The Kangaroos claimed the last of their four flags in 1999. Clarkson played 93 games for the club between 1987-95.

Of the coaching greats since the 1960, Norm Smith has six premierships, his last two in 1960 and ’64, while Allan Jeans, Tom Hafey, Ron Barassi, David Parkin, Kevin Sheedy, Leigh Matthews and Clarkson each have four.

Carey said Clarkson’s presence ensured the Kangaroos now had greater relevance across the league, pointing to the impact that former coaches John Kennedy snr, Wayne Schimmelbusch and Denis Pagan had brought.

He praised president Sonja Hood’s work in securing Clarkson, but said more key decisions were now needed. “What a great job Sonja has done - I want to say that. The way she has handled the whole situation, I just think has been unbelievably good,” Carey said.

“What you want to see now and what is imperative is … all the decisions they make are the right ones. Most importantly, draft picks, all of those decisions are huge going forward. They are errors you can’t make from this point on.

“You have seen it can turn pretty quickly if you get key decisions right.”

Carey said the Kangaroos needed to ensure former No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis was happy “but, at the same time, abiding the same values and principles the rest of the team and everyone else is and buys in”.

Corey McKernan, who played in two flags alongside Carey, said Clarkson’s signature was a boon on several fronts.

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“To be able to land someone, who I think is one of the best in the field, it’s just a tremendous shot in the arm for the footy club. I think the flow-on effects from this are immense for the football club, whether it’s retaining players or attracting people,” he said.

“Then the stuff that happens with the members and sponsors, and everything like that. Overall, it gives you hope - that’s the biggest thing that it does.”

Dual premiership wingman David King, now a prominent commentator, also praised Hood.

“Can I say well done Sonja Hood? She was prepared to cop the backlash that was going to come if the attempt was a failed one,” King said on SEN.

“This is a massive day for the North Melbourne Football Club. Welcome home Alastair. Let’s hope he can correct what has been a shambolic situation over the previous couple of years.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the AFL had “zero” part to play in Clarkson’s appointment, with potential ambassadorial payments not part of discussions.

“I am keen to address that. There have been discussions around the place, around ambassador stuff, and I think people thought that was [relating] to [Greater] Western Sydney, as I think I said … Alastair had to make a decision on the basis of what the club has to put to him and we played no role in it,” McLachlan said on 3AW.

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