North Melbourne appoints Jaymie Graham as senior coach

North Melbourne has appointed Fremantle assistant coach Jaymie Graham as its senior coach, replacing Alastair Clarkson after the club dismissed him last month. The Kangaroos confirmed Graham’s appointment on October 6, handing the 43-year-old his first senior coaching role after 15 years in coaching. Graham joins North Melbourne after five seasons at Fremantle, where he was most recently a forward-line coach. He was also part of West Coast’s 2018 premiership coaching staff, having earlier played 37 games for the club. Reporting on the appointment said Graham had signed a three-year deal. North Melbourne president Sonja Hood said in a letter to members that Graham’s personal values aligned with the club and described him as a process-driven leader with a clear football vision. She also cited his work developing players and building relationships. Those assessments reflect the club’s stated reasons for selecting him; the specific playing-style changes he will introduce have not been detailed. Graham told reporters at his first media appearance in the role that his playing and coaching experiences could help him connect with and guide young players.