First six weeks to decide Clarkson's North fate

Alastair Clarkson’s future as North Melbourne coach will be decided by Round 6, according to Kane Cornes and David King who have weighed into the simmering tensions at the club.

With just 20 wins under their belt in six years, the club has copped relentless criticism in recent years and, according to SEN’s Sam Edmund, is being urged to consider immediate changes at board level.

This week, Edmund reported that North president Sonja Hood was called to a meeting by a pair of prominent Kangaroos members pushing for change.

The meeting, which took place late last week and also involved board member Andrew Harris, was said to be cordial and respectful.

But the two members, representing a bigger group which includes former directors and players, is demanding Dr Hood and her board make immediate change.

Moreover, questions are being asked of Clarkson and the lack of impact he appears to be having who is going into his fourth season of a five-year deal.

The club opens their season against Port, West Coast, Essendon, Carlton, Brisbane and Richmond. After such a favourable opening six rounds from a fixture perspective, his fate will be sealed.

“I think the first six weeks of the season tell us if he can seriously still impact the AFL football world as a coach or not,” King said on SEN’s Fireball.

“This is exacerbated by the Wardlaw position, is the pressure on so much they don’t have the clarity to make these calls or get them right?”

Debating what results the Kangaroos need in order to keep their coach, Cornes said:

“We will know Clarkson’s future by Round 6.

“Worst case it has to be 3-3; there is possibility it can be 5-1, 4-2 is good, anything under 3-3 is dire considering it’s going to get tougher after that.”

Asked for his take on the board level issues and demands for change, King added: “This is what happens when you don’t win games of footy; everyone gets upset and starts the blame game. It’s understandable. I don’t hold Sonja responsible for all of that.

“Not all the criticism should go her way, but she has to front it. The buck stops with her.

“They want the joint to get back to where it was. I don’t think its unexpected from Sonja.

“You’d have to be feeling the pressure but that’s the gig isn’t it? That’s why you want people like Sonja in these roles. She will take this on board, if she felt four more people on the board would help them win, she would do it tomorrow.

“That has to be the mindset of everyone that works for the club.”