NORTH Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson insists he didn't mean to light fires with comments about trying to recruit Melbourne's Jack Viney and other experienced players from rival clubs. Clarkson raised eyebrows in a radio interview when he confirmed media reports about the Kangaroos targeting contracted Demons vice-captain Viney as a possible off-season acquisition. BULLDOGS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats The 56-year-old also said he was interested in talking to the likes of Port Adelaide's Ollie Wines, Sydney duo Luke Parker and Dane Rampe, and Greater Western Sydney veteran Callan Ward.
"We're just hoping we can extract one or two of those. Jack (Viney) is part of that," Clarkson said on SEN radio on Friday. The comments came a day after Clarkson said in a press conference he wouldn't publicly discuss trade targets or contracted players from rival clubs.
On Sunday, after North Melbourne's horror 20.18 (138) to 6.6 (42) loss to the Western Bulldogs, Clarkson said the radio discussion was purely a "philosophical" one.
Watch North Melbourne’s press conference after round 23’s match against Western Bulldogs He reiterated his club is seeking to recruit "leadership type of players" in the off-season. "Are we targeting specifics? No. I could've named (Patrick) Dangerfield in there or Jeremy Cameron .
.. anyone possibly that can come in and help us that's in the twilight of their career to give us some leadership," Clarkson said.
"The mature-age in our list, that's w.