GWS argues that it has greater challenges in attracting coaches and football staff, given the higher cost of living in Sydney.
Clarkson made a presentation to the Giants’ trio of chief executive David Matthews, chairman Tony Shepherd and football chief Jason McCartney last week, having had previous discussions with the club.
If GWS have the advantage of a stronger core of senior players, North Melbourne arguably offers Clarkson more opportunity to recruit seasoned players, as a club in Melbourne, and also given that the Roos have a massive amount of salary cap space, compared to the Giants , who are expected to shed senior players again during the trade period.
Ken Hinkley has not yet been sounded out by either club, according to sources familiar with his situation. Port Adelaide president David Koch announced this week that Hinkley will coach the club in 2023.
Clarkson has had the opportunity to refresh in 2022, having been paid more than $900,000 by the Hawks, the parties having agreed that he would be better to move on rather than coach on once the handover to Sam Mitchell had been announced.
North Melbourne have been paying the full amount of the soft cap on football department spending this year, with the soft cap set to rise by $500,000 in 2023 and with further exemptions that can enable a club to spend more than $7 million next year – still a far cry from the pre-pandemic soft cap of $9.7 million.
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