North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has apologised for an “unnecessary” and “inappropriate” outburst after a sickening collision during North Melbourne’s Community Series loss to St Kilda on Sunday afternoon.
Early in the match St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster knocked out Roos co-captain Jy Simpkin with a bump that is expected to see him banned for over a month, with tempers flaring during the first break.
As first reported by Nine’s Tom Morris, Clarkson let loose with a spray at Webster and several other St Kilda figures. The Roos mentor has now expressed his regret.
“I was deeply disturbed seeing our captain Jy Simpkin forced from the field as a result of a heavy collision just before quarter time,” Clarkson said to 9News.
Alastair Clarkson was involved in an ugly verbal altercation with Saints players at quarter-time on Sunday. It followed Jimmy Webster's late bump on Jy Simpkin.
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) March 4, 2024
Details: https://t.co/yEWxBoRyhK@wwos @9NewsMelb @FootyonNine pic.twitter.com/xz7qzwLYH4
“Jy has had a great pre-season and has now had three concussions in 12 months and I was so disappointed to see him leave the field in that way.
“At the quarter-time break, I voiced my displeasure to St Kilda players Jimmy Webster and Dougal Howard as they made their way to the quarter-time huddle.
“This was an exchange that was emotional in defence of our captain, but unnecessary and the language I used was inappropriate.
“I have reached out to Ross Lyon and both the St Kilda players to apologise.”
It’s not the first time Clarkson has lost his temper in the heat of battle, with the four-time premiership coach just last year apologising for hitting out at a Channel 9 reporter at Arden Street.
Ross Lyon, who is reported to have not heard Clarkson’s remarks at the time, also spoke to the media on Monday morning about Webster.
“Obviously he’s devastated, he’s really concerned for Jy. He’s very remorseful, it was a split-second action,” Lyon said outside RSEA Park.
“So obviously the landscape is continually evolving… really concerned for both lads, in particular Jy because it was very heavy physical contact… clearly there’s no defence to it and we always support the person and change the behaviour.”
The Match Review Officer is expected to hand down a verdict on Webster on Monday afternoon, while Simpkin – who took no further part in Sunday’s match – is in doubt for Round 1 following a tightening of concussion protocols by the league.