Footy great Matthew Lloyd says Alastair Clarkson becomes "too emotional" amid calls for the AFL to suspend the North Melbourne coach over his latest fiery incident.
As revealed by 9News on Monday, Clarkson verbally attacked a number of St Kilda players in the aftermath of Jimmy Webster levelling Kangaroos captain Jye Simpkin during a practice game on Sunday.
Webster is facing a long suspension for his high shot, but it is Clarkson who stole the headlines on Monday for allegedly using the word "c—sucker" while lambasting Webster – as well as Saints teammate Dougal Howard – during the break after the incident.
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Lloyd – an Essendon goal kicking legend – knows Clarkson's fury all too well.
He was famously on the end of a Clarkson barrage after a game in 2009, when Lloyd had broken the jaw of Hawthorn player Brad Sewell with an illegal high shot.
Clarkson stormed onto the MCG at end of play and tried to approach Lloyd, but was held back by a Hawks official.
A security guard reported hearing Clarkson say, "you had better f—ing retire you f—ing weak c—". The then-Hawks coach was handed a suspended $5000 fine by the AFL.
"Probably a similar situation, where I'd laid a hip and shoulder on Brad Sewell, and (Clarkson) was very emotional at the end of the game," Lloyd recounted on 3AW radio on Monday
"I was in his crosshairs, he said some things to me and he was trying to make his way over to me.
"He was trying to come in my direction, I'm not sure what he would have done if he got close enough. Mark Evans was pushing him away.
"There's no doubt that what is a strength of his – that competitive, combative nature – is also a weakness of his with that rap sheet.
"He gets too emotional."
The two incidents are certainly not isolated for Clarkson.
In 2013 he aimed an insult towards an AFL.com.au reporter. In the same year, he apologised for verbally abusing two Port Melbourne players during a VFL game.
Last year, he took aim at Channel 9 reporter Elisabeth Moss and later apologised for his actions.
3AW host Sam McClure is now calling on the AFL to suspend Clarkson for using a derogatory slur during his rant.
"I don't think a fine cuts it here… I think personally he shouldn't be able to coach round one," McClure said.
"What would (AFL boss) Andrew Dillon have to do if one of his staff said that to another staff member in front of other staff… would they have to be sacked?
"In a day where North Melbourne should be the victims in all this, and Jimmy Webster and St Kilda should be in the spotlight, (Clarkson) has flipped it all because of another rush of blood, because he couldn't stay away.
"What is he doing going anywhere near Webster and Howard at quarter time?
"And what message does this send to the gay footballers out there who haven't come out yet? Language is important."
Lloyd agreed a suspension for Clarkson would be appropriate.
The Kangaroos open their AFL season against the Giants on March 16.
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