AFL Finals Week 1 2026 LIVE scores: Fremantle Dockers vs Hawthorn Hawks Qualifying Final results, video highlights, latest news; Finals week 1 team changes; Hodge calls out Roos for ‘distatesful’ Clar

Luke Hodge has spoken for the first time since Alastair Clarkson’s North Melbourne sacking.

The pair won four flags together at Hawthorn and it's fair to say Hodge has unloaded on the Roos and their reasoning behind the brutal call.

"When it came out, and then the press conference, I understood they had to be firm given he had one year on his contract, but I tell you what, they took firm to the next level. It almost took away any dignity that he had with his coaching ability," Hodge told SEN this evening.

"It was a distasteful way to part with someone who went to a club he played at. They've definitely improved, it's not like they've gone backwards, but football is a ruthless business.

"When they employed him, they knew what kind of coach they were getting. They were getting a competitor, they were getting someone who doesn't listen, effectively.

"They saw how the finish at Hawthorn happened, he will be stubborn to the bitter end, but that's who he is and that's what got Hawthorn four premierships and that's what got us at a young age to believe in him, because he does that hard work.

"For them to sack him when they knew what they were getting, you scratch your head at that.

"Where I scratch my heads is they went to the staff and players who told them they don't think he's the right person to take them to the next premiership. Who in that football club has any idea what it takes to get to a premiership?

“With all due respect, they are asking people who haven’t won premierships about Clarko.

“It leaves a bad taste (in my mouth) with how they did it.”

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