Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has admitted to feeling "shocked" by North Melbourne's dismissal of their head coach, and his close friend Alastair Clarkson, on Wednesday.
The two were thick as thieves as colleagues during a highly successful period for Hawthorn, having first worked together at Melbourne in the mid-to-late 1990s.
Fagan sensationally turned the Lions from cellar-dwelling headline fodder into a dynastic force in the Australian sports landscape, and was under the impression Clarkson may have done the same thing at Arden St, if more time was afforded him.
“It was a big shock to me," Fagan said, when fulfilling his media duties on Thursday.
"I actually thought 'that can't be right'. Under his guidance, North have really started to improve, and we can all see their growth this year. It just reminded me of how tough coaching can be, that when a bloke that's been as successful as him as a coach, can be jettisoned as quickly as that.
“I hope he's okay. I tried to speak to him last night; eventually I will have a chat."
Fagan appeared less than impressed by North Melbourne's handling of the situation, with particular reference to the "fierce" press conference conducted in the aftermath.
“I guess I just hope that the feedback that was given about him in the press conference yesterday was given to him in person at some stage during this year so that he had the chance to act on it. Feedback is only any good if you get it at the right time," Fagan said.
“It was a pretty fierce press conference yesterday, the way that he was spoken about. Probably an unfair description of a man that's done an awful lot for footy.
“I would've liked to see him get a few more years at North to see if they could rise up. I felt like they might have been on the verge. Hopefully his work does get acknowledged if that does happen."
Clarkson's own statement in the wake of his dismissal alluded to his time in football being over, with Fagan taking the time to hand his friend his proverbial flowers.
“He set the trend in a whole lot of areas in coaching. He's obviously a great coach; I hope he's not lost to the game. Whatever he does next, I hope he does well," he said.
“(He taught me) many things. Keep developing yourself professionally as a coach - don't sit back and think you know everything. Be honest with your players - he was always very honest, sometimes brutally, but you always knew where you stood with him."
