Clarkson questions AFL equalisation model

NORTH Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has said he believes the AFL could be doing a better job with equalisation.

Clarkson took over the helm of the struggling Roos for 2023, a team that has won 11 games in four seasons.

He believes there are too many mechanisms in place undoing equalisation in the league, including free agency and academies.

“All footy clubs go through this at various points in their history… ours has been a little bit longer than we like,” Clarkson said on SEN Tassie.

“It’s four years now where the club has either been on the bottom or near the bottom and certainly from the league’s point of view, the ideal model with an 18-team competition with a strongly regulated equalisation model, the whole idea in a utopia would be finishing in a different position every 18 years.

“In a pure equalisation model, no team is meant to stay on the bottom for four years and that’s the challenge with the equalisation model because there are so many compromises to it like free agency and the like and academies for some of the clubs where they’re given a leg-up in securing talent like the northern clubs can.

“There’s compromises everywhere and that’s why it is difficult for some clubs that aren’t afforded some of those benefits for those to climb the ladder again.

“We’re going to be pretty keen to go to the draft and utilise our early picks like we did last year.

“It’s going to be a build over a period of time, but that’s exciting, starting from scratch and building something pretty special.”

Clarkson has been a significant part of the Tasmanian bid for an AFL team, with talks surrounding a bespoke stadium one of the controversial points.

The four-time premiership coach is confident the Macquarie Point stadium would be one of the best facilities in the world.

“What I do know doing some research around the world to help prepare Tassie get this bid is Tasmania has a very unique opportunity,” Clarkson said.

“There wouldn’t be another team in the country that has the type of government support that Tasmania will have. That’s pretty unique in world sport.

“In addition to that, maybe outside Sydney Harbour, the site of the new stadium is perhaps the best in the country if not best in the world.

“That whole precinct could be really special, especially if they make it more than just a football ground.”

– NIC NEGREPONTIS/ SEN