Post by Violetta on Feb 13, 2003 6:58:04 GMT 9.5
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Surprise, surprise: Clarkson's SA boss
By DOUG ROBERTSON
13feb03
The SANFL has announced what everybody in Adelaide already knew . . . estranged Central District premiership coach Alastair Clarkson will coach the state team this year.
Apparently the one-year appointment had little to do with Clarkson's shock split with Central in January because of irreconcilable differences.
Clarkson, who will head a new-look state panel, has since accepted the job as midfield coach with the Power, which gave its blessings to his new venture. North coach Darel Hart is Clarkson's assistant while recently retired SANFL stars, Dogs club champion Rick Macgowan and Glenelg's Simon Hele, along with dual Sturt premiership defender of the '70s Colin Casey, are selectors.
"I've got no axe to grind with Central and I'm not taking this job in spite of their actions," Clarkson said. "I wanted to keep involved with coaching in some way. Port does allow me to do that but it doesn't give me my own group to coach."
The SANFL said it first sounded out Clarkson for an expression of interest in the state job in December, subject to his commitments at Elizabeth. No further communications took place, according to the league and Clarkson, until he split with the Dogs, when the SANFL's offer became firm. As a Victorian, Clarkson is a rare appointment as SANFL coach and the first from interstate to hold the job since Norwood premiership coach and former Richmond ruckman Neil Balme (1985, '92), who was born in WA.
Balme and another Richmond ruckman and North Adelaide premiership coach, the late Mike Patterson, are the only interstate identities to coach SA since 1954. Graham Cornes, who was born in Victoria, was raised in Whyalla and is identified with SA.
All Clarkson's assistants have played at state level for SA and, he said, their input would be "crucial" for the June 21 clash with WA, in Perth.
Clarkson said he could hardly wait to delve back into the thrill of coaching. His commitments won't clash with the Power, which usually trains and plays at different times to the SANFL.
"Each of them has fantastic expertise in a lot of ways and Rick and Simon are contemporary players. They would have played against a lot of the (state) players," Clarkson said. "If I wasn't excited by it I wouldn't have gone down the track to listen when the goalposts shifted at Central.
"With what I've been able to contribute to the SANFL and what I've achieved, I've become really interested in the competition. I expect to be in Adelaide for at least two more years . . . I'd expect to be state coach for two years."
Surprise, surprise: Clarkson's SA boss
By DOUG ROBERTSON
13feb03
The SANFL has announced what everybody in Adelaide already knew . . . estranged Central District premiership coach Alastair Clarkson will coach the state team this year.
Apparently the one-year appointment had little to do with Clarkson's shock split with Central in January because of irreconcilable differences.
Clarkson, who will head a new-look state panel, has since accepted the job as midfield coach with the Power, which gave its blessings to his new venture. North coach Darel Hart is Clarkson's assistant while recently retired SANFL stars, Dogs club champion Rick Macgowan and Glenelg's Simon Hele, along with dual Sturt premiership defender of the '70s Colin Casey, are selectors.
"I've got no axe to grind with Central and I'm not taking this job in spite of their actions," Clarkson said. "I wanted to keep involved with coaching in some way. Port does allow me to do that but it doesn't give me my own group to coach."
The SANFL said it first sounded out Clarkson for an expression of interest in the state job in December, subject to his commitments at Elizabeth. No further communications took place, according to the league and Clarkson, until he split with the Dogs, when the SANFL's offer became firm. As a Victorian, Clarkson is a rare appointment as SANFL coach and the first from interstate to hold the job since Norwood premiership coach and former Richmond ruckman Neil Balme (1985, '92), who was born in WA.
Balme and another Richmond ruckman and North Adelaide premiership coach, the late Mike Patterson, are the only interstate identities to coach SA since 1954. Graham Cornes, who was born in Victoria, was raised in Whyalla and is identified with SA.
All Clarkson's assistants have played at state level for SA and, he said, their input would be "crucial" for the June 21 clash with WA, in Perth.
Clarkson said he could hardly wait to delve back into the thrill of coaching. His commitments won't clash with the Power, which usually trains and plays at different times to the SANFL.
"Each of them has fantastic expertise in a lot of ways and Rick and Simon are contemporary players. They would have played against a lot of the (state) players," Clarkson said. "If I wasn't excited by it I wouldn't have gone down the track to listen when the goalposts shifted at Central.
"With what I've been able to contribute to the SANFL and what I've achieved, I've become really interested in the competition. I expect to be in Adelaide for at least two more years . . . I'd expect to be state coach for two years."