Alastair Clarkson accused of failing to improve North Melbourne after shellacking by Geelong

Pressure mounts on Alastair Clarkson as North Melbourne legend questions what the master coach has built after suffering the club's biggest loss of 2025.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson stands accused of failing to advance the Kangaroos in any measurable way after suffering the biggest loss of the 2025 season and having recorded just 10 wins across his three seasons in charge.

Two-time Kangaroos premiership player David King said he was “confused” watching his old side, which was demolished by 101 points by Geelong, asking questions about what four-time premiership winning mentor Clarkson was “building”.

In his post-match appraisal of the loss, Clarkson said he wouldn’t get caught up in the “hysteria around results” and “we know where we are as a footy club”.

King, however, said it was merely more lip service and he was genuinely worried about where the Kangaroos were heading, with Clarkson three years into a five-year contract.

“You have to be worried don’t you?” he said on Monday.

North Melbourne was thumped by Geelong. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Nothing has changed defensively, and when nothing changed what are you building?

“Clarko for five years was perfect, but I thought there would be a more significant improvement in the third year.”

King wasn’t calling for change but questioned whether Clarkson was really aware of the problems his team faced.

“In my own heart of hearts, this club desperately need stability,” King told SEN.

“It’s been through turmoil. It’s spat out coach after coach for six or seven years.

“But we’re still here. It’s just so confusing trying to watch them and work out what they’re doing.

“From a personal point of view I always wonder if the coach is telling the absolute truth or is it just words to appease a 10-minute press conference. Or is this what he really feels?

Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson is under fire. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“I feel like sometimes they’re words; I’m not going at Alastair, I’m not. It’s just so confusing.”

The Kangaroos brought in premiership-winning players Caleb Daniel and Luke Parker to help the young list, but King said Daniel in particular was not delivering.

“I didn’t expect to be here at this point. There is so much work to do. I get confused with how they reward Caleb Daniel with selection – it baffles me,” he said.

“I haven’t seen him do one thing that blows my mind. Defensively, he causes confusion for the rest of them.

“I would love them to honestly talk to us about it. It has not improved defensively.

“There’s massive questions. I don’t want to hear about what other clubs have done; I want to see North do it.”

Originally published as Alastair Clarkson accused of failing to improve North Melbourne after shellacking by Geelong