In all seriousness,though,even Clarkson would have been distracted byEssendon’s toxic internal divisions and overly empowered supporters and club legends. Hood had assured him she would create the environment his unique brand of coaching genius craved,but just to keep her honest Clarkson earlier on Tuesday underlined their unofficial agreement.
The new North coach told broadcaster Gerard Whateley that Peter Jackson and Geoff Walsh were two talented football statesmen not working in the game whose wisdom should be called upon. Clarkson’s comment underlined that the end was near for Kangaroos football boss Daniel McPherson and chief executive Ben Amarfio. He also suggested Hood’s previous public assessment of the Kangaroos’ list had been incorrect.
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McPherson,whose departure from the club was announced on Thursday,came to North strongly recommended by Melbourne but never truly had a chance. Bureaucratically strangled by a structure where coach David Noble reported directly to Amarfio and working alongside list boss Brady Rawlings,who had struggled with the leadership role initially foisted upon him,he was browbeaten by Noble’s unusual,authoritative style. Football’s thirst for off-field talent will ensure he gets the second chance he deserves.
Amarfio,after a series of early but serious missteps during the COVID-19 lockdown,looks certain to pay the price not only for the unsuitable selection of Noble - whose performance and the drastic need for change seems to have headlined the Walsh investigation - but also because Clarkson has subtly demanded as much.
It is true he once worked at the AFL,but Amarfio’s relative dearth of football and club experience has been a key contributor to his anticipated downfall. Rarely has an executive without this experience succeeded at senior club level. Without over-analysing again the failures of the Ben Buckley presidency,it remains implausible that North removedCarl Dilena largely due to his so-called lack of robust football expertise when you look at the football missteps made since then.
Jackson,who has reportedly told Hood - despite Clarkson’s wish - that he has no interest in even a short-term full-time position,will step in next month to help oversee the CEO search. Walsh,who was expected to play a similar role to finalise some recommendations from his review,could relinquish the final say now that the structure he recommended has been adopted.