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

 

[GWT6]

When you say the AFL's narrative, you mean ASADA's. The AFL threw itself in front of ASADA to negotiate a lettuce leaf punishment and everyone at Essendon spat in the AFL's face and cried victim. Essendon attempted to derail the process with it's Federal Court Challenge, on procedural grounds, got laughed out of court, shrugged, and called it a 'free hit'. 3 months later, They're whining and demanding the case be expedited so any punishments would be served over the offseason. Pursued a bitter public media campaign against ASADA and then wondered why ASADA wouldn't immediately acquiesce to it's demands. ASADA came in flopped it's dick out and slapped everyone at Essendon in the face with its big meaty member. To this day people at Essendon still complain about their treatment. The evidence, i.e 'I saw a spreadsheet' never materialized, and the key people involved have only further sullied their names and relegated themselves to uncivilized company.

Meanwhile James Hird got a foot back in the door. He immediately tried to jump above his station, instead of being an assistant for a few years, and, upon been rejected and realizing there was no soft/ easy option, dummy spat and left football of his own accord. It puts a full stop on what everyone thought about the people involved. Essendon got hoodwinked by some Charleton's and dodgy characters, the board was weak as piss and had no idea of how to run a football club, and people in positions of power who had never been told no at any stage of their lives arrogantly thinking that they were more important members of society/had more power than the reality.

That is an amazingly well put together overview. Nice work.

 

[CrowdedHouse]

Anyone else get the feeling Clarko went on "leave" because a media outlet (most probably the ABC) is about to drop something further on the Hawthorn Indigenous Players and Partners allegations?

Think about it. The timing of the story dropping first time around was in Grand Final week, wasn't it?

If you're doing this type of story and it involves Indigenous persons, when is the next time the story could have maximum impact? Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

My gut feeling (and that's all that is), is a media outlet has a story with potentially fresh allegations or new evidence, has potentially gone to Clarko or North or Hawthorn or the AFL yesterday with something like "we have XYZ, and a list of questions. You have x amount of hours to respond, as we intend to publish by x date".

Clarko/North/Hawks/AFL/whoever have had a conference call about potential media outlet and what they potentially may have, then decided it's best for Clarko to go on "leave", then let the story drop, and then have Clarko forced to answer (or dodge) potential questions from the press pack, and/or North then forced to either stand down or fire Clarko or stand-by a new wave of whatever the press might be potentially reporting.

 

[GWT6]

It’s a terrible situation for all involved.
And so far we’ve basically copped the brunt of it.

Yeah, feel for North. Regardless of the facts with Clarkson, that are yet to come out, they are the ones hit the hardest through no fault of their own. I highly doubt they saw this coming.

 

[ourgameplandoesntwork]

Innocent until proven guilty. This is all stupid.

 

[Elixuh]

I don’t think Hawthorn and certainly not North should be punished for governance failures.

To date the only person who merits any form of punishment is Jeffrey Gibb Kennett. He orchestrated this complete and utter debacle And sought to protect his own ample backside.

He should have his Golliwog collection confiscated and be permanently banned from attending the footy.

Props for the reference to the golliwog collection but I don’t quite see how hawthorn should be subject to penalties for poor governance. Makes no sense.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Props for the reference to the golliwog collection but I don’t quite see how hawthorn should be subject to penalties for poor governance. Makes no sense.

agreed.

 

[Adz2332]

Yeah, feel for North. Regardless of the facts with Clarkson, that are yet to come out, they are the ones hit the hardest through no fault of their own. I highly doubt they saw this coming.

Feel for North? They knew this was hanging over his head, it wasnt resolved when they appointed him.

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

Very unlucky for North. Have done everything to get him and now this has happened.

You create your own luck.

North knew of this and still stood by him. The same for Tarryn Thomas.

This is the relevancy they asked for.

 

[GWT6]

I don’t think anybody’s being canonised or blamed.

Hird was the subject of a years-long “investigation” by the AFL regarding what he’d done and what he was responsible for. It took years before any sort of “conclusion” or outcome was reached.

Clarkson is in the identical situation.

Trying to go through this stuff while also coaching an AFL club is futile and damaging for the club. The AFL and the media play dirty and they will again here.

I would say North have talked Clarkson into stepping down for both his own sake and club’s. It’s the smart move and Hird should’ve done the same. Pride stopped it happening - you need to forget individual pride and focus on winning games of footy.

If you can’t see the blatantly identical situation then I can’t help you.

What crap. Hird and his team dragged it out hoping to get let off for cheating - they were the reason it went on so long. If they had of fessed up and admitted to cheating and destroying the records it would have been over very quickly. And Hird had Newslimited and the AFL helping him.

I don't know what the facts are with Clarkson are yet - but it doesn't seem that he had a massive legal team paid for by billionaires, and a global media giant stalling and sabotaging an investigation and trying to corrupt the process.

The fact you are still rolling this shit out shows you are an absolute muppet.

 

[GWT6]

Feel for North? They knew this was hanging over his head, it wasnt resolved when they appointed him.

Did they? I thought it came out after his appointment?

Edit - just checked - looks like he was appointed on August 19th 2022 and the Racism report was leaked on September 21st 2022. So unless you know something that nobody else does you probably need to retract that.

 

[BruceTempany14]

How long can North keep going?

AFL offered them Tassie. They said no.
AFL offered them GC. They said no.

Maybe the AFL can prop them up to the same level that they do the swans .


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[BruceTempany14]

You were offered Sydney, said yes. That transplanted bloods culture sure is strong when it counts though.

Bloods culture?? Seriously a media myth .


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[bird_man]

He is a real club man. Heart and soul type bloke. Might not have the accolades but he really cares about the players.

