Alastair Clarkson glad ‘circus’ is over as North Melbourne get their man

• AFL premiership winner turns down late Essendon bid
• Coach signs five-year deal with former playing club

AFL coach Alastair Clarkson is relieved the circus" is over and is excited about trying to lift battling North Melbourne back up the ladder. Clarkson ended fierce speculation over his future by confirming on Friday he would return to the club where he began his playing career back in 1987.

The four-time Hawthorn premiership coach will lead the Kangaroos for the next five seasons, after taking a year off following his exit from the Hawks at the end of 2021. After weeks of negotiating exclusively with Clarkson, North had to contend with an audacious late bid from Essendon this week.