Coach Alastair Clarkson - NMFC Senior Coach - Coaching & Football Discussion

[Skarrz]

I know someone who went to Gather Round and watched the Suns Train (professional, sharp and intense) and then North and it was shits and giggles and they “played the way they trained”

This person is neutral fwiw

It doesn’t make sense - how do we have multiple premiership players, staff from multiple premiership clubs and can’t improve our training standards? Something feels off there

 

[Cyber_punk]

I'm talking about players 25-28 years of age at the peak of their powers, not superannuation top ups with a couple of years left.

Outside of Higgo, would probably have to go back to Sav Rocca and Leigh Colbert circa 2000.

 

[Arthur Cloke]

It doesn’t make sense - how do we have multiple premiership players, staff from multiple premiership clubs and can’t improve our training standards? Something feels off there

They don't care Skarrz. They're only in it for the cash. If they weren't getting paid, they'd be on the first cargo ship out of Arden St.

 

[Event Horizon]

What happens if we are 2-10 at the bye next year? 4th consecutive bottom 2 (at best 3) all but locked up if that’s the case.

The perception in the market is that we as a club are too gutless to do anything because then what? Probably a fair perception given how poorly the place has been run for a decade.

Sonja put all our eggs into the Clarko basket at the time of his appointment. Mind you, at the time I was 100% certain it was the right thing to do, including the 5 year deal that was offered. After years of instability and with a dud coach in place who rubbed many the wrong way inside the club we had to act and get the best coach we could get for a period of time. At the time it seemed very unlikely that we'd still be bottom 2-3 in his 4th year. I didn't necessarily expect miracles, and I was prepared that he may be past his best and may not lead us to the flag or even the top 4. But I did expect at worst that he'd stabilise the joint and get us to mid table from where we can launch again with a younger more energetic coach.

If your scenario eventuates at half way point of 2026 I think we'd have to have a conversation with Clarko along the lines of "it clearly hasn't worked, it's best for both parties to move on. To protect your reputation and ours, the cleanest way would be for you to announce that you will step down at the end of the season due to health and to spend more time with family etc. and a partial payout to be agreed for the final year of his contract. If he wanted to step away immediately at that point, I'd give him that option as well. If he refuses to do it, we'd have to terminate the contract ourselves at the end of 2026 with the full payout for the 5th year.

Eeither way, 4 years would have at least given us stability and allowed us to sign up most of our talent to long term deals. And then we move on to the next chapter.

 

[Event Horizon]

So much of this is determined by the unknown Draw

Yes and no. It's true the draw can be a factor and can mean the difference of at least 2-3 wins by the end of the season. But if you're 2:10 at the bye, it wouldn't be because of the bad draw

 

[Passmore]

The fact this is your response suggests you would dismiss anything I put up as evidence anyway. That makes you seem like a kool aid drinker looking back with rose coloured glasses You only have to search “ziebell poor captain” and there’s plenty of debate.

Ziebell cracked in hard but he was a limited footballer made captain by default at the start of our poor era because goldy and Cunnington wouldn’t do it. He was a sign of things to come and helped nurture the mediocrity jy and lmac, and now jy alone, have carried.

"Wouldn't do it"...now you're just making things up.

Debate by who? Anyone that actually counts?

 

[The Anvil]

Yes and no. It's true the draw can be a factor and can mean the difference of at least 2-3 wins by the end of the season. But if you're 2:10 at the bye, it wouldn't be because of the bad draw

Fair chance we would have been 4:8 if PC didn't get suspended, prior to the bye.

I'd like to see where we sit after the Saints and Tigers game before making an assessment on this season (out of almost passable or not good enough).

 

[Event Horizon]

Fair chance we would have been 4:8 if PC didn't get suspended, prior to the bye.

I'd like to see where we sit after the Saints and Tigers game before making an assessment on this season (out of almost passable or not good enough).

That's true. But this isn't about a draw.

 

[TruRoo]

Debate by who? Anyone that actually counts?

