Latest news with #AlastairClarkson
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Bombshell as Cyril Rioli texts reveal secret footy comeback plan under Alastair Clarkson at Kangaroos - just WEEKS before the Hawthorn racism saga unfolded in 2022
In the latest bombshell to engulf the AFL, it can now be revealed Hawthorn legend Cyril Rioli considered a shock return to the sport under former coach Alastair Clarkson at North Melbourne - just weeks before Hawthorn's racism saga exploded. Rioli - who won four premiership at the Hawks - spoke to his one-time mentor in August and September of 2022 about turning out for the Kangaroos the following season, once Clarkson took over at Arden St. 'Interested and keen,' was Rioli's response when asked if he would dust off his playing boots after previously retiring in 2018. Ultimately, at 33, Rioli felt he may struggle with the fitness levels required and the move never eventuated - but 'Junior' was reportedly open to joining North Melbourne in an off-field role such as an Indigenous liaison officer. Incredibly, just a few weeks later, legal action in relation to historical racism allegations aimed at Hawthorn, Clarkson, current Brisbane Lions head coach Chris Fagan and former welfare manager Jason Burt was then launched after the 2022 Grand Final. The high-profile Hawks trio all strenuously denied any wrongdoing, with an subsequent investigation from the AFL finding no adverse findings. Rioli was the lead complainant in a statement of claim against his former club which accused Clarkson, Fagan and Burt of 'separating Indigenous players from their families.' The decorated half forward flank also accused Hawthorn of 'unlawful discrimination' causing 'psychological harm', 'distress' and 'personal harm' throughout his decorated career which started in 2008 and concluded a decade later. Additionally, Rioli and his partner Shannyn Ah Sam-Rioli, said they felt 'culturally unsafe' at Hawthorn. Clarkson and Rioli have not spoken since their text exchange in 2022. With the matter set to play out in the Federal Court involving Hawthorn, the club resolved the matter on AFL draft night in November last year. A statement formally apologised to Rioli and wife Shannyn, Jermaine Miller-Lewis, Montanah-Rae Lewis, Carl Peterson and former Hawthorn Indigenous officer Leon Egan for their 'distress' at the club. 'Hawthorn accepts that the allegations were made in good faith, and has heard, respects, and accepts that they represent their truths,' part of the statement said. 'Hawthorn is sorry and apologises that the former players, partners, and their families, in either pursuing a football career, or in supporting such a person, experienced ongoing hurt and distress in their time at the club.' Clarkson experienced a mental health breakdown in 2023 and took personal leave from the Kangaroos amid the devastating fallout.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Cyril Rioli Kangaroos text message bombshell before Hawthorn scandal
Alastair Clarkson and Cyril Rioli discussed the possibility of the legendary forward making an AFL playing comeback just before the Hawthorn racism saga erupted, according to CODE Sports. A stunning story was published on Friday by Herald Sun chief football writer and Super Saturday LIVE panellist Jay Clark, who reported Clarkson and Rioli spoke both on the phone and via text message in August and September 2022, where the idea of the triple All-Australian recommencing his AFL career under Clarkson's new club was floated. Rioli, who was coached by Clarkson in the four Hawks flags, shocked the footy world midway through the 2018 season when he announced his retirement just before his 29th birthday. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. But just over four years later – after Clarkson had left Hawthorn and was on the verge of coaching his second club – the pair weighed up the possibility of the superstar small forward playing under Clarkson at another team. In the alleged text messages, published by CODE Sports, sent across August and September 2022, Clarkson asked Rioli how he was and if he was 'still keen' on a comeback. In Rioli's reply, he said he was 'interested and keen'. Clarkson, according to the report, then sent another message to Rioli that read: 'Still waiting for your preference. Orange and charcoal or blue and white?' The colours were a reference to the Giants and Kangaroos, who were two of the AFL clubs interested in hiring Clarkson as their next coach at the time. The Roos eventually signed him in August 2022 on a five-year deal. Rioli, in the following weeks, conceded to Clarkson he'd need more time to build his fitness if he wanted to play in the AFL again, flagging the prospect of taking on an off-field role at the Kangaroos instead. A month later in AFL Grand Final week of 2022, allegations from a report into the historical treatment of First Nations players at Hawthorn – including shock claims against Clarkson and other senior Hawks figures – was published by the ABC. It was the start of a two-year legal battle, which led to Clarkson and Lions coach Chris Fagan – the Hawks' former football boss – being temporarily stood down by their new clubs. Communication between Rioli and Clarkson petered out after the allegations became public. Despite Clarkson's attempts to check in on Rioli, CODE Sports reported the duo haven't spoken since. The saga ended in late 2024 after the ex-Hawks players and their family members took a statement of claim to Federal Court before a settlement was reached and the Hawks released a statement apologising to the players, including Rioli. The allegations were never confirmed to be true or false. The accused former Hawthorn staffers, including Clarkson, strongly denied the allegations and remain significantly affected by the fallout.
