North Melbourne appoints Jaymie Graham as senior coach
The Fremantle assistant was the selection panel’s unanimous choice to replace Alastair Clarkson, who was sacked in September.
Jaymie Graham will take charge of North Melbourne’s AFL team after the club announced his appointment as senior coach on 6 October 2026. Chief executive Jen Watt said every member of the selection panel had backed him for the role.
Graham takes over from Alastair Clarkson, whose dismissal in early September came with another year remaining on his contract. North Melbourne ended Clarkson’s fourth season in 14th place, recording nine wins in 2026.
After five seasons working under Justin Longmuir at Fremantle, Graham said he felt both nervous and proud about the appointment. At his first media conference, he acknowledged previous unsuccessful attempts to secure coaching jobs and thanked North Melbourne for its confidence in him.
Graham said his approach centred on systems and relationships. He saw talent in the playing list but acknowledged there was work ahead.
His experience includes three games across caretaker or interim appointments at West Coast and Fremantle, as well as coaching East Perth in the WAFL. North Melbourne president Sonja Hood credited him with contributing to West Coast’s 2018 premiership and praised his work developing players.
Fremantle thanked Graham for his contribution. Football executive Joe Brierty said his influence had extended beyond the players to the football department and wider club.
