News Clarkson to step away from football indefinitely

‘Heavy toll’: Roos blindsided by Clarkson decision to step away

North Melbourne are unsure how long Alastair 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.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Goodness me. What a pickle. Hopefully Clarkson and his family get through this and they are left in some peace. Ditto the former players and families involved in the process (Not at an Inquiry) initiated by Hawthorn.

For all the hooha I am not aware of crimes being alleged. I suspect conversations as often happens on sensitive issues between people with different backgrounds can go awry. People party to the conversation may come away with quite different interpretations of what happened and impute different motivations.

Here is a scenario-

A player may have confided to the Coach or staff that there was trouble on the home front and complicating this their partner was pregnant. The Coach may then have asked what player wants to do and then made sure the player was aware that an abortion could be an option among other options. The Coach is not saying the partner must have an abortion but is ensuring the family are informed on their options.

The Coach may not have been as sensitive as a family counsellor but felt they did their best.

The player may have heard a different message. Their partner may heard a different message again.

Humans are great at screw ups, particularly on sensitive issues and especially with cross cultural communication and where there are power imbalances involved.

Clarko is saying he stood down for personal and family mental and physical health reasons and that MUST be taken at face value. Posters imputing victimhood or guilt are doing a disservice.

FWIW there are First Nations outfits everywhere that offer terrific cross cultural training. It helps.

 

[Blue1980]

People on here have him guilty already. That is quite appalling.

This happens in all cases which are high profile, none of us are making the decision.

Would you like all talk about this shut down completely? I don’t think many if bay are certain he is guilty, I for one think there is at least something worth investigating, I don’t think it’s a fully guilty or not guilty thing, I think there are some elements of grey and context needed.

It’s not like a murder trial which is a yes or no thing.

 

[north_lad]

This club is gonna do my head in

 

[Blue1980]

Needs to go to court asap. Where all the evidence can be examined and accusations fully tested. Until then Clarko is innocent.

Yes he is currently innocent which is why he hasn’t been charged with anything or been punished for anything.

What exactly is your point?

 

[The Dougster]

We

Both can be true.

It certainly much easier to make a PR play like this when the team stinks and you're playing for draft picks/a priority pick.

We aren’t tanking. We are just poo.

 

[The Dougster]

This club is gonna do my head in

Not our fault mate

 

[north_lad]

I did actually wonder yesterday about the optics of him coaching during Sir Doug Nicholls round - guess this handles that...

 

[adammania9]

Maybe the investigation has concluded and the incidence against him is damning?

Stop protecting him

Maybe maybe maybe maybe

All guesswork.

 

[Xtreme]

Congrats on the witch hunt media. Clarko didn't deserve the shabby treatment

 

[Shadow89]

So the accused are seeking medical records of the accusers?

What possible records would make a difference to the complaints? The abortion thing was mentioned. Could it be of possible prior abortions being done prior to any of the alleged incidents?

I think there's a possibility of this, and I must admit, I do find it very interesting that:

a) the defendants want the medical records before they'll comment, and
b) the accusers do not want to provide them.

This suggests to me that there is something within those records that could hold sway in a delicate case such as this. If any of the trauma that has been alleged, is actually true and evident via psych reports, club reports, even documentation of the alleged offence, I could understand why the accusers would not want to hand this over - as then there's a possibility it could be used against them and leaked into the public sphere.

It is very odd to me though, that you won't allow yourself to be interviewed before you have access to those records. I understand being prepared, but surely your recollection shouldn't be guided by the defendant's medical reports?

Seems like the lawyers are driving a lot of it, tbh.

 

[s_wd6]

Congrats on the witch hunt media. Clarko didn't deserve the shabby treatment

And those players didn't deserve the treatment they got at the club

 

[Xtreme]

And those players didn't deserve the treatment they got at the club

Alleged treatment

 

[Consolaçao]

They still do have influence, which is thankfully less.

But what is the argument here? Do you think they should have more influence? Do you think the media skews left? Which would be a ridiculous assumption. The idea the age, a fairfax paper is leftist is absurd.

Bit aggressive.

My argument is pretty simple. In a world where physical newspaper sales are plummeting, and Murdoch news sites are paywalled, it’s silly to claim they have real influence in Australia.

 

[s_wd6]

Alleged treatment

You're right they all just made up these outlandish stories for fun.

 

[Angak]

Goodness me. What a pickle. Hopefully Clarkson and his family get through this and they are left in some peace. Ditto the former players and families involved in the process (Not at an Inquiry) initiated by Hawthorn.

For all the hooha I am not aware of crimes being alleged. I suspect conversations as often happens on sensitive issues between people with different backgrounds can go awry. People party to the conversation may come away with quite different interpretations of what happened and impute different motivations.

Here is a scenario-

A player may have confided to the Coach or staff that there was trouble on the home front and complicating this their partner was pregnant. The Coach may then have asked what player wants to do and then made sure the player was aware that an abortion could be an option among other options. The Coach is not saying the partner must have an abortion but is ensuring the family are informed on their options.

