Football’s most legendary coaches achieve their greatness at more than one club. Ron Barassi. Allan Jeans. And more recently, Leigh Matthews and Michael Malthouse.

But the magic does not always follow them, as Malthouse knows from that calamitous stint at Carlton, where even North Melbourne premiership coach Denis Pagan was consumed by failure.

Alastair Clarkson won four premierships at Hawthorn and is now trying to rebuild North Melbourne.Credit: Getty

So now we watch if Alastair Clarkson, after four flags at Hawthorn, can replicate the magic at North Melbourne.

Season 2024, his second with the Kangaroos, is crucial for Clarkson and his legacy at Arden Street. Keep in mind the magic touch was waning at Hawthorn, where he last won a final in 2015.

It’s true, great players make coaches great. Pagan’s career illustrates this well. He was a master coach at North Melbourne where he had Wayne Carey and other stars at his disposal, whereas Carlton were a mess and the results were starkly different.

This concept is not restricted to Australian football.

In American football, legendary New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick led one of the greatest dynasties in sports history, winning six Super Bowl titles in the NFL ... with legendary quarterback Tom Brady in his line-up.

Belichick is the most successful coach in NFL history, yet he’s presently unemployed for next season.

QOSHE - Alastair Clarkson is a legendary coach. But has he still got it? - Kane Cornes
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Alastair Clarkson is a legendary coach. But has he still got it?

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29.02.2024

Football’s most legendary coaches achieve their greatness at more than one club. Ron Barassi. Allan Jeans. And more recently, Leigh Matthews and Michael Malthouse.

But the magic does not always follow them, as Malthouse knows from that calamitous stint at Carlton, where even North Melbourne premiership coach Denis Pagan was consumed by........

© The Sydney Morning Herald


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