Alastair Clarkson apology backflip slammed by Caroline Wilson, North Melbourne Kangaroos’ Tarryn Thomas handling questioned
Veteran reporter Caroline Wilson has revealed there are fears around the AFL surrounding the pressure Alastair Clarkson is under, with questions raised over his level of power at North Melbourne.
Clarkson has endured a tumultuous off-season since being appointed the Kangaroos’ senior coach amid much fanfare last September, with historical allegations against him from his tenure at Hawthorn and a run-in with a journalist in the pre-season.
The four-time premiership winner apologised to the 9News reporter involved in the confrontation, but followed it with a bizarre interview with Channel Seven in which he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t repeat the attack.
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Wilson, who has been a vocal critic of Clarkson’s behaviour, revealed that Nine had lodged an “official complaint” to North Melbourne after his interview with Seven.
“It’s just extraordinary that this is still bubbling away,” she told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“Alastair’s apology was weird to say the least from what we can glean. There was an apology, but it was a very strange meeting here at Channel Nine.
“Why apologise if you’re going to come out and say that a few days later? It was frankly pathetic and Channel Nine thought so, I gather, and have lodged an official complaint with the Kangaroos.
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“Another meeting has taken place not involving Alastair Clarkson, but still we have nothing official from the Kangaroos. So I ask you: who is in control here?
“There are people in football who are very concerned, Alastair Clarkson, about the pressure he’s under, about the resentment, bitterness and anger he feels … and the frustration ongoing because he can’t speak. But nothing excuses that tripe. What was ‘unjust’ and ‘untoward’ about a reporter doing her job?”
Wilson added that Clarkson’s behaviour had angered several stakeholders around the league.
Alastair Clarkson issues apology to 9News journalist over comment
”I applauded North when they employed him and I thought it was a terrific appointment and of course he’s a champion coach, he deserved another chance to come back and coach,” she said.
“But that behaviour, it’s upset the AFL, it’s upset the other coaches even (because) it makes them all look bad, and it’s clearly upset the media.
“I want to see the president or the CEO come out and address what has happened.”
Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes voiced his concern over the pressure on Clarkson mounting if North gets off to a rough start this season.
”They haven’t lost a game yet, and this is a poor football side that’s going to come under pressure,” he told Footy Classified.
“That will raise the pressure because these are competitive coaches. He will (get a honeymoon period), but he still wants to win.”
Clarkson’s blow-up at the reporter came after questions regarding youngster Tarryn Thomas, who has found himself in trouble due to off-field incidents.
Cornes was highly critical of the club’s handling of Thomas and revealed the troubled youngster had incredibly been asked to mentor departed No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis last season.
“I think he’s OK to come back (to the club) now, but the way it was handled last year … they tried to sweep it under the carpet and it only became public and they only punished him when it was broken in the media. So the handling of it from those that were there last year was disgraceful,” he said.
“I’ve been strong on the Jason Horne-Francis issue and the fact that he was set up to fail.
“I’ve since learnt that upon being drafted to the club, they did set him up with a junior mentor in Tarryn Thomas to show him the ropes at the football club.
“This is the management of their most talented player since Wayne Carey, and they wonder why he’s no longer at the club.
“The theory was to get him someone in the same generation … Clearly it failed along with a number of other things.
“Jason himself didn’t handle things perfectly, but it’s one that they’ll probably live to regret.”
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