The Coach may not have been as sensitive as a family counsellor but felt they did their best.

The player may have heard a different message. Their partner may heard a different message again.

Humans are great at screw ups, particularly on sensitive issues and especially with cross cultural communication and where there are power imbalances involved.

Clarko is saying he stood down for personal and family mental and physical health reasons and that MUST be taken at face value. Posters imputing victimhood or guilt are doing a disservice.

FWIW there are First Nations outfits everywhere that offer terrific cross cultural training. It helps.

Really well balanced view.

 

[Wormkilla]

Absolutely no chance. You think a guy like Clarkson is going to let this be how he ends his career? Unless he is found guilty by a jury in an actual court case and not the complete kangaroo court (no pun intended) he will burn for another premiership badly so he can be remembered as the greatest coach ever. The guy is a champion and thinks like one.

Think you’re dreamin’ here to be honest mate

 

[Shadow89]

Bit aggressive.

My argument is pretty simple. In a world where physical newspaper sales are plummeting, and Murdoch news sites are paywalled, it’s silly to claim they have real influence in Australia.

Murdoch's influence extends far beyond newspaper sales, just as an FYI. Social media, SKY news, Kayo, Stan, Binge, Nine network, all in some way are influenced by Murdoch and his subsidiaries.

The biggest issue, actually lies in community/rural newspapers where most people do buy them from the local newsagents - 90+% of these are Murdoch owned. Not to mention basically all regional television is Murdoch owned too.

The monopoly he holds here is unheard of in any Western democracy. Toppled multiple Prime Ministers from both sides. It's why the UK forced him out many years ago - because of how much he tries to subvert democracy. Of course he's not alone in this, but his influence is not limited to newspapers as you previously inferred.

Anyway, it's getting off topic, and this was more just an FYI.

 

[zeggie]

Maybe the investigation has concluded and the incidence against him is damning?

Stop protecting him

He could easily go to mediation and ask questions. Find out details. Give no admission of wrongdoing.

I don't know anything about the documents - the panel seems very good at not talking about this in public.

Hawks could scapegoat Clarkson. Why should he attend? No love lost between them, and his appearance at mediation is on behalf of the Hawks. Not himself.

 

[Chief]

his appearance at mediation is on behalf of the Hawks. Not himself.

You reckon? OK.

 

[Blue1980]

Bit aggressive.

My argument is pretty simple. In a world where physical newspaper sales are plummeting, and Murdoch news sites are paywalled, it’s silly to claim they have real influence in Australia.

I think they still do, but thankfully not what they once did.

 

[big_e]

The hawks/AFL aren't doing anything other than trying to get the full information.

If Hawthorn was after the full information, their process wouldn't have specifically excluded the period in which Jeff Kennett was president.

 

[Del165198]

Congrats on the witch hunt media. Clarko didn't deserve the shabby treatment

 

[The Dougster]

I think there's a possibility of this, and I must admit, I do find it very interesting that:

a) the defendants want the medical records before they'll comment, and
b) the accusers do not want to provide them.

This suggests to me that there is something within those records that could hold sway in a delicate case such as this. If any of the trauma that has been alleged, is actually true and evident via psych reports, club reports, even documentation of the alleged offence, I could understand why the accusers would not want to hand this over - as then there's a possibility it could be used against them and leaked into the public sphere.

It is very odd to me though, that you won't allow yourself to be interviewed before you have access to those records. I understand being prepared, but surely your recollection shouldn't be guided by the defendant's medical reports?

Seems like the lawyers are driving a lot of it, tbh.

I think there's a possibility of this, and I must admit, I do find it very interesting that:

a) the defendants want the medical records before they'll comment, and
b) the accusers do not want to provide them.

This suggests to me that there is something within those records that could hold sway in a delicate case such as this. If any of the trauma that has been alleged, is actually true and evident via psych reports, club reports, even documentation of the alleged offence, I could understand why the accusers would not want to hand this over - as then there's a possibility it could be used against them and leaked into the public sphere.

It is very odd to me though, that you won't allow yourself to be interviewed before you have access to those records. I understand being prepared, but surely your recollection shouldn't be guided by the defendant's medical reports?

Seems like the lawyers are driving a lot of it, tbh.

I just cannot see an outcome anytime soon. Actually thought this would have been swept under the rug with hush money when it first arose.

 

[Shadow89]

I just cannot see an outcome anytime soon. Actually thought this would have been swept under the rug with hush money when it first arose.

It's possible that a mediation could achieve something, but I do agree, that aforementioned impasse will probably cause this to drag on for quite a while yet.

 

[Power Raid]

It is one of those situations where I wish Clarko, North, the past and present players under Clarko's duty of care the best


Who knows the full details but a good decision by Clarko to step back and look after his health