North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson says the ongoing stress created by his team’s battles and the lingering Hawthorn racism saga contributed to a foul-mouthed bench rant as he confirmed he would return to the coach’s box for the rest of the season.
Clarkson also said he was “making progress” in work with a sports psychologist to control his emotions having avoided a sanction for an expletive-laden outburst while coaching from ground level during a loss to Port Adelaide in round 11 after an AFL probe was unable to determine if it was directed towards match officials.
He admitted to using the foul language, which was heard by officials, security and even people in the crowd, and apologised, conceding, via a club statement, that it was “undisciplined by me”.
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Addressing the matter for the first time publicly on Thursday, Clarkson, who was also given a suspended two-week ban and fined $20,000 for a homophobic slur directed at St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster during the pre-season, said he was feeling the combined pressure of a winless season and lack of closure in the racism investigation that could now be headed to the Federal Court.
Both Clarkson and Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan have denied allegations from former Hawthorn players but failed mediation means the matter remains unresolved.
“Without a doubt we can’t dismiss the fact that ‘Fages’ (Chris Fagan) and myself have been under an enormous amount of pressure over the last 18 months,” Clarkson said on Thursday.
“Just things build up and you don’t know that it’s happening to you until you get in an emotional state and then you react.
“The best way to try to avoid that is to keep away from getting in a significant emotional state and that’s probably better off being in a box than down on the bench.
“The best place to watch the footy is from up above, but the best place to communicate is at ground level.
“You can get embroiled in the emotion of the game … I think it’s fitting I’m in the box for the rest of the season.”
Clarkson said the 2024 season, which is yet to yield a win for the Kangaroos from 11 matches, had been harder than expected, adding to the match-day pressures he’d faced.
He spoke openly about the work he was doing with a sports psychologist and said despite the most recent example, he was “making progress”.
“You’ve just got to keep working on being the very, very best you can be in that space, but it’s an emotional game and you’re hugely invested,” he said. .
“And particularly when you’re of the character and mindset of me, it’s particularly challenging.
“I’ve just got to keep working on it and try to reduce the amount of times that I get caught up in those situations.
“You never expect you’re going to get halfway through a year and you haven’t won a game, but we’re seeing some progress and most of that’s done behind the scenes.”