Alastair Clarkson ‘could snub BOTH GWS and North Melbourne and wait until 2024 for his AFL return’

Alastair Clarkson is expected to make a decision on his future in the coming weeks, and reports suggest the esteemed coach’s next role may not begin in 2023. 

The 54-year-old met Greater Western Sydney for a third time over their vacant position on Wednesday and will hold talks with AFL strugglers North Melbourne later this week.

Roos chief Sonya Hood has spoken with Clarkson’s manager in Tasmania and is set to meet the former Hawthorn coach face-to-face as they look to appoint David Noble’s successor. 

Despite it appearing a straightforward two-horse race for the four-time premiership winner’s signature, Gerard Whateley has claimed that Clarkson will be willing to sit out and wait until 2024 if he isn’t convinced by either club. 

‘I don’t know if it’ll be either of these two jobs,’ he told AFL360. ‘He always said August would be the time (to decide his future). We’re about to tick ourselves into August so the next couple of weeks will be captivating.

‘The fire is lit to return to coaching. He will coach again. Whether he coaches next year will be the choice of those two clubs and his choice, or he’ll busy himself for another year and see what comes along after that.

‘It’s not Giants, North or bust. If I was having a stab (at Clarkson’s decision on GWS or North), neither of these two.’ 

The decorated coach is mulling over his options with North Melbourne and GWS hot in pursuit

However, Clarkson is said to be happy to wait until 2024 if he isn’t convinced by both clubs

The Giants are blessed with a plethora of options to fill the void left by Leon Cameron, with caretaker Mark McVeigh impressing club chiefs. Adem Yze and Adam Kingsley – assistants at Melbourne and Richmond respectively – are also candidates.

Cricket legend Ricky Ponting and North Melbourne hero Wayne Carey have pulled out all of the stops to convince Clarkson to join the club and News Corp’s Mark Robinson believes that a shot at greatness could entice the 54-year-old. 

‘Wayne Carey and Ricky Ponting make a really compelling case on an emotive side of football,’ he explained.

‘I would like to see Alastair Clarkson at North Melbourne.

‘I would love to see Alastair Clarkson pick up this team and take them to a prelim final, or a grand final. And you’d sit back and say ‘you are the greatest coach of perhaps all time’. And I would love to see that.’