North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has come under fire – and drawn praise – for punching a 20-year-old player in the heat of the club’s tense win over Carlton on Friday.

Adding to their painful start to the season, the Blues blew another big lead, conceding the final five goals in a stunning 14.12 (96) to 13.8 (86) loss to North Melbourne. 

Carlton kicked five goals to two in the third term and were up by 21 points at the 14-minute mark of the final quarter, but lacked the composure required to complete the job.

Part of the reason North Melbourne rallied to claim its third win of the season to sit in the top four was a withering spray from veteran coach Clarkson at three-quarter time.

Colby McKercher, 20, was the target of Clarkson’s wrath after a brain fade in the third quarter gifted Calrton’s Jagga Smith the easiest of goals. 

Clarkson marched onto the field, singled McKercher out and delivered a spray for the ages, along with a punch in the chest, to wake the young defender up.

Alastair Clarkson sparks debate after punching young North Melbourne player during heated three-quarter-time spray against Carlton on Friday night

Clarkson defended physical spray, insisting team must improve defensively after conceding multiple goals from inside-50 stoppages

It worked. With the Kangaroos finding the defensive resolve to close out the match – something the club has lacked for many years. 

Speaking after the match, McKercher said he deserved what he copped and praised Clarkson for his tough love. 

‘I was disappointed I let them team down,’ he said.

‘It was a forward 50 stoppage and I kind of switched off mentally for a bit.

‘I think Jagga Smith might have snuck through and kicked a goal who was my matchup at that time.

‘I knew I had made the mistake when it happened and I could see him beeline straight towards me at three quarter time.

‘I thought ‘here we go’. But Clarko and I have such a good relationship, so we hugged it out after the game.

‘I think it’s just his way of showing care. He is just so hard on me because he cares so much.’

The spray had the desired effect, with McKercher pictured celebrating the win with teammates

McKercher and Clarkson shared an embrace after the match after sealing the win for the club

AFL analyst Kane Cornes loved seeing ‘Angry Clarko’ return to the AFL and praised him for laying down the law with his young charge.  

‘He was ball watching. You have got to know where you are. You need to have an opponent. You have got to have an arm across and (he gave away a) walk-in goal just before three-quarter time,’ Cornes said about McKercher.

‘Clarko makes a beeline for him, and that’s what he’s saying. He’s saying. ‘We cannot accept that.’ Colby confirmed after the game that’s what it was about.

‘Look, I didn’t mind this from Clarko. You have got to pick your targets. It’s very physical, and it clearly had an impact on him because he hardly touched the ball after this moment.

‘But it’s good coaching to really demand standards from him, but get him up the ground and use his weapons, kicking the ball inside 50, not getting cheapies in the back pocket.’

And the coach himself was unapologetic over his actions, especially considering the final result. 

‘It was just a general reminder that we need to be strong in that part of the game,’ Clarkson said.

‘He’s a young kid learning the game, he does some terrific stuff, he was really strong with ball in hand in the first half.

‘But we need to be really, really good defensively and that was frustrating.

‘I think they scored four or five goals from inside-50 stoppages and those last two certainly got the coach a bit frustrated going down at three-quarter time.’

Sheezel (24 disposals), Luke Davies-Uniacke (22), Finn O’Sullivan (21), George Wardlaw (16) and Luke Parker (20) were all influential for the Kangaroos, with Zane Duursma and Cooper Trembath kicking three goals each.