New North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has been “cracking jokes every meeting” as he tries to energise final yr‘s wooden spooners with his premiership-winning ways.
The Kangaroos, who won just two games in 2022 before luring four-time premiership coach Clarkson to the club, open their season against West Coast, who also won just two games last season.
North co-captain Jy Simpkin said every year began with “hope” and the new coach had brought a positive feeling to the club that has finished last for the past two seasons.
“When you begin a new year there’s a lot hope,” Simpkin stated on Thursday, together with his group favourites to open the season with a win.
“(Clarkson) is so energised, every single meeting he’s cracking jokes, doing what he does, he’s excited as well.
“We’ve all forgotten about last year, we’ve put that behind us, we’ll go into this year fresh.
“The excitement levels around the club, the players, coaching staff, the whole club in general has an exciting feel.
“But definitely when you start the season off with a ‘W’ it definitely helps”.
In an interview with afl.com, Clarkson revealed a dialog with former Socceroos coach and now Celtic supervisor Ange Postecoglou satisfied him to tackle the “biggest challenge” of attempting to raise the Kangaroos out of the mire.
“What I didn’t fear one iota was North Melbourne’s position on the ladder. If anything, that was what presented such a challenge and such an opportunity,” Clarkson stated within the interview.
“I spoke to Ange Postecoglou and he said, ‘Take the biggest challenge’, and this is a great challenge.”
Star ahead Cam Zurhaar must show he has overcome a calf harm to take his place in opposition to the Eagles however goes very well in accordance with the membership’s head of efficiency Kevin White.
“He suffered calf tightness in the first half of that practice game (against the Bulldogs). We went for the conservative approach to minimise any damage that may be there and he ended up having a really minor calf strain,” White stated.
“But he’s progressing really well over the last four sessions that he’s had … he’s cleared the strength markers in the gym, and we’ll look to tick off full sprint and speed exposure and main training with the group to be available for selection.”
Originally revealed as Alastair Clarkson reveals tip from Ange Postecoglou swayed him into taking North Melbourne job
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
