Alastair Clarkson fined $20,000 by AFL, handed suspended ban after ‘unacceptable’ verbal abuse

In short: Alastair Clarkson has been fined and handed a suspended ban following his heated exchange with two St Kilda players during a preseason match.

Clarkson will be required to attend appropriate Pride in Sport training as approved by the AFL. AFL 2024: Why Alastair Clarkson is in danger of becoming North's greatest liability

What’s next? The two-match suspended ban will come into effect if he makes a further breach before the end of the 2025 season.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has been fined $20,000 and handed a two-match ban — suspended for two years — following his verbal outburst during a preseason match last Sunday.

Clarkson allegedly used the homophobic slur “c*******er” during an expletive-laden exchange with St Kilda players Jimmy Webster and Dougal Howard at the quarter-time break.

It followed Webster’s high, late bump on Jy Simpkin, which left the Kangaroos co-captain in concussion protocols. Webster was later suspended for seven matches by the AFL tribunal.

The AFL found Clarkson guilty of breaching its rule relating to conduct unbecoming.

He is free to coach the Kangaroos in round one, but the ban will come into effect if he makes a further breach before the end of the 2025 AFL season.

Clarkson will also be required to attend appropriate Pride in Sport training as approved by the AFL.

He apologised for the incident earlier this week, and on Friday said he accepted the AFL’s finding.

“At the outset, I want to reiterate my initial public apology and acknowledge that my exchange with the St Kilda players was unnecessary and the language I used was inappropriate,” Clarkson said in a statement.

“I am disappointed that I allowed the emotion of the moment to envelope me and I should not have engaged with the St Kilda players. Alastair Clarkson fined $20,000 by AFL, handed suspended ban after 'unacceptable' verbal abuse - ABC News

“I have since apologised to St Kilda coach Ross Lyon, Jimmy Webster and Dougal Howard for the manner in which I reacted.

“This has been a significant reflective moment for me. My language was not used with any intent to vilify or marginalise, however through this incident I have begun to understand the impact of the use of casual language.

“I am fully committed to educating myself in this regard.

“In terms of my reaction to the incident involving Jy (Simpkin), I have been doing some work to understand why I respond in the manner I do, but also to develop strategies I can implement in these moments.”