Hawthorn great Luke Hodge says Alastair Clarkson needs more support around him at the North Melbourne Football Club.
The champion coach found himself in hot water yet again after he reportedly abused match officials in his side’s 59-point loss to Port Adelaide in Round 11.
Following a thorough investigation by the AFL, Clarkson was cleared with the AFL unable to determine if his poor language was directed towards match officials.
Irrespective of that, Clarkson’s pattern of behaviour in recent times is alarming and his former captain has weighed in on how the Kangaroos should approach the champion coach.
“Can you guys remember what I said when North Melbourne were going for Clarkson, what they need to put around him,” Hodge explained.
“He needs support people, he needs to vent and give his ideas and vent his frustration to someone who can say ‘say that, don’t say that, do this, don’t do this and stay the hell away from that topic’.
“He needs to vent to people and then guide them and then go from them, that’s why Chris Fagan was so good for Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn and that’s what covered Hawthorn for so much time.”
But with Todd Viney making his way to the Kangaroos as the GM of Football following Clarkson’s appointment, it begs the question whether he’s present enough to keep ‘Clarko’ in check.
“If Todd is there to be doing that, he should be stronger with it,” Hodge added.
“Sometimes when you’re close mates, maybe you aren’t listening to the other person because I know he’s got so much respect for Todd Viney but you need to be firmer around him.
“He has so much going on in his head and unfortunately he makes his mistakes when he’s passionate and frustrated about something, he needs to have someone there to be saying ‘do you really need to say this and do that’.
“As I said, as soon as North Melbourne went and got him they needed to get some in there and be strong and give him a clip if he’s wrong or about to push the barrier you need to give him a clip and pull him back.”
However, David King didn’t agree with Hodge’s sentiments, saying it’s time for Clarkson to pull his head in and clean up his act as the leader of this Football Club.
“You’re the face of the organisation, this is a pretty serious role you hold, just clean up your act,” King added.
“Simple as that, you shouldn’t have to worry about all these other people doing all these other things.
“He is the man for this business.”
Clarkson was fined $20,000 and suspended for a homophobic slur towards St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster during the pre-season.
Following last week’s incident, Clarkson will now coach from the box going forward.