Jaymie Graham named new North Melbourne AFL coach - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Fremantle Dockers assistant coach Jaymie Graham has been confirmed as the new coach of North Melbourne. (Getty Images: AFL Photos/Michael Willson)

North Melbourne has its new senior coach, with Fremantle assistant coach Jaymie Graham the unanimous choice of the selection panel.

Graham succeeds Alastair Clarkson who was sacked in early September with a year left to run on his contract.

Graham describes himself as a "systems-based and relationships-based coach".

North Melbourne has named Fremantle assistant coach Jaymie Graham as the new coach for the AFL side.

A statement from club president Sonja Hood on Tuesday said Graham was the new senior coach, succeeding four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, who was sacked by the Kangaroos earlier this year.

Graham spent five seasons at the Dockers as an assistant to Justin Longmuir.

The Kangaroos finished the 2026 season — Clarkson's fourth season in charge — in 14th spot with nine wins.

Speaking at his first press conference, Graham thanked the club for having faith in him.

Having missed out on a number of coaching opportunities before landing the North Melbourne job, he said he was nervous and proud to take charge of the Kangaroos.

"This opportunity came up, things happen for a reason. I feel I belong here already," he said.

"There's no ceiling on where we want to get to. There's clearly some talent on this list, but there's also some work to do."

Graham described himself as a "systems-based and relationships-based coach".

"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

Club CEO Jen Watt confirmed the panel tasked with finding the new coach had unanimously picked Grham.

Earlier, in the club statement, Hood told members Graham had "the resilience to handle the relentless toils of the football environment, carrying the exact kind of grit we value at North Melbourne.

"As a coach, Jaymie is a process-driven leader with a quiet, grounded presence, sharp attention to detail, and a clear football vision," she said.

"Outside of his exceptional character, he joins us with a proven skill set. He played a key role in West Coast's 2018 premiership success, and more recently he was the line coach for one of the competition's best forward lines at Fremantle as part of a high-performing program.

"He is widely respected across the industry as a developer of talent and a connector of people — someone who builds strong player relationships instantly and earns respect through his actions."

The announcement marks a change in direction, with a young untested AFL senior coach — who has been a caretaker or interim coach for three games in total at West Coast and Fremantle, after a period in charge of East Perth in the WAFL — after the end of the Clarkson era.

The Kangaroos were criticised for the tone of their press conference in early September announcing Clarkson's departure.

At the time, Hood said Clarkson's replacement needed to be "a coach who can coach for the modern game".

"It'll be a coach who knows what they're doing, and it'll be a coach who's the best fit for this football club," she said.

Football manager Todd Viney said in the press conference there were "still some gaping holes in our game plan".

Fremantle paid tribute to Graham in a statement, wishing him well for his new role and thanking him for his "five outstanding seasons" at the club.

"Jaymie has had a significant impact not only on our player group — but the entire football department and broader club," Fremantle executive general manager of football Joe Brierty said.

"It is well documented that Jaymie has had ambitions of becoming a senior coach in his own right one day, and we couldn't be prouder or happier for him to take an opportunity he's worked so hard for."