Hodge is wary of the 'Clarko Show'; Smith is back for Dogs, Bruce may be back

However, Clarkson, 54, remains the biggest name available, although his interest in joining the struggling club for which he played 93 games between 1987-95 remains unclear.

But Hodge, who captained three of the famous peatlands of Clarkson’s four flags in the Hawks, and was Norm Smith’s medallist in the 2008 premiership, delivered an outspoken message to Kangaroo.

“The hardest thing with Clarko, he’s not an easy person to deal with,” Hodge said on SEN on Wednesday..

Ross Lyon is one of the biggest names that Kangaroos can chase to replace David Noble.Credit:Sebastian Costanzo

“Yes, he is a great coach, yes, I love him as a coach, as a mentor, but he is not easy and he will be the first to say that … but he is getting results.

“So if North is going to go after him, yes, he’s coming in as coach, but he can’t bully them, he can’t tell the CEO or the president what to do. Yes, he will have some opinions and that is why he has been a good coach in the past because he is stubborn and he wants the best for the football club. But he couldn’t get in as a Clarko show.

Load

“He needs to know where he is and that means they need a stable, off the pitch stable board to let him know about it.”

The Hawks – and Clarkson – were at their best when he was surrounded by powerful chief executive Stuart Fox, now with MCC, and the heads of the football department, Mark Evans and later Chris Fagan.

Hodge, who ended his career with Brisbane, said Kangaroo needed a strong football department figure around Clarkson.

“If that means they get people in and around who have the power to control him when they need him, then yes he can go there,” Hodge said.

“I think deep down he wants that. He needs that to be a successful coach. Sometimes it doesn’t always go his way.

“I think that’s why he’s successful at Hawthorn, because he has assistant coaches around him who will interfere. Brett Ratten, I used to hear arguments in the match committee because Clarko would say something and ‘Ratts’ would be against it because he didn’t. ‘Didn’t think it was the best way for them to move forward that week.

“As much as Clarko wouldn’t like it at the time, he would reflect and say: ‘yeah, maybe that’s the right call’.”

Hodge said he didn’t think Clarkson, enjoying a year off and pushing for a new Tasmania-based franchise, would head to Arden St but admits his former coach likes a challenge.

“Right now, do I see him going North, doubtful, but if they can be strong and make some calls off the pitch… and if he wants to be the best coach he needs to be, he needs to take a team like that from the bottom… and get them back into the final, ” he said.

Load

“It’s a big challenge and we know Clarko likes a challenge.”

Caretaker Kangaroo coach Leigh Adams held his first training session on Wednesday. In an attempt to lighten the mood, the losers in the goal kick competition had to eat grass.

Longtime football administrator Geoff Walsh has yet to finish his review of the football department, in a season when there has been major upheaval.

If Kangaroos go after Clarkson, they’ll almost certainly need to carve out more than $1 million out of soft hats to pay for it.

Amarfio said on Tuesday that Kangaroos will be aggressive during the trading period – but finding interested players will be a challenge. They also tend to go after veteran talent, to provide leadership to their struggling young players, including draft pick No.1 Jason Horne-Francis.

Bailey Smith returns to the Bulldogs, Bruce in line to return

Jon Pierik

Bailey Smith has completed his AFL suspension while key striker Josh Bruce will return for the Western Bulldogs in Friday night’s crucial clash against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

Smith was suspended for four games – two for headbutting Zach Tuohy from Geelong, and two for inappropriate behavior, after admitting to using illegal drugs last year while dealing with mental health issues. He has also received strikes under the drug policy.

“Bailey Smith will play. He will be back in the team,” coach Luke Beveridge said on Wednesday.

“He is good. He has to understand the fact that he has had a lot of time without being able to play and, at the end of the day, he has just committed to his training, contributing where he can to the group, which is difficult for any player.

Bailey Smith has served his AFL suspension and will return for the Bulldogs on Friday night.Credit:Getty Images

“He’s in good headroom. He can’t wait to get back to playing and playing with his team-mates. He has managed it very well and it would be great to have him back in the team.

“I told him I was probably more worried about the headbutt than what happened at the end of last year. He has moved on from all that last year.”

Load

The Dogs, in 10th place and struggling to stay competitive in the last eight after losing streaks of 94 points, have lost Smith’s pace and creativity over the past month.

Key forward Josh Bruce, who made a 4.5 boot in the VFL last week, looks set to play his first senior game since a knee injury against Essendon in the round of 21 last year and is in need of reconstruction.

“It’s not the right time – a five-day break after a state league game – but it looks like he’s gotten past that game. He is healthy, so he should be available for selection,” said Beveridge.

“There is a possibility that his name will be added to the team sheet.”

Heading in the right direction: Josh Bruce will return for his first senior game since knee reconstruction.Credit:Getty Images

Toby McLean, who is also undergoing knee reconstruction, and has not played senior football since last year’s last 16, will not be called up this week. Rookie Sam Darcy is developing well in the VFL as a forward but “isn’t ready to break into the team yet,” said Beveridge.

The Bulldogs have had a difficult two weeks, against the Lions and Swans, with their lack of height in defense and scoring options going forward. They have conceded more than 100 points in three of their last four matches, with opponents scoring too easily in transition.

That they were crushed seven goals to two in the first quarter by the Swans also raises questions about their mindset.

“The first quarter, you want to think it was an anomaly. I think it was probably the worst quarter of football we’ve had while I’ve been here,” said Beveridge, after reflecting on it all week.

He said his team had analyzed the “methodology” in terms of players making adjustments in the game, and overall tactical decisions, especially in the wake of the loss of injured centre-back Caleb Daniel, in the hope that such a situation would not recur.

They now face a St Kilda side who lost badly to Fremantle, and are also desperate to stay in the final with six rounds remaining.

“Now it’s just a matter of gaining trust on those two levels – with each other and the way we know we can play together,” said Beveridge.

“I don’t think the players feel the pressure. I think they were excited about the chance on Friday night to, again, play against a Saints side who have shown they can be very competitive against some of the better teams.

“The harsh reality is that we are in the mud, in the middle of a group. You have to accept reality but you have to change your own direction through actions and beliefs.”

The Bulldogs announced they had signed more than 50,000 members for the first time, breaking the previous club record of 47,961.

Stay up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.

#Hodge #wary #Clarko #Show #Smith #Dogs #Bruce