Alastair Clarkson
Alastair Thomas Clarkson (born 27 April 1968) is an Australian rules football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) and was previously head coach of the Hawthorn Football Club from 2005 to 2021, where he won four premierships (2008, 2013, 2014, 2015).
| Alastair Clarkson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Clarkson coaching in April 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Alastair Thomas Clarkson | ||
| Nickname(s) | Clarko | ||
| Date of birth | 27 April 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Kaniva | ||
| Original team(s) | Kaniva (TFL) | ||
| Height | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 79 kg (174 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward / Midfielder | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1987–1995 | North Melbourne | 93 (61) | |
| 1996–1997 | Melbourne | 41 (24) | |
| Total | 134 (85) | ||
| Coaching career3 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 2000 | Werribee | 19 (10–8–1) | |
| 2001–2002 | Central District | 40 (34–6–0) | |
| 2005–2021 | Hawthorn | 390 (228–159–4) | |
| 2023– | North Melbourne | 20 (3–17–0) | |
| Total | 410 (231–175–4) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1997. 3 Coaching statistics correct as of round 4, 2024. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Hailing from the small town of Kaniva, Victoria, Clarkson played eleven seasons of AFL football – nine for North Melbourne (1987–1995) followed by two for Melbourne (1996–1997). He played 134 games in total, playing either in the midfield or on the half-forward flanks. After retiring from playing, Clarkson served for periods as an assistant coach at St Kilda (1999), head coach of VFL club Wer ribee (2000), head coach of SANFL club Central District (2001–2002), and assistant coach at Port Adelaide (2003–2004).
Clarkson was appointed senior coach of Hawthorn at the end of the 2004 season, in which the club had placed second-last. Hawthorn returned to the finals in 2007, Clarkson's third season in charge, and the following year defeated Geelong in the grand final to claim their first premiership since 1991. From 2012 to 2015, Clarkson cemented his place in club history by coaching Hawthorn to four consecutive grand finals. The Hawks emerged victorious in 2013, 2014, and 2015, becoming only the sixth team in league history to win three consecutive premierships. Clarkson is one of the few men to have coached four premiership teams and is widely considered among the most innovative and successful coaches in AFL history.