Player Watch #12: Jy Simpkin [Part II] - staying at North in 2026 + won't feature in leadership group as Larkey set to be named captain

[Themanbun]

Rd 1 or 17?

17

 

[Passmore]

17

Themanbun' Midfield Minute Top Ten Peaheart Efforts 2025.

 

[Flawed Genius]

I remember the play. Inboard kick which Powell absolutely pooped em. Ducked the head, dropped the arms, whatever you want. As bad as it gets

 

[Gasometer]

I remember the play. Inboard kick which Powell absolutely pooped em. Ducked the head, dropped the arms, whatever you want. As bad as it gets

I’m going back right now

1st?

 

[Gasometer]

I’m going back right now

1st?

19:40 left on the clock, 1st Quarter

Some hard markers here

The whole 20 seconds pretty much sums up everything wrong with this 2024 Team

Tap down to Simpkin

Helicopter kick to no one

Bull out of position and pushed off the ball

Maley running around on skates

Bont off the leash

Naughton leading with whoever 2 metres behind

Powell ball watching and the doubt is whether or not he could have pushed harder into Naughton; but hey the ball was a hack kick

Naughton to a man totally on his own in the forward line

No wonder Clarksons taps walls gently

 

[Lavy_Panther]

I would consider just handing him off for whatever we can get, and I have to assume the Club are probably thinking the same behind the tough words.

All respect has largely been lost. You can cop leaving for:

• more money
• chance for a flag/success
• to be closer to your family
• more opportunity to play each week

But wanting to leave because you’re not the big boy on campus anymore is so weak for any player, let alone a captain of a Club.

It’s becoming clear that although Jy was consistently one of our better players during the darkest days, it’s equally true that he was at least a significant contributor to the culture that delivered those dark days.

I suspect any kind of perceived leverage we think we may have will fast evaporate once Simpkin makes it an untenable situation by formally requesting a trade (please see my 7 Trade Period Commandments).

 

[Makeshift Park]

He's running out of time. There aren't any clear suitors with the prerequisite picks, and he hasn't requested a trade. He's been swanning around the Amalfi coast instead of doing medicals. He's gone about this all half-pregnant. It would be surprising if anything happens this year.

 

[Kanga Glory]

From Herald Sun

 

[zoomba23]

Themanbun' Midfield Minute Top Ten Peaheart Efforts 2025.

That is a very finely pruned compilation indeed. I think the hottest (coldest?) 100 would be closer to the mark

 

[Nate1993]

Host on the trade radio was cracking on about North's offer to Collingwood and asking, why would anyone want to pay that for Simpkin.

That's the point! North don't want him to go, he is contracted whether he likes it or not. The picks we'd get in return would be arse, so keep him. That's why they throw 2 first rounders out there, they literally want to scare Collingwood away.

 

[shinboner magic]

Update title to Jy wing simp

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Feels so amazing having 100% leverage.

Let’s hope we don’t f*ck it up. Brady’s career might just depend on it.

 

[Johnny99]

Feels so amazing having 100% leverage.

See CCJ trade.

 

[choppy]

From my profile you can see I was one of the original North bigfooty contributors when this board started in 2000 ish
Haven't started a post nor contributed much over the last 10 years as one realises what one writes here makes no difference to anything.

Remember the first colour grand final as a 5yo watched those mid to late 70s , spent 13 years from 79 to 92 being as somewhat irrelevant as we are now.

But the 90s, their was heartbreak 93 94 95 and then the ultimate to attending 96 98 and then 99 and then 2007 was the real low point.

Those people bemoaning the club's performance over the last 15 years. I get it.

But if you werent around in 2007, to go through that feeling of those three months when you didn't have a club to follow. That's real pain.

Getting to my point reason for creating a post for the first time in probably 10 years. By coincidence had a long discussion with a training facilitator at a work leadership event today who was involved at the club until 12 months ago on player leadership and who was then 'let go' as certain 'leaders' - senior players at the club couldn't handle the feedback.

It was hoped that when Ziebell Cunnington Goldstein etc left that the next group Simpkin LDU Zurhar recruits like Logue Corr would step up. But they didn't and haven't put the team first.

To play that selfless team first approach rather than the... look at me I'll go ball hunting with a me first approach.

The club realises that it is the next gen of players that will take the club forward.

Sheezel Wardlaw Larkey Xerrie were mentioned as being team first - leaders

He mentioned and rattled off 9 players at the Brisbane Lions under 23 whom he is now involved with that had this selfless leadership quality. To put the team first rather than themselves.

This is a turning point. As Clarkson said three years ago he will find out who will play in the next North premiership. He also said don't underestimate the impact of the Clarkson episode - the club lost 18 months, Clarkson has only two years of input.

Explained that Brisbane went 18 17 18 16 before going top 4 but then had straight sets 2 years lost prelims lost grand final.

Said that we were looking at 2-5 year before doing what Bris are doing now.

But emphasised that he had never come across someone with the leadership qualities of Sheezel plus the individual qualities and leadership inputs that Wardlaw Larkey and X have.


I know people hang shit on Larkey but he said he was one who the players followed.

Raved about Sheezel. Said he is generational potential. And Wardlaw, leadership through action. Harry was action and articulation. George just all action.

Simpkin won't be captain if he stays. Untenable. Will be removed from leadership group. Will either become selfless and play his role in a team or would be a Clayton Oliver

10

Clayton Oliver

Age

28

Ht

189cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.8

5star

K

9.5

4star

HB

18.4

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

6.3

5star

CL

6.3

5star

D

25.1

5star

K

11.1

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

19.2

5star

K

4.6

2star

HB

14.6

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

4.4

5star

CL

3.8

5star

in 12 months for a future 3rd and North paying 60% of his wage to remove his current toxic attitude.

Surprised me, always liked Jiye , take it with a grain of salt. As i said this bloke was let go but is employed at Brisbane for the last 12 months.

He had a lot of good points about building teams as part of the training session.

Its a FAFO moment for Jiye and the playing group.

What else, The talent recruited over the last 3 years of drafts was greater than any other club in the league . Recognised amongst clubs that North has the most and best young talent.

Could they develop and harness that , million dollar question. But once the signs are there then elite established talent will come.

This generation of players have been bought up watching NBA college football. They want the crowds social media exposure. They can't handle the old school Clarkson Pagan Malthouse type of feedback.

What else

He was in contact with current people at the club, its a small industry , every club knows what's going on at other clubs no hard feelings sometimes things don't work out or clubs or players are not at that stage of maturity or development to receive certain messages

Final thing he said which I mentioned above their is the greatest amount of young talent on the list as any club, with Tasmania coming in. Other clubs