Clarkson lashes tackle ban, defends Sheezel role

Perth Now

01-05-2025

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has lashed out at the AFL over Paul Curtis's three-match dangerous tackle ban.
In Thursday night's 9.11 (65) to 9.8 (62) loss to Essendon, North sorely missed the small forward, after the AFL tribunal upheld his suspension for a dangerous tackle that concussed Port Adelaide's Josh Sinn.
The Kangaroos, 1-7 and on a six-game losing run, still have at least two more games without Curtis, who Clarkson believes is the game's best tackler, against Brisbane and Richmond.
"It's a shame that that part of our game is getting questioned," Clarkson said.
"It's a feature of our game. We understand there's a duty of care, but there's a duty of care to the game.
"If the player hasn't got any intent other than to try and lay the tackle ... We understand the slings, but this is not a sling, this is a football action.
"We're disappointed with that outcome and particularly the severity of the outcome.
"Football action, he gets three weeks, someone swings an arm, off-the-ball incident, he gets less. It doesn't make sense.
"Also doesn't make sense that the AFL come out and say, 'oh we might change that at the end of the year.' It doesn't help us. We're really disappointed with that. Really disappointed.
"Because really strong leadership would say 'we understand it's wrong and we'll change it right now.' He shouldn't be missing three weeks of footy."
Clarkson also defended his call to play Harry Sheezel off half-back amid heavy scrutiny over the classy young gun.
He had 32 disposals and 591 metres gained against Essendon.
"Would we like him to play midfield and forward a little bit? Yep," Clarkson said.
"But he won a best and fairest as a half-back flanker too.
"Part of our trouble in terms of defending the ground is part of the reason why he's gone back the last two weeks.
The Kangaroos have blacklisted ex-Port Adelaide midfielder and pundit Kane Cornes over criticism of Sheezel and skipper Jy Simpkin that the club considered had crossed the line.
That included the suggestion Sheezel had been winning easy possessions in defence rather than having impact forward of the ball.
"It's hard to have score involvements when you're playing half-back flank," Clarkson said of Sheezel.
"There'll be critiquing of that elsewhere but part of being able to defend the ground is how do you get out of your back end effectively? And we just need guys who use the ball really well.
"We saw what (Connor) Rozee's been able to do for Port Adelaide in the last three weeks since he's gone back.
"They were battling to get it out, Port Adelaide, early in the year and then he goes back. It's a masterstroke.
"Winning requires no explanation but when you lose you've got to try and justify everything."
Asked when the players were told the club had put a ban on Cornes, Clarkson said: "I didn't tell them."