North Melbourne has finalised its coaching structure ahead of the 2024 AFL season.
Senior coach Alastair Clarkson will be supported by a new-look team with the arrival of experienced assistant coaches Jed Adcock and Xavier Clarke.
Following his playing career with the Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs, Adcock spent seven years coaching at the Lions, including six seasons as a forward line coach before spending 2023 as backline coach. Adcock’s role at Arden Street will focus on defence.
Clarke has worked in various leadership and coaching roles after his playing career. He spent seven years at Richmond; first as a development coach, and more recently as a forward line coach. Clarke will work with the Kangaroos' forwards in 2024.
Shinboner 937 Leigh Adams will embark on his second season as an assistant coach, this time working with the midfield group after leading the forwards in 2023.
Michael Barlow was appointed the club’s new head of development in October.
The former Docker and Sun was most recently named the 2023 VFL coach of the year after leading Werribee to a 17-game winning streak and the side’s first grand final appearance in almost two decades.
Barlow will lead an expanded development team of Tom Lynch (VFL senior coach), Emma Kearney (development coach), Adam Marcon (development coach), and Jarrod Lienert (Indigenous player development manager/development coach).
Damien Monkhorst will also return in a part-time ruck coach role.
Brent Harvey will move out of the coaching group and into a part time role supporting the club’s engagement of its past players.
North Melbourne 2024 AFL coaching panel
Alastair Clarkson – AFL Senior Coach
Leigh Adams – Assistant Coach (midfield)
Xavier Clarke – Assistant Coach (forward line)
Jed Adcock – Assistant Coach (backline)
Damian Monkhorst – Ruck Coach (part-time)
Michael Barlow – Head of Development
Tom Lynch - VFL Senior Coach
Emma Kearney – Development Coach
Adam Marcon – Development Coach
Jarrod Lienert – Indigenous Player Development Manager/ Development Coach
