Alastair Clarkson is adamant North Melbourne’s recent performances have shown there’s “some excitement” brewing at the battling club as he swatted away a stinging gibe from former club consultant and premiership coach Paul Roos.
Having recorded just a single win in 2024, and only 13 wins in 85 games since the start of the 2020 season, the Kangaroos have become an “easy target” for critics according to Clarkson, who was surprised when informed of the claim from Roos.
In a radio interview on Thursday the former Sydney and Melbourne coach, who spent three years in a consultancy role at North Melbourne before Clarkson took over, was adamant player depth in the 1980s when he played was much stronger across a 12-team competition which wasn’t national.
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Roos, who took Sydney to the 2005 premiership, even went as far as to declare that “Carlton’s seconds team in the early ‘80s would beat North Melbourne right now, there’s no question about that”.
After recording their breakthrough win against West Coast in round 14, the Kangaroos have lost their past three games by a combined 21-points to reigning premiers Collingwood, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.
Clarkson said that was clear evidence his project and rebuilding the club was on track.
“The last four weeks have shown our supporters and the wider football football public that there’s some excitement here,” Clarkson said.
“It goes in cycles, and every team’s had their turn. For us now it’s just navigating the path back up the ladder.
“You don’t have to go back too long ago where Carlton were and where the Melbourne footy club were … ironically enough ‘Roosy’ was at the Melbourne footy club when that was happening.”
Melbourne won just four games in Roos’ first season as coach in 2014, then seven in 2015, and finally 10 in 2016 before handed the reins to Simon Goodwin who guided the Demons to the 2021 premiership.