Who “actually counts” to you in this context?

 

[The Anvil]

That's true. But this isn't about a draw.

I haven't thought about it a lot, but if I was to give my 2c, I'm ok with Clarko's performance. I don't love it, but I prefer he stayed.

Looking at the Tigers who were predicted to be below us (heck, I predicted they wouldn't win a game), we have been extremely poor by comparison. Yet, if I pass the same lenses using West Coast, we look much better than them.

Whoever is our coach, the problem is list balance. We have little in the experienced veterans at the peak of their powers category. I guess it's LDU, Simpkin, Larkey, X and Zurhaar. At least 3 of those are delivering (in my opinion).

For as young as the Tigers are, they still have Vlastin, Hopper, Taranto, Lynch, Nankervis, McIntosh, and Broad. For mine that's a better list of veterans that can be relied upon than what we have.

Even the Eagles have Ryan, Waterman (missed games), Baker, Hunt, Kelly, Allen, Owies, Duggan, Cripps (probably old too), Graham, plus a few who have been injured or forced retired.. Not a great list but comparable with our peak of power vets plus the imported twilight of career guys.

The Saints have two more points than us, have a known quality coach, and probably a better list than us.

We're 2 games off 13th place, I suspect many wouldn't be disgusted by that and that's the PC suspension games for mine.

I have no interest in being a Clarko apologist, but what we needed was stabliity for the players and club as a whole and we have that right now.

 

[Heaps of fun]

I haven't thought about it a lot, but if I was to give my 2c, I'm ok with Clarko's performance. I don't love it, but I prefer he stayed.

Looking at the Tigers who were predicted to be below us (heck, I predicted they wouldn't win a game), we have been extremely poor by comparison. Yet, if I pass the same lenses using West Coast, we look much better than them.

Whoever is our coach, the problem is list balance. We have little in the experienced veterans at the peak of their powers category. I guess it's LDU, Simpkin, Larkey, X and Zurhaar. At least 3 of those are delivering (in my opinion).

For as young as the Tigers are, they still have Vlastin, Hopper, Taranto, Lynch, Nankervis, McIntosh, and Broad. For mine that's a better list of veterans that can be relied upon than what we have.

Even the Eagles have Ryan, Waterman (missed games), Baker, Hunt, Kelly, Allen, Owies, Duggan, Cripps (probably old too), Graham, plus a few who have been injured or forced retired.. Not a great list but comparable with our peak of power vets plus the imported twilight of career guys.

The Saints have two more points than us, have a known quality coach, and probably a better list than us.

We're 2 games off 13th place, I suspect many wouldn't be disgusted by that and that's the PC suspension games for mine.

I have no interest in being a Clarko apologist, but what we needed was stabliity for the players and club as a whole and we have that right now.

I feel the same way. Very disappointed by the season and most of my various complaints about the off-season moves this year look vindicated but the only thing worse than keeping Clarko as coach, is sacking Clarko.

 

[Dinkers]

So I took the day off and went to the National Gallery, and I came across this painting by Picasso

Titled. Cpt Cooked.

 

[Arthur Cloke]

Prof Clarko is a good coach. He is my 2nd favourite coach behind Brad "Scotty" Scott.

 

[archereleven]

Outside of Higgo, would probably have to go back to Sav Rocca and Leigh Colbert circa 2000.

I'm not really talking about players like that though.

I'm talking about Brent Guerra type signings where you get rock solid role players in...

 

[TheNorthFan]

Sonja put all our eggs into the Clarko basket at the time of his appointment. Mind you, at the time I was 100% certain it was the right thing to do, including the 5 year deal that was offered. After years of instability and with a dud coach in place who rubbed many the wrong way inside the club we had to act and get the best coach we could get for a period of time. At the time it seemed very unlikely that we'd still be bottom 2-3 in his 4th year. I didn't necessarily expect miracles, and I was prepared that he may be past his best and may not lead us to the flag or even the top 4. But I did expect at worst that he'd stabilise the joint and get us to mid table from where we can launch again with a younger more energetic coach.

