Alastair Clarkson

Recruited from Kaniva in country Victoria, Alastair Clarkson burst onto the scene at North Melbourne in 1987 as a tenacious rover and small forward. His debut season was marked by extreme highs and lows; he famously kicked a match-winning goal after the siren against Melbourne in his first year, but is historically best remembered for the infamous 'Battle of Britain' exhibition match in London, where a behind-play strike on Carlton's Ian Aitken resulted in a four-match suspension. Throughout his nine seasons at Arden Street, Clarkson was known for his volatility and competitive drive, often serving as an aggressive presence around the stoppages who could push forward to hit the scoreboard.

Clarkson's playing career is often viewed through the lens of unfortunate timing. Despite being a regular fixture in the North Melbourne side, he was traded to Melbourne at the end of the 1995 season, resulting in him missing the Kangaroos' premiership triumph the very next year. He provided solid service as an experienced midfielder for the Demons across two seasons, playing 41 games for the club before retiring in 1997. While his 134-game playing career was serviceable and occasionally controversial, it has ultimately become a footnote to his legacy as one of the modern era's most successful coaches.