Caroline Wilson slams Alastair Clarkson sideline coaching antics

Alastair Clarkson has plenty to smile with a perfect start to the season, but he’s been called out for an act of “hubris” that went too far.

Senior football writer, Caroline Wilson, left, and North Melbourne coach Alistair Clarkson.

Alastair Clarkson has plenty of reasons to smile, but not everyone is happy about his overly cheerful antics.

The veteran coach has taken a young North Melbourne side to 2-0 after a thrilling one-point win over Fremantle and has in his side an almost certain Rising Star winner in Harry Sheezel.

However, veteran football journalist Caroline Wilson is pouring cold water all over his jubilation.

Wilson on Monday night criticised Clarkson’s exuberance on the sidelines during the final quarter of the game at Optus Stadium on Saturday night, calling it “hubris of the highest order”.

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Speaking on Footy Classified, Wilson ripped into Clarkson, saying he risked looking “a bit foolish.”

“He almost came a cropper on Saturday night with this behaviour,” she said.

“The high-fiving with everyone, then there’s the arms widened at an umpiring decision and mock exasperation.

“Had they lost that game by a point or had it been a draw, he would’ve looked a bit foolish.

“That was hubris of the highest order. What if it fired up the opposition?

“The Carlton players had to actually sit down with Brett Ratten and tell him to stop barracking so much because it was putting them off.”

"Had they lost that game by a point or had it been a draw, he would have looked a bit foolish."
"You've whacked him here all year and now they've got two wins and you're still going!"

Caro was not impressed with Clarko's antics on the boundary.#9FootyClassified | @Channel9pic.twitter.com/zRzsWHeBFf

— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) March 27, 2023

Not everyone agreed with the Walkley winner however, with only Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes on her side.

“I prefer coaches in the coaches box, but I know it’s each to their own,” he said.

Meanwhile, host Craig Hutchison said he thought it was “great for the game” and “awesome to see him like that.”

“You’ve whacked him here all year and now they’ve got two wins and you’re still going,” he said.

News Corp football journalist Jon Ralph said he thought it was one of the “highlights of the round”.

“Clarko buying into the energy of his young side,” he said.

“Carrying on like a pork chop in the best possible way.

“Imagine how boring footy would be without this kind of stuff.”

Clarko was all smiles after the thrilling win. Pic: Michael Klein

Football media personality Daniel Gorringe was sarcastic on social media on response.

“I tend to agree. Why is the coach showing emotion? Why is he smiling so much?
“Why is he trying to lift the spirit of his young side? Football is about being a robot and not showing emotion. If anything he should be emotionless.

“Not good enough.”

Wilson has recently been publicly critical of Clarkson’s recent misdeeds, particularly of his remark made to a Nine journalist that their “time will come” in response to a question about allegations made of harassment and intimidation in relation to now-stood down North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas.

Originally published as Caroline Wilson slams Alastair Clarkson sideline coaching antics