarded us throughout the year with some really poor games and taking responsibility personally, and to get to this point is largely on us as players so that’s the disappointing part.”

Merrett said the club’s leadership group had not as yet been approached to give their input on what they think should happen next.

“No, I haven’t and neither has (skipper) Dyson (Heppell) or Andy (McGrath),” he said.

“Obviously we went through the internal review, which was handed to the board and that was sort of all that we heard from it.

“And I guess that’s in their hands as leaders obviously we’re there to give feedback, but we haven’t been approached at all to provide that.

“I think we’re open to giving feedback, but also respective that we’re there as players and we’ll give our advice if we need to, but their role is to govern the club and I guess be the voice of the members.

“I’m there if need be, but at the moment not required.”

The Bombers star said his side was desperate to show its supporters on Saturday night that “we actually have a bit of ticker and a bit of spine.”

Originally published as Alastair Clarkson expected to inform Essendon, North Melbourne of coaching decision by weekend