A magnanimous Alastair Clarkson desires Ben McKay and Todd Goldstein to be handled like “nice servants of our footy membership” after they face North Melbourne for the primary time on Sunday.
Clarkson stated he bore no ailing will in direction of the pair after their departures to Essendon as free brokers final yr, observing their choices regarded like “actually good ones” given the Bombers’ success.
McKay and Goldstein have performed each sport for the Bombers of their 6-1-2 begin to the season after the previous by no means performed in additional than 4 wins in a single season at Arden Avenue.
The coach of the winless Kangaroos stated the pair had achieved “the skilled factor” by exercising free company and chasing success.
His feedback got here as ahead Cam Zurhaar appears to be like set to discover free company on the season’s finish.
“Proper up to now, their choices have been actually good ones, notably in Goldy’s case,” Clarkson stated.
“(Goldstein) has performed plenty of footy for the one membership and wished that chance proper within the twilight of his profession … due to the time we wished to place into (Tristan) Xerri, we couldn’t assure that Goldy was going to play regularly.
“Clearly by means of the Essendon system, they may assure extra alternative for him, and he’s made essentially the most of that probability, notably with Draper out now.
“Someplace within the final two weeks, I believe he handed the file for 10,000 hit-outs in AFL footy … he’s been a rare participant at AFL degree and he continues to be that.”
Clarkson stated there was “not likely” added motivation for the Kangaroos to chase their first win of the season in opposition to their former teammates.
“Each of them successfully took benefit of the free company they had been each entitled to, and proper up to now their choices have been actually, actually good ones,” he stated.
“We’re actually happy for each these lads, they made contributions at our footy membership and so they did the skilled factor in a way – that’s assess their careers, took benefit of the free-agency clause that was obtainable to them and opted to go to a different membership.
“Whereas we’ll be rivals (on Sunday), they’ve been nice servants of our footy membership and we want them properly.”
