By Jake Niall, Andrew Wu and Peter Ryan
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson will step away from the game for an indefinite period to focus on his mental and physical wellbeing.
Clarkson informed the club of his decision on Wednesday, with the huge toll from the ongoing inquiry into historical allegations of racism at Hawthorn the reason behind the need to take leave. Former Carlton and St Kilda coach Brett Ratten will take the reins.
The Kangaroos confirmed that Clarkson would take leave from football, which this masthead reported first on Thursday after confirming with a well-placed source who was familiar with Clarkson’s situation.
North Melbourne are unsure how long Clarkson will need away from the game but the club’s football boss Todd Viney, a friend of the master coach, is confident he will not be lost to the sport.
“We can’t tell whether that’s one week or six weeks – we’ll take that as it comes,” Viney said on Thursday morning. “The No.1 priority will be for him to get fit and healthy again.
“I personally don’t [think he will lost to the game] but certainly that’s a possibility. I think that he just needs a little bit of time. And there’s no indication in any of the conversations yesterday that that was the end of Alastair Clarkson.
“We feel really confident that you just need some time to heal. And he’ll be back and take control of the club again and help us get back to the battle of contending for silverware, get this club back to be in a position where we’re a great club.”
Clarkson had been under massive pressure because of the independent investigation into the allegations of racism and the mistreatment of First Nations players from his time as coach at Hawthorn. Clarkson, Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan and former welfare officer Jason Burt have strongly denied the allegations and maintained their innocence.
On Thursday, Fagan released a statement in which he said the lengthy process had taken a significant toll.
“I’m saddened by the decision of my friend and colleague, Alastair Clarkson, to step away from his role at North Melbourne indefinitely,” Fagan said.
“I was fortunate to work with Clarko for almost nine years, and I have known him for much longer than this. I know him to be a person of very good character who has had an overwhelmingly positive influence on the lives of the young men he has coached.
“The football community is immeasurably better off with Clarko in it.
“The deeply flawed process that we have been subjected to has taken a heavy toll. It has been profoundly damaging and unfair. It is my hope that it will very soon come to an appropriate end. In the meantime, Clarko’s physical and mental wellbeing must come first.”
Last week, Clarkson hit out over the handling of the eight-month-old independent investigation, savaging his former club and the process as “shameful” and “a circus” that had denied him, Fagan and Burt procedural fairness. The trio is yet to be interviewed.
Sources said Clarkson was unlikely to participate in the planned mediation session with the former Hawthorn players and the Hawks , scheduled for next Tuesday in Adelaide.
Clarkson’s attack came the day after The Age published the reasons why the investigation had dragged on for so long. The investigation stalled due to an impasse over private documents which First Nations ex-players and partners have not agreed to hand over to Clarkson, Fagan and Burt for use.
“I think that was a window into his mindset at the time, and you got a good feel for the animosity he’s got towards the Hawthorn Football Club – a club that he served for 17 years, four premierships, had such an influence on so many people within that footy club for a process to unfold in such serious allegations to be had, and have no reply to that process has been enormously hurtful to him,” Viney said.
“And if you know Clarko, it’s about relationships. It’s about trust. It’s about family and when he commits to being part of your organisation, or family, he’s in 100 per cent. So to have that unfold like it has he’s been really bitterly disappointed and that’s taken its toll.”
Clarkson’s decision blindsided Viney, who worked closely with him during his time at Hawthorn and was brought to Arden Street after his appointment at North.
“It even took me by surprise to tell you the truth,” Viney said. “I mean, we often have conversations through to the senior management of the club, how he’s tracking. Because we know there’s been a load there.
“You wouldn’t know internally. He’s been so strong. The mask that he had been putting on was so clever. He was hiding off from us internally. But of course, I did know that things were weighing on him.
“But I didn’t see anything that was inhibiting his coaching. In having said that, I said previously that I knew when all this is said and done and finished that he’ll be a better coach because it’s been a hell of a weight for him to do both.”
There will now be pressure on the investigators to finish the inquiry, which is being conducted by an AFL-appointed panel led by Bernard Quinn, KC.
“I just hope that it’s now getting closer to the end. That we can get a resolution that all people involved can for the sake of everyone’s wellbeing get to a conclusion,” Viney said.
“This was supposed to be finished up before Christmas. Here we are - still dealing with it and people’s wellbeing and health and being affected by it. So let’s get together and work it out and get it done.”
The AFL called for a “timely” resolution to the independent investigation.
Brett Ratten will be the interim senior coach in Alastair Clarkson’s absence.Credit: Jason South
“We support the decision by North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson to take the step today to prioritise his own health and wellbeing,” AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said.
“We understand how much the investigation by the independent panel into allegations of racism has impacted on all people involved, including Alastair, and believe the investigation needs to find resolution.
“It is a heavy burden being carried by all parties involved and the wellbeing of everyone who is a part of this process is the key priority for our game.
“It takes great courage to stand up and say you need to focus on your own personal wellbeing and we support Alastair in doing what he needs to do in the best interests of himself and his family. We will continue to provide support to all parties.
“The AFL supports current efforts to find a mediated outcome that provides fairness and natural justice for all involved and encourage all parties to work towards a timely and just outcome.”
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell, who succeeded Clarkson in an acrimonious handover, refused to comment on his former boss’ call to step away.
“I just read the press release just before and walked out, and I thought North Melbourne summed it up well; they asked for privacy and I think me adding to that narrative is not going to help anyone,” Mitchell said.
“It is a serious thing, stepping away from such a big job is obviously a big decision. It’s my job to respect what they’ve asked for, and they asked for privacy so hopefully we’ll all do that ... I will leave it there.”
Asked about his reaction to Clarkson’s recent speech to the academy prospects in which Clarkson was critical of Mitchell’s early grand final appearances, the Hawthorn coach said: “I’m not going into it.”
The Kangaroos issued a statement supporting Clarkson, whose appointment last year was seen as a major step in the club’s rebuild.
“The club is providing its full support to Alastair and we commend him for making this important decision to put his health first,” North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood said.
“Everyone involved has been deeply affected by the Hawthorn investigation and the burden on Alastair has been significant.
Alastair Clarkson has stepped away from football indefinitely.Credit: AFL Photos
“We will give Alastair whatever time he needs to restore his health and look forward to welcoming him back when he is fully fit.
“We have strong leaders at our club who will step up and support and coach our team while Alastair spends time focusing on his health.
“We are fortunate to have someone of Brett Ratten’s experience and capability to coach the team in the interim.”
AFL Coaches Association chief executive Alistair Nicholson said the organisation had reached out to Clarkson to offer support, and called for the Hawthorn investigation to be expedited.
“The entire AFL coaching group is thinking of Alastair Clarkson today,” Nicholson said.
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