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
AFL 2025: Alastair Clarkson ‘pretty certain' AFL will make MRO grading change
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson foresees a shift to the match review officer's grading following the controversial ban to star forward Paul Curtis. Curtis returns to the Kangaroos side this week after serving a three-match suspension for his run-down tackle on Port Adelaide's Josh Sinn. Curtis was sanctioned through the severe and high-impact measures as Sinn was concussed in the tackle. The four-time premiership coach says the Curtis ban is 'done and dusted' for the 'Roos now but still expects the system to undergo change at season's end. 'I think Laura (Kane) went public when she said 'there's probably a flaw in the system',' Clarkson said. 'Somewhere in there there's just no scope for a two-week suspension or a one-week suspension on these sort of tackles. 'We thought he should have got off all together but we can sort of half cop and understand what they're trying to do when you get a week. 'For the system to not allow that to be the case and it be a three-week ban, I think the whole competition was sitting back and saying 'geez, somewhere that needs to change'. 'I would be pretty certain that there would be some sort of modification to that grading system with the MRO at the end of the year.' Clarkson is content with his stance on the timing of changes and hopes no team suffers the 'injustice' of a similar sanction in finals. 'My argument was 'if you know it's flawed now, change it now' – there's other things in the game we change mid-term,' he said. 'What happens if the Paul Curtis thing happens to a team in the finals or a player in the finals and they miss three weeks because of it? 'That would be a real injustice, I feel. Anyway, they will address it at the end of the year. 'It's done and dusted for us, we've got Paul back now, we're pleased he's back and it's unfortunate he's missed the three week.' Curtis is a welcome addition for Clarkson's men, who tackle ladder-leaders Collingwood at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night. Clarkson says facing any top side can be a 'daunting' challenge but is itching to see how his Kangaroos stack up against the well-drilled and experienced Magpies.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Kangaroos are seeking to guarantee more MCG games
North Melbourne defender Charlie Comben has put the onus on his teammates to ensure they are given more MCG opportunities after ending an eight-year drought at the venue. The Kangaroos' tense four-point victory over Richmond on Sunday snapped a run of nine straight losses at the home of football. Alastair Clarkson fielded six players who had never played a senior game there, while veteran defender Luke McDonald was the only one who had played in North's previous MCG win back in 2017. Remarkably, only Gold Coast (10 times) have played fewer home-and-away games at the MCG than the Kangaroos (12) over the last decade. The Richmond encounter was the first of three MCG games for North in 2025, ahead of clashes with Carlton (round 15) and Melbourne (round 18) after their mid-season bye. "It's unbelievable. Running out, I had a look around and soaked it all in," Comben told AAP. "It was only my third game at the 'G in my 38-game career. "We don't get here a lot and we've got two more games coming up here later in the year. "But if we keep performing and playing good footy then we're going to get fixtured here more often. "So that's on us to start winning more games of footy and I think that's going to happen for us." North's drought-breaking triumph over the Tigers would not have been possible without telling performances from their senior players. Tristan Xerri was titanic in the ruck, Aidan Corr and McDonald stood up in defence, while Cam Zurhaar kicked four crucial goals. But Comben reserved special praise for captain Jy Simpkin, whose grandmother died in the days leading up to the game. "The one that epitomised it for me was Jy Simpkin," Comben said. "Jy lost his grandma three days ago, so coming into the game was really emotional for him and we wore black armbands for him today. "I thought he led from the front in the middle. "Our leaders played good footy and that allowed us young boys underneath to follow in their footsteps." Zurhaar played despite a nasty injury on his non-preferred left foot, which could yet rule him out of the clash with ladder leaders Collingwood at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night. "Cam's one of the toughest competitors I've seen," Comben said. "His foot was a balloon before the game. I was calling him 'Big Foot'. "So for him to come out and perform like he did was awesome. "No one on the ground would have known because he didn't tell many of the boys. "So it was a really tough, fierce, competitive game from Cam and I'm really proud of him."
News.com.au
18-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Clarkson's thoughts on ‘scrappy' win
AFL: North Melbourne head coach Alastair Clarkson speaks to the media after his side's narrow win over Richmond in Round 10.
