Hinkley: I thought Clarko would coach North to finals in 2027

SEN’s Ken Hinkley is adamant Alastair Clarkson could have coached North Melbourne into the finals in 2027 given the improvements the team had made under his leadership and he believes the sacking may have come too soon.

On Wednesday morning, North Melbourne players and staff were called to an unscheduled meeting during which is was announced that Clarkson’s time as head coach of the club had come to an end.

Sonja Hood and Todd Viney explained to the media and fans that in their opinion, Clarko has not adapted to “coach the modern game” and that there was not enough belief that he was the man to continue at the helm.

This a four-time premiership coach who, season on season, had doubled the club’s winning record.

“Being able to coach the modern game is an interesting call – who says you can or cant coach it? Hinkley asked on SEN’s Sportsday. “It’s clearly the position on the ladder that makes the call.

“There’s some coaches out there older than Clarko going OK – look at Fages.

"North have a good list emerging and getting where it needs to go. I could have seen Clarko coach them info finals next year without any problem at all.

“I thought the club had shown enough progressions, doubled their win-loss form the year before and there’s no reasons that couldn’t continue into next year. 13-14 wins and you’re amongst it.

“You can make a big jump when you get your list in order, and I think North’s list is pretty close. It’s a great list to have the opportunity to take on whoever that person is.

“They walk in with talent available and a much better environment than Clarko would have found when he got there. The club has the right to make these decisions, but I’m a fellow coach I feel for the coach.”

Clarkson was head coach at North for four seasons and during that time the club won just 20 of his 82 games in charge. That said, in 2026, nine wins was a significant improvement on the five from 2025 and three apiece across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

Moreover, what caught Hinkley’s attention in the entire sacking affair was the insinuation from the board that players had lost faith in their leader.

Charlie Comben (2033), Paul Curtis (2033, Luke Davies-Uniacke (2032) and Harry Sheezel (2032) have all signed long-term deals to see them remain at Arden Street.

Add to this Finn O’Sullivan and Nic Larkey extending to 2029 and for Hinkley, it suggests a playing group that was in for the long haul.

“Doesn’t that lead to the fact the playing group had confidence that they have all signed? He said. “They’ve seen something. That says ‘we are here for the long haul’ they signed know Clarko was in the seat long term.

“They’re an attractive prospect for coaches and other players.”

Form a human perspective, Hinkley said the impact of being sacked as a coach sends shockwaves through an entire family.

“This is tough for coaches and their families,” he continued. “But we as coaches all know this day does arrive. The walking into the sunset doesn’t happen often.

“It’s a difficult day for anyone involved. You can’t do more than move on and get on with life.

“I found them (Viney and Hood) to be quite confronting in some ways with the actual reasons for Clarko’s demise. Confusion, game plan, issues, all sorts of things he has proven he is capable in.

“Sometimes there’s things we don’t know. That’s why we have to sit in the outside and be careful. I saw improvement in the club; what I thought was enough improvement.

“I have no issue with that, they have said out loud what the reasons were in their mind, I was more on the path of improvement, they made gradual steps. Rebuilds are heard work and they take a lot of time.”