Kangaroos fans have plenty to smile about after Alastair Clarkson’s appointment, despite heavy loss

Alastair Clarkson received a hero’s welcome by North Melbourne fans on Saturday, but he was left in no doubt over the size of the task ahead as the Kangaroos suffered a 67-point thrashing against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium. 

A four-time premiership-winning coach with Hawthorn, Clarkson on Friday confirmed he would end his sabbatical and return to footy next season by taking charge of the club he began his career at in 1987.

The 54-year-old will take charge of the Kangaroos for the next five seasons and his appointment has generated tremendous excitement among a fan-base that has long been starved of positive news.

On Saturday, North fans held cardboard cutouts of Clarkson aloft at Marvel Stadium as they welcome their new coach, who was not in attendance. 

It was a disappointing collective assessment from the Kangaroos players for Clarkson, who would at least have been heartened by several individual performances, such as No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis with his work in the midfield until he was forced off with a cut head late in the third quarter.

Gold Coast, meanwhile, were left to ponder what might have been after a club-equalling win.

It was the Suns’ 10th victory, matching the season-best of 2014, but again coming up short of finishing in the top-eight to play in the finals.

The 54-year-old was appointed as the Kangaroos next head coach on Friday afternoon

Clarkson signed a five-year deal to return to the club where he began his playing career in 1987

Gold Coast set up the 16.18 (114) to 6.11 (47) victory with superior efficiency with the ball, control around the stoppages and a functioning forward line led by veteran Alex Sexton with a career-best six goals.

Kangaroos Backman Ben McKay kept Suns’ key forward Levi Casboult goalless and Curtis Taylor picked up 25 possessions and a goal while dulling the influence of Suns co-captain Touk Miller, one of the Brownlow Medal favourites, to a manageable 25 disposals.

North Melbourne really only threatened once with goals from Hugh Greenwood and Luke Davies-Uniacke early in the third quarter.

The Kangaroos lost by 67 points against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday

But the Suns responded to the challenge with five unanswered goals from Sexton (two), Miller, Malcolm Rosas and Mabior Chol to put the contest beyond reach.

The Suns added seven goals from stoppages, an indication of the on-ball monopoly that would have been noted by Clarkson to rectify for the 2023 season.

The Queenslanders had goals on the board from Noah Anderson and Malcolm Rosas before several Kangaroos had touched the ball.

And late goals in the first quarter from Alex Davies and Sexton set up an early scoreboard buffer that was too easily defended after halftime.

The win was Gold Coast’s 10th of the campaign, matching their season-best of 2014

Alex Sexton (middle) kicked a career-best six goals for the Suns in their 114 to 47 win

New Roo Joshua Goater had a first AFL kick to remember after the debutant bravely centred the ball from half-back that allowed Horne-Francis to release Bailey Scott to goal on the run for the Roos’ first goal.

Goater had 21 touches in a promising start. Gold Coast dominated the possession count in the first half, but couldn’t convert.

An early concern, particularly with McKay taking six intercept marks and keeping Suns tall target Casboult under control and Taylor’s hard tag on key Suns playmaker Miller.