Jaymie Graham: North Melbourne confirm Fremantle Dockers assistant will be new senior coach

Jaymie Graham’s grit, resilience and attention to detail are among the reasons he’s been installed as North Melbourne’s new coach, according to Roos president Sonja Hood.

Graham was on Tuesday confirmed on a three-year deal as the leading man at the Kangaroos, taking over from Alastair Clarkson, who was sensationally sacked last month when he still had another year to run on his contract.

Graham will make the move from Fremantle, where he has spent the past five years as Justin Longmuir’s trusted assistant. Before that, he was a part of West Coast’s 2018 premiership success.

“He has the resilience to handle the relentless toils of the football environment, carrying the exact kind of grit we value at North Melbourne,” Hood wrote in a letter to North Melbourne members on Tuesday morning.

“As a coach, Jaymie is a process-driven leader with a quiet, grounded presence, sharp attention to detail, and a clear football vision.

“Outside of his exceptional character, he joins us with a proven skill set. He played a key role in West Coast’s 2018 premiership success, and more recently he was the line coach for one of the competition’s best forward lines at Fremantle as part of a high-performing program.

“He is widely respected across the industry as a developer of talent and a connector of people - someone who builds strong player relationships instantly and earns respect through his actions.”

Graham will be tasked with ending North Melbourne’s considerable finals drought, with the club having missed out on September action across the past 10 seasons - the AFL’s longest current absence.

The 43-year-old said he was thrilled to be taking on the role.

“I feel like it’s the perfect fit,” Graham said.

“My values and the way I’m wired seem to be very aligned with North Melbourne. It feels like a connected club, and something that I can really feel like I belong to and contribute to the environment.”

Graham said he already had ideas about how the Roos improve on their nine-win season.

“I have identified some team defence opportunities for our team, and if we can turn the ball over closer to goal, we can really bring our game to life and create scoring opportunities that way,” he said.

“I’m really keen to work with the coaching group in collaboration and work out exactly what it is we want to target, and also get to know this playing list.”

North’s coaching move leaves Fremantle with some reshuffling to do in the box, with Graham joining Adam Read and Todd Curley in departing the coaching group this year.

But the club is happy to see Graham get his chance to run his own team.

“We can’t thank Jaymie enough for his five outstanding seasons of service to our club,” Dockers footy manager Joe Brierty said.

“Ever since he set foot in the door, he has been a highly valued member of our coaching department and respected by all players and football staff.

“Jaymie has had a significant impact not only on our player group - but the entire football department and broader club.

“It is well documented that Jaymie has had ambitions of becoming a senior coach in his own right one day, and we couldn’t be prouder or happier for him to take an opportunity he’s worked so hard for.”