No one would doubt that

 

[Gavin Excell]

Hang on. Whilst I am very pro Aboriginal side come football and society, and have been a very vocal Goodes supporter, I am a bit perplexed as to why the individuals whom have accused AC haven’t come out and really wanted to take this all the way in a court of law? Saying this stuff is fine if it’s happened, it really is, but you’d want to get it right and you’d want to go the yards of seeking compensation for trauma etc.

Why haven’t we seen any of this? Are they not allowed to due to court proceedings? If it’s simply just AC being accused, then it’s salacious slander without it being verified in the appropriate arena.

He might be totally guilty. So in that case nail him and Hawthorn to the cross and really follow through.

There are myriad reasons why you would want to avoid court. Revisiting it all, the burden of proof, being subject to invasive questioning et

 

[Better Loosen Up]

‘Destroyed the fabric of this guy’: Roos great lashes ‘balls-up’ Hawks probe after Clarko bombshell

‘Destroyed fabric of this guy’: Roos great lashes ‘balls-up’ after Clarko call stuns AFL

www.foxsports.com.au

David King says he's angry with how Clarkson has been treated but apparantly not angry at how Clarkson treated Indigenous families.

Good on him! Clarkson has been treated very poorly throughout this whole process.

 

[TheJanuaryMan]

Two completely separate issues in this one which need to be looked at in isolation:

- The Hawthorn issue has gone on far, far too long with still no resolution in sight. The names of both coaches involved was freely in the public arena for months and they have been placed under huge scrutiny while trying to go about their jobs. Their guilt or innocence is taking far too long to determine and the strain upon ALL involved in this issues - Clarkson, Fagan and all who have raised the allegations - is insurmountable. It should not be taking this length of time to consider all of the available evidence and make reasoned conclusions. The AFL has a lot to answer for in this regard, particularly with regard to the welfare of every person who has a part in this issue, either as "plaintiff" or "defendant".

- It does need to be considered, though, as to why Clarkson chose to return to coaching to a club that appears to have a range of on and off field issues to contend with and where stability is not apparent. The coaching side has shades of Malcolm Blight going to St Kilda on it. Either the relative potential strength and potential strength of the playing list was completely misread by Clarkson, or the money was the deciding factor. Similar to Blight, there really seemed no need at all for AC to step back into a coaches box, and its fair to say that decision, simultaneous with the overarching issues arising from his time at Hawthorn, was an unwise one for all concerned.

 

[killtaker1993]

All footy fans are thinking of you tonight Clarko and we wish you all the best. We can't wait for you to return

 

[Stars align]

Anyone else get the feeling Clarko went on "leave" because a media outlet (most probably the ABC) is about to drop something further on the Hawthorn Indigenous Players and Partners allegations?

Think about it. The timing of the story dropping first time around was in Grand Final week, wasn't it?

If you're doing this type of story and it involves Indigenous persons, when is the next time the story could have maximum impact? Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

My gut feeling (and that's all that is), is a media outlet has a story with potentially fresh allegations or new evidence, has potentially gone to Clarko or North or Hawthorn or the AFL yesterday with something like "we have XYZ, and a list of questions. You have x amount of hours to respond, as we intend to publish by x date".

Clarko/North/Hawks/AFL/whoever have had a conference call about potential media outlet and what they potentially may have, then decided it's best for Clarko to go on "leave", then let the story drop, and then have Clarko forced to answer (or dodge) potential questions from the press pack, and/or North then forced to either stand down or fire Clarko or stand-by a new wave of whatever the press might be potentially reporting.

They’ve had 8 months to release any new accusations
By all reports those that initially gave interviews aren’t that happy how there stories were interpreted so can’t see them doubling down
Think nothing comes of this unless it does make it into the court system

 

[Mofra]

There are myriad reasons why you would want to avoid court. Revisiting it all, the burden of proof, being subject to invasive questioning et

Not to mention public scrutiny over a very private and painful period of time.

I'd be more surprised if they wanted to go public TBH

 

[fishardansin]

 

[Aristotle Pickett the3rd]

Good on him! Clarkson has been treated very poorly throughout this whole process.

Maybe he should have admitted what he did and apologised instead of living a lie and employing an army of lawyers.

 

[projectv]

Did they? I thought it came out after his appointment?

Edit - just checked - looks like he was appointed on August 19th 2022 and the Racism report was leaked on September 21st 2022. So unless you know something that nobody else does you probably need to retract that.

He'd been appointed but wasn't due to start the role until 6 weeks after the story broke.

They then decided to delay the start date.

They had every opportunity to cut ties, but decided to ride or die with Clarko.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

Maybe he should have admitted what he did and apologised instead of living a lie and employing an army of lawyers.

How do you know what he did? How do you know he needs to apologise and what for exactly?

 

[Aristotle Pickett the3rd]

How do you know what he did? How do you know he needs to apologise and what for exactly?

Hang on to that dream that he's 100% innocent won't you.

 

[CrowdedHouse]

They’ve had 8 months to release any new accusations
By all reports those that initially gave interviews aren’t that happy how there stories were interpreted so can’t see them doubling down
Think nothing comes of this unless it does make it into the court system

Good reporting (and it's rare these days) takes time.

It's not like reporting on an injured player or a player's contract negotiations, which an incorrect report is easily forgotten.

Something as serious as what was reported last year takes months (sometimes even years) of building contacts, earning trust, cross checking your sources and research, and then running it through legal.

Plus, with the on-going investigation, they also might have been waiting for some information to leak from that, to help complete they information they have come across from elsewhere.

Like I said at the top, if it's very serious, you certainly hope the Journalist/s have taken their time.