If your scenario eventuates at half way point of 2026 I think we'd have to have a conversation with Clarko along the lines of "it clearly hasn't worked, it's best for both parties to move on. To protect your reputation and ours, the cleanest way would be for you to announce that you will step down at the end of the season due to health and to spend more time with family etc. and a partial payout to be agreed for the final year of his contract. If he wanted to step away immediately at that point, I'd give him that option as well. If he refuses to do it, we'd have to terminate the contract ourselves at the end of 2026 with the full payout for the 5th year.

Eeither way, 4 years would have at least given us stability and allowed us to sign up most of our talent to long term deals. And then we move on to the next chapter.

To address both EH's and Psicosis point about the 2-10 at the bye in 2026 and Sonja put all her eggs into the Clarko basket. If we are too gutless to do anything, why after a long while, at the start of this year did we demote LMac from the captaincy? Why did we promote Sheezel into the leadership group as Co-Vice Captain alongside Larkey? We were a side that could not compete for a single quarter a couple of seasons ago, but are consistently competing for 3 quarters now. After a somewhat revitalised Clarko overseeing pre-season training over Dec. 2024 & 2025 standards have shifted with larkey going on record in an interview saying "it was the first proper he has done since his time at the club." I mean that's a staggering comment and speaks volumes of the previous ratbags we have had since Larkey arrived at the club. Simpkin has also gone on record that he is just keeping the seat warm for Sheezel. If it does not happen next year, then 2027 for a certainty. 10 years of damage is starting to turn, yes very slowly, but albeit turning in the positive direction.

Look, if this group regresses in 2026 (Like when it did when Noble was coach back in 2022) the I will suspect what EH says could occur. But I cannot see a 4 time AFL premiership winning coach that has undergone all this before at the Hawks, waiting till the rot creeps in and sitting a a presser trying to explain why his tenure at NMFC was a failure and citing reasons (e.g., family time, lack of support, racism saga etc.). If Clarko leaves NMFC as coach, it won't just be the coaching group & Viney that move on, there will be trade requests submitted by NMFC players.

 

[pupstar]

Says who?

I think that's a pretty fair question to ask Passmore. Its what ever if its his own opinion but unequivocally the worst Captain of his time I would love to know who thinks that besides him.

 

[TruRoo]

I think that's a pretty fair question to ask Passmore. Its what ever if its his own opinion but unequivocally the worst Captain of his time I would love to know who thinks that besides him.

Seems to be a fair bit of consensus in this discussion. I never said the worst, I said one of the worst.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AFL/s/06PA4TdzaX

He’s spoken about among the likes of Tom Jonas and Jarryn Geary. In terms of having long careers in mediocre sides with no individual plaudits they are about on point. But those two were rookie draft picks - Jack actually went top 10 in his draft! In ziebell’s last three years of captaincy we finished last or second last on the ladder (plus the year he played on when he wasn’t captain). Our list was gutted but we had nobody to put us on their back - because ziebell couldn’t.

Jy and Lmac’s leadership never had a chance because ziebell was their role model.

 

[archereleven]

Seems to be a fair bit of consensus in this discussion. I never said the worst, I said one of the worst.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AFL/s/06PA4TdzaX

He’s spoken about among the likes of Tom Jonas and Jarryn Geary. In terms of having long careers in mediocre sides with no individual plaudits they are about on point. But those two were rookie draft picks - Jack actually went top 10 in his draft! In ziebell’s last three years of captaincy we finished last or second last on the ladder (plus the year he played on when he wasn’t captain). Our list was gutted but we had nobody to put us on their back - because ziebell couldn’t.

Jy and Lmac’s leadership never had a chance because ziebell was their role model.

Why are you shitcanning Ziebell?
Was a warrior for the club and never took a backwards step.

