North Melbourne evaluates coaching options following the departure of Clarko

North Melbourne has moved on from coach Clarko, with officials citing the high resource demands of his management style as the primary driver for the decision. Sonja Hood and club leadership are now beginning a search for an untried candidate to lead the team. This change comes as the club seeks to fill a vacancy in a market that has seen recent coaching appointments at Carlton, Essendon, and Tasmania. Elsewhere in the league, Hawthorn secured a preliminary final berth after James Sicily recorded 26 disposals and 10 marks in a win against Fremantle. Other clubs continue to navigate late-season pressures, including Geelong preparing for an elimination final against Carlton and Adelaide addressing Izak Rankine’s performance. The league remains in a transitional phase as the 2026 season approaches its final stages.

• 8:00 PMAFL — IF the Clarko sacking was old-fashioned in its ruthlessness ... THEN