After Alastair 'Clarko' Clarkson decided to coach North Melbourne, the AFL world could not be happier.
Well, not everyone.
Essendon missed the opportunity to sign a legend of the game, and the fans have not taken it well.
It is a special reunion, and footy fans around the country are waiting in anticipation to see what he can do for the club.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) August 18, 2022
Just wondering when the statue for @Sonja_Hood will be built at Arden Street @NMFCOfficial?
— Josh (@JBarney1994) August 18, 2022
It's time for a Sonja Hood mini-legend. https://t.co/ncOcUjdurw
— daniel (@bookshopaddict) August 18, 2022
Welcome back Clarko! Pumped about this like all North fans. https://t.co/bBwboAvIvu
— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) August 19, 2022
The celebrations were not just from the fans. The AFL community was excited and on board with the partnership.
Good on North Melbourne, they get their man.
And what a complete and utter butchering by Essendon - they still have a coach, who they clearly don’t want, board is spilling and now look completely lost.
Weren’t they winning the premiership this year!? 😂
— Will Schofield (@WillSchofield) August 18, 2022
So this sums up how the Essendon fans felt after the announcement...
— LucyP ➐ (@PrinceISname) August 18, 2022
@thatweirdpigeonguy And as a hawthorn fan, i love it #afl #essendon #clarko #sports ♬ original sound - Kieran
Titus O'Reily, quickly jumped on this opportunity to re-enforce the mess Essendon has made.
Clarkson to coach North. Sad to see a small club like Essendon continue to struggle.
— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) August 18, 2022
Daniel Gorringe also provided a soothing tweet to reassure Essendon fans.
I reckon Essendon has handled this well
— Daniel Gorringe (@GorringeDaniel) August 19, 2022
Which can be roughly translated to...
Live look at Essendon handling it pic.twitter.com/vpFzECBDOJ
— Tully Whiteman (@TullyWhiteman) August 19, 2022
Non-Essendon fans enjoyed seeing Clarko make the decision to coach the Kangaroos.
non-essendon fans. pic.twitter.com/KcRxBw5L3c
— Anders (@alex_anders) August 18, 2022
How Clarko chose North….#afl pic.twitter.com/MRoOq99ehm
— TYPEMedia (@TYPEMedia1) August 19, 2022
As a passionate Hawks fan it brings me so much joy to see Clarko say "no" to Essendon 😀
— lehmo23 (@lehmo23) August 18, 2022
Clarko will be remembered for a lot of great things, But I personally will remember him for making Essendon even more of a basket case 💗
— MJ (@melnation___) August 18, 2022
Imagine your club being such a mess that Clarko is like “nah, I’d rather coach North.” https://t.co/7RopZUNIav
— Andrew Johnston (@ARJ7X) August 18, 2022
Ben Rutten ended up worse off than their finals record, which didn't seem possible.
Hope Clarko’s first order of business as official North Melbourne coach is to ring up Ben Rutten and offer him a chance to get out of that joint
— Josh (@JBarney1994) August 19, 2022
If this Clarkson shitstorm doesn’t prove to everyone, once and for all, that the Essendon Football Club is the most poorly run organisation in professional sports, then I can’t help you…This is an embarrassment
— Herbatron23 (@Herbatron23) August 18, 2022
Fans who hate Essendon felt the excitement in their heart.
Jake Carlisle was right.
— Anthony D'Arcy (@adarcy93) August 19, 2022
As a Hawthorn supporter, from the bottom of my heart, suck shit Essendon.
— Rich Hummerston (@Richie_Humm) August 18, 2022
Whether or not you are a North Melbourne fan, you must be happy to see Clarko back where it all began.
