In-demand coaching great Alastair Clarkson has nominated North Melbourne as his preferred club for 2023.

Clarkson has been courted by three clubs ahead of next season, with the four-time premiership coach having met with GWS, while Essendon have recently emerged as potential suitors.

The Roos and Giants have both opened vacancies this season, with David Noble and Leon Cameron departing respectively.

Following a board spill on Monday, Clarkson was linked to Essendon despite Ben Rutten's contract status with the Bombers.

However, on Friday morning the Roos confirmed Clarkson's appointment as their next senior coach.

The Roos themselves hinted at Clarkson's decision to join the Arden Street side, posting the former North Melbourne player's Shinboner number.

North Melbourne president Sonja Hood expressed her delight in having the former Roos player return to the club, with the coaching mastermind set to begin his tenure from November on a five-year deal.

"This is a real watershed moment for our club, and I am writing to share it with members first โ€“ weโ€™ll talk to media later today, but for now, this is a moment for all of us," Sonja wrote in a club statement.ย 

"I canโ€™t speak highly enough of the professionalism of Alastair and his manager James Henderson over this past four weeks. Weโ€™ve had a crash course in getting to know each other and Alastairโ€™s passion to drive our club back to where we belong is incredibly infectious.

"Alastair officially begins with us on November 1, and Iโ€™m looking forward to welcoming him, wife Caryn and children Stephanie, Matthew and Georgia, to the Shinboner family."

Clarkson brings with him a decorated coaching career, having led Hawthorn to four premierships across a 17-year stint at Waverley.

The coaching great amassed a 58.97 win rate percentage with the Hawks, winning 228 of 390 matches at the helm.