Jaymie Graham is set to be named North Melbourne’s new senior coach, according to reports on Monday, with the Fremantle assistant emerging as the Kangaroos’ choice to replace Alastair Clarkson. The club is yet to confirm the appointment.
Seven’s Tom Morris reported on Monday 5 October that Graham could be unveiled as soon as this week, with only the final details to be ticked off before the club formalises the appointment. According to 7NEWS, North’s coaching panel settled on Graham as its preferred candidate after an impressive interview on Saturday.
The Roos are believed to have told the 43-year-old over the weekend that he is their man, but unsuccessful candidates will not be told until the board ratifies the appointment, a step Morris reported is “considered a formality”.
Fox Sports added that Seven West’s Ryan Daniels had revealed Graham returned to Melbourne on Monday to present to the Kangaroos’ board.
The Age’s Sam McClure then reported on Monday afternoon that Graham will coach North Melbourne in 2027, while Nine reported the club was expected to confirm the news on Monday afternoon.
Buckley’s exit cleared the way
Graham’s path opened up after Nathan Buckley pulled out of the race on Sunday 4 October. The Age‘s Sam McClure reported that the former Collingwood coach told North late last week he was removing himself from the process, having been due to present to the panel on Saturday.
Graham beat a field that included Hawthorn pair David Hale and Daniel Giansiracusa and North assistant Xavier Clarke, Fox Sports reported. Chief executive Jennifer Watt chaired the selection panel.
Who is Jaymie Graham?
Graham played 37 games for West Coast, then began coaching at St Kilda under Scott Watters, 7NEWS reported. He returned to the Eagles under Adam Simpson, coached East Perth in 2016 and joined Fremantle ahead of the 2022 season as a key assistant to Justin Longmuir. The Dockers reached the 2026 grand final, where they lost to Brisbane as the Lions completed a three-peat.
Graham has already coached three games at AFL level, The Age reported: one in 2018 while covering for Simpson at West Coast, and two at Fremantle in 2022 when Longmuir was sidelined by COVID-19.
He also went deep in the Essendon and Carlton coaching searches in 2026, missing out to Mark McVeigh and Josh Fraser respectively.
“They were well received, I clearly didn’t get the nod but got positive feedback about the way I went about it and presented so it’s just a matter of right time, right opportunity, hopefully in the future when they come,” Graham said of those processes on AFL Nation, as quoted by 7NEWS.
Before flying east for his presentation, Graham told 10 News: “It’s an exciting opportunity if I was to be successful. Clearly, I’d like an opportunity,” Fox Sports reported.
What’s next
North Melbourne parted ways with Clarkson in September with a year left on his contract. An announcement is expected once the board signs off. Neither the club nor Graham had commented publicly at the time of writing.
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