‘That can’t be right’: Fagan’s passionate defence of Clarkson after ‘unfair’ Kangaroos axing

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has sprung to the defence of axed rival and close friend Alastair Clarkson, declaring the treatment of the four-time premiership coach to be unfair.

North Melbourne shocked the AFL world when the Kangaroos revealed they would part with Clarkson after four seasons in charge in which they failed to reach the finals.

He had taken the reins of a team reeling on the back of consecutive wooden spoons.

On Wednesday, president Sonja Hood said: “Having consulted widely across the club, it has become clear Alastair no longer has the belief from enough people at the club he is the right coach to take this group forward”.

When asked what the Kangaroos would seek in a new mentor, Hood said they needed “a coach that can coach for the modern game … It’ll be a coach that knows what they’re doing, and it’ll be a coach who’s the best fit for this club.”

Fagan’s relationship with Clarkson dates back to their time with Melbourne in 1997. They worked together again at the Hawks, where they orchestrated four flag triumphs, in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Fagan, who is preparing to lead the Lions into a qualifying final against Sydney on Saturday , said he had attempted to call Clarkson on Wednesday night to no avail.

“It was a big shock to me. I actually thought, ‘That can’t be right’ because I felt like under his guidance North had really started to improve, and we could all see their growth this year.

“It just reminded me of how tough coaching can be, when a bloke who’s been as successful as him as a coach can be jettisoned as quickly as that.

“I guess I just hope the feedback given in the press conference about him was given to him in person at some stage during the year so he had a chance to act on it. Feedback’s only good if you get it at the right time.

“I don’t know whether that was the case or not, but I just hope it was because it was a pretty fierce press conference, I reckon, with the way he was spoken about, and I reckon it was probably an unfair description of a man who has done an awful lot for footy.”

AFL premiership coach and former North Melbourne captain Adam Simpson will take time to draw breath before deciding whether to throw his hat in the ring for the vacant role. Simpson and fellow flag-winning coach John Longmire – both North premiership players – are seen as obvious contenders.

“I am going to have a good think about it, and whether or not that opportunity presents itself will be determined by others, and not me,” Simpson said on SEN on Thursday.

“But if someone rang me today ... I don’t know ... I feel really comfortable doing what I am doing at the moment [in the media]. I am going to have a good think in the next week, and have a talk to the family and see where that lands.”