Kangaroos president Sonja Hood and football boss Todd Viney were in the audience on Tuesday at Arden St as highly-rated former Fremantle assistant Graham fronted his media conference alongside chief executive Jen Watt.
It was Hood and Viney who took questions from journalists on September 1 after Clarkson was sacked, speaking bluntly about why the coaching great had been axed.
Clarkson, in turn, gave a media interview and said the club had publicly humiliated him, accusing the North hierarchy of dancing on his grave.
The four-time premiership coach was the elephant in the Kangaroos' room as Graham officially took over.
"Today is really about Jaymie, but I would say is that we'll be forever grateful for the foundations that Alastair laid at this club over the last few years," Watt said when asked about Clarkson's sacking.
"He was the right time and the right coach for us, for that period.
"It's evidenced by where the group's at now and the steps we're ready to take forward."
Graham, 43, finally landed his debut senior coaching job after several applications, most recently at Carlton and Essendon.
North went for a first timer, rather than an experienced hand such as Nathan Buckley.
"Our selection panel ... felt the alignment of Jaymie's personal values with those of our club, along with all of his extensive football credentials and clear capabilities, made him the very best person to take our club forward," Hood said in a letter to members.
Graham started on Tuesday and said he already felt like he's in the right place.
"It's amazing how life works - I've missed out on a few opportunities ... but things happen for a reason," he said.
"I really feel like I belong already, with the people I've met.
"It's very similar - Fremantle are a port city, blue-collar, and I've walked in here, Arden St, Shinboners."
Asked if he would bring Wharfie Time across, Graham replied it is now "Northy Time".
When Clarkson was sacked, one of the key traits that North wanted was that his successor was up to speed with the modern game.
Graham has spent five years at Fremantle and was appointed at North Melbourne only days after the Dockers' heartbreaking grand final loss to Brisbane.
"All I will say is I've been involved (at) Fremantle, we've just played in a grand final, so I'm confident I'm up to speed with where the game's at," he said.
"Then - we're dealing with people and I don't think that's changed, the fact that you need to care first and then hold them accountable.
"People don't care how much you know until they know much you care."
He also noted the past week had been "a whirlwind".
Graham only played 37 games at West Coast before his AFL career was wrecked by injury and personal circumstances.
"I didn't have the 300-game, two-premiership playing career of some others, but I have life experiences, I've been coaching for 15 years and been in a number of environments," he said.
Graham and Watt would not give a timeframe on how long it might take for North to return to the finals, but he is encouraged by the state of the club and their playing list.
"There's already been a lot of work done ... I want to contribute to that environment," he said.
"There's clearly some talent on this list, but there's also some work to do."
Graham also warned the process would not be linear.
"It could be a little bit clunky. It will be like driving a manual car, for the older people in the room who learned with one," he said.
Graham presented to the board on Monday and beat David Hale, Daniel Giansiracusa and Xavier Clarke to the job.
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