Wayne Carey, North Melbourne's greatest player, believes Alastair Clarkson's strong leadership style is exactly what the embattled AFL club needs.
Clarkson is the Kangaroos' No.1 target to become their fourth full-time coach in five seasons after David Noble's sacking earlier this month.
North are doing everything they can to secure the services of the four-time premiership coach after he sat out this season following his exit from Hawthorn at the end of last year.
But they have competition from GWS, whose chief executive Dave Matthews and football director Jimmy Bartel met with the 54-year-old in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Clarkson's manager James Henderson reportedly met with North president Sonja Hood when the Kangaroos were in Tasmania to play Hawthorn last weekend.
Even Australian cricket legend and passionate North supporter Ricky Ponting wants to help in any way to ensure Clarkson ends up at Arden St.
Due to Clarkson's standing in the game, any agreement to coach North will almost certainly be largely on his terms.
Luke Hodge, who captained Hawthorn in three of Clarkson's four grand final triumphs, earlier this month warned any prospective club about the dangers of the "Clarko show".
But Carey has thrown his support behind his former club's all-out pursuit of the most successful AFL coach of the modern era.
"Unfortunately for North, and fortunately for 'Clarko', that's what North need," the dual Kangaroos premiership captain told Triple M on Wednesday.
"They need really strong leadership like that and someone to stand up and make strong decisions and make the right decisions for the football club.
"Alastair Clarkson is obviously the right man for the job; he gives the club automatic credibility.
"They need relevance and we need someone who can be the front person for that footy club.
"Sonja's new in the job (as club president), and I think she's doing a terrific job, starting to speak more and be a little bit more outspoken which is great.
"If they can land 'Clarko', I think it appeases a lot of people."
Clarkson's meeting with GWS on Wednesday was the third time he has met with the expansion club, which is searching for a full-time replacement for Leon Cameron.
Cameron stood down as Giants coach in May, handing the interim reins to assistant Mark McVeigh after almost eight years in the job.