Luke Hodge wasn't getting them sides off the bottom, so not sure what you're trying to prove going down this road??

 

[TruRoo]

Why are you shitcanning Ziebell?
Was a warrior for the club and never took a backwards step.

Because he was a major factor in our situation nowadays.

He wasn’t that good - but some put him on a pedestal because he tried hard and was loyal.

He’s there with the Atleys and the Mullets and the Liam Anthony’s. A generation of nothing that has born our new generation of underperformance.

 

[pupstar]

Seems to be a fair bit of consensus in this discussion. I never said the worst, I said one of the worst.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AFL/s/06PA4TdzaX

He’s spoken about among the likes of Tom Jonas and Jarryn Geary. In terms of having long careers in mediocre sides with no individual plaudits they are about on point. But those two were rookie draft picks - Jack actually went top 10 in his draft! In ziebell’s last three years of captaincy we finished last or second last on the ladder (plus the year he played on when he wasn’t captain). Our list was gutted but we had nobody to put us on their back - because ziebell couldn’t.

Jy and Lmac’s leadership never had a chance because ziebell was their role model.

I suppose everyone can stop trash talking Jy now and blame Jack for it, So i hope all the Jy haters are taking notice leave Jy alone blame Jack instead

 

[TruRoo]

I suppose everyone can stop trash talking Jy now and blame Jack for it, So i hope all the Jy haters are taking notice leave Jy alone blame Jack instead

I hope you can understand that factors which contribute to an outcome don’t fully account for said outcome.

If ziebell was a good leader it might have helped, but Simpkin (and LMac) do have some accountability for the matter.

 

[DrZaius]

We were a side that could not compete for a single quarter a couple of seasons ago, but are consistently competing for 3 quarters now.

Are we?

We had a string of competitive losses after the bye last season too, and at the end of 2023, and in the second half of 2021.
I get people desperately want to believe it has finally turned this time but there's really not a whole lot of tangible evidence to support this other than vibes.

Even with our supposed competitiveness our average losing margin since the bye is still 41 points and even that's somewhat flattering as it includes our only single digit loss margin since round 8, and omits our 45 point loss to Collingwood as it was directly before the bye.

 

[archereleven]

Because he was a major factor in our situation nowadays.

He wasn’t that good - but some put him on a pedestal because he tried hard and was loyal.

He’s there with the Atleys and the Mullets and the Liam Anthony’s. A generation of nothing that has born our new generation of underperformance.

So it was ziebell's fault the club couldn't draft for shit, or build a team worth leading?

I think you're underselling his career by a fair margin too. He certainly wasn't in the Liam Anthony's and Aaron Mullets bracket.

FMD.

 

[amaz199]

Because he was a major factor in our situation nowadays.

He wasn’t that good - but some put him on a pedestal because he tried hard and was loyal.

He’s there with the Atleys and the Mullets and the Liam Anthony’s. A generation of nothing that has born our new generation of underperformance.

This is not fact or actually anywhere near reality.

He was good. Very good. Impossible to tackle, deadly burst speed and could roost the thing 60m straight through the middle of the big sticks at halfway height. Kicked bags like a full forward and burst through packs like a proper midfielder.

But with every good player, they get old and their body lets them down. Ziebell was a gun in his heyday. End of.

 

[Passmore]

Seems to be a fair bit of consensus in this discussion. I never said the worst, I said one of the worst.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AFL/s/06PA4TdzaX

He’s spoken about among the likes of Tom Jonas and Jarryn Geary. In terms of having long careers in mediocre sides with no individual plaudits they are about on point. But those two were rookie draft picks - Jack actually went top 10 in his draft! In ziebell’s last three years of captaincy we finished last or second last on the ladder (plus the year he played on when he wasn’t captain). Our list was gutted but we had nobody to put us on their back - because ziebell couldn’t.

Jy and Lmac’s leadership never had a chance because ziebell was their role model.

I must say, now knowing what taco-chopper's opinion is, I will concede I was wrong.