North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has been sanctioned by the AFL for making a 'homophobic' slur to St Kilda player Jimmy Webster.
The comment was made by Clarkson to Webster after the Saints defender concussed North Melbourne skipper Jy Simpkin with a horrible bump.
Clarkson has apologised for making the comment, and has now been handed a fine and a suspended sentence from the sport's governing body.
MORE: Jimmy Webster referred to AFL Tribunal: St Kilda defender in suspension trouble for Jy Simpkin bump
Clarkson receives $20,000 fine, two-match suspended sentence by AFL
The AFL has come down on North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson for his comments made towards Jimmy Webster, handing him a $20,000 fine to go along with a two-match ban, which was wholly suspended.
Found guilty of breaching AFL Rule 2.3(a) (Conduct Unbecoming), Clarkson will now be required to complete Pride in Sport training, on top of his fine.
While his two-match sentence was fully suspended, if the coach is found guilty of breaching the same rule before the end of the current season, the ban would immediately be fully enacted.
AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said via a statement that Clarkson's behaviour fell far below the level expected of those within the sport and that the inciting incident did not excuse the use of terms such as this.
"[Clarkson's] conduct does not represent behaviour acceptable to anyone in our game and not what is expected of a Senior Coach, especially someone of Alastair’s experience," Meade said.
“While we understand there are emotions attached to the heat of the contest, engaging with an opposition player during the quarter-time break and then using language that is both unacceptable and highly inappropriate is something the AFL does not want in the game.”
What did Alastair Clarkson say to Jimmy Webster?
At quarter-time and shortly after Webster's hit on Simpkin, Clarkson confronted the St Kilda player before allegedly calling him a 'c***sucker' and stating Webster would be suspended by the AFL Tribunal.
The expletive-ridden tirade was heard by AFLW football boss Tess McManus, several players and fitness staff.
Webster's team-mate Dougal Howard responded to Clarkson's tirade, which saw more comments exchanged between the coach and St Kilda players.
Alastair Clarkson, North Melbourne apology
In the wake of the sanction, North Melbourne released a statement in which they and their coach accepted the charge, with Clarkson once again apologising for his comments.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Kangaroo's CEO Jennifer Watt said that their coach's comments were unacceptable, but noted that he has 'reflected on how he responds to incidents like we saw on Sunday.'
“As Alastair has identified himself, his behaviour and the language he used was unacceptable and he has taken responsibility for that,” Watt said.
Earlier in the week, Clarkson issued a statement featuring an initial apology and said that he had reached out to St Kilda to attempt to make amends.
"I was deeply disturbed seeing our captain Jy Simpkin forced from the field as a result of a heavy collision just before quarter-time," Clarkson said in a statement on Monday.
"Jy has had a great pre-season and has now had three concussions in 12 months and I was so disappointed to see him leave the field in that way.
"At the quarter-time break, I voiced my displeasure to St Kilda players Jimmy Webster and Dougal Howard as they made their way to the quarter-time huddle.
"This was an exchange that was emotional in defence of our captain, but unnecessary and the language I used was inappropriate.
"I have reached out to [Saints coach] Ross Lyon and both the St Kilda players to apologise."
Video of Jimmy Webster's hit on Jy Simpkin
Just after Simpkin disposed of the ball in the forward pocket on the boundary line, Webster went airborne and made contact with the North Melbourne's player head with his shoulder.
Jy Simpkin has left the field following this bump from Jimmy Webster.#AFLSaintsNorth pic.twitter.com/UGDuSh7emB
— AFL (@AFL) March 3, 2024
Simpkin stayed down after the bump, received medical attention and was eventually removed from the game with a concussion injury.
North Melbourne players remonstrated with Webster after the incident and audible boos were heard from Kangaroos fans during the remainder of the match.
How long will Jimmy Webster be suspended for?
Webster has now been charged by the AFL Match Review panel with the precedent set by Sam Powell Pepper's rough conduct charge last week also seeing him referred directly to the AFL Tribunal.
Webster has been cited for careless conduct, severe impact and high contract with a three-plus game suspension referenced.
The Saints defender can expect to receive a similar suspension to Powell-Pepper, who received four weeks for his bump that concussed Mark Keane.
A factor that could count in Webster's favour is that Powell-Pepper has a long history of AFL suspensions compared to the Saint.
