Four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson.Credit:AFL Photos
“Hopefully,it pulls on the heart strings a little bit that he was a former player here,and he understands the culture and people within this place.”
Clarkson told North Melbourne he would speak to Essendon after the Bombers changed presidents this week,with David Barham taking over from Paul Brasher,and instigated an external review.
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Contracted Essendon coach Ben Rutten led the team’s training session on Tuesday amid the turmoil at the club surrounding his position,and Bombers star Zach Merrett said Rutten had dealt with the attention matter-of-factly with the players.
“I thought he was pretty strong and courageous to show up,chest out,ready to help us prepare to play against Richmond on Saturday night,” Merrett toldAFL 360 on Tuesday night.
“He didn’t shy away from the fact,he was open,he brought it up. I won’t go into detail of what he said,but he brought it up,the elephant in the room,and chatted through the situation and I think players respected that.
“I think the common theme in the room was players feeling sorry that we’re in this position,and he was in a position.
“I think he’s guarded us throughout the year with some really poor games and taking responsibility personally and to get to this point is largely on us as players so that’s the disappointing part.”
Former Hawks captain Luke Hodge,who played in four premierships under Clarkson,told SEN it would be unwise for North Melbourne to put an ultimatum to his former coach.
He said the Kangaroos should not give up hope,as Clarkson would be open to talking to Essendon as part of a considered decision-making process rather than as a signal that he definitely wanted to coach the Bombers.
“I was starting to believe last week that it was a nice,smooth process,and he was going to make a decision this week,but as we’ve said the whole way along,why would he rush when he’s got options,” Hodge told SEN.
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“I’m sitting here saying North Melbourne supporters,don’t be stressed,just because he’s saying he’d like an interview,this is Clarko doing his due diligence and making sure every stone has been turned to make sure he makes a clear decision and the right decision for him and his family.
“Just because he’s agreed to meet with Essendon and have a chat,doesn’t necessarily mean he’s more in favour to go there than North Melbourne.
“He’s a person that wants to make sure everything is done correctly with all the information before he makes a pretty big decision.”
With AAP