Alastair Clarkson’s former manager Liam Pickering says he would advise the four-time premiership coach to take the North Melbourne job.
The Roos are reported to have offered Clarkson a contract of at least five years and have gone all in on securing him as their senior coach, while he’s also met with GWS.
Those are the only two clubs currently on the lookout for a new senior coach, and given his credentials, it’s believed Clarkson has the pick of the job he wants.
Pickering and Clarkson have been friends for over 35 years, but the two parted ways in a managerial sense in 2013.
“I think he is (going to North Melbourne),” Pickering said on *SEN’s Off The Bench.
“I haven’t spoken to him, so I don’t know.
“I would be (advising him to take the North Melbourne job) because I don’t see Alastair living in Sydney.”
Pickering also added that following in the footsteps of John Kennedy Snr would mean a lot to Clarkson.
“It’s a great challenge, it’s his old club, and the other thing is he idolizes Kanga (John) Kennedy,” he added.
“Kanga went from Hawthorn where he was a legend as a coach and came across to North and coached North for (several years), he’s Alastair’s hero.
“It would just be great for the footy club if he could go there.
“Nothing against the Giants job, I think the Giants have got the better list. But if it was me advising him, I’d say, ‘Kanga job, just make it yours mate. It’s your club, your people’.”
Clarkson will likely make his decision before the end of the home and away season and there’s growing momentum an announcement could come next week.
He formerly played 93 games at North Melbourne between 1987 and 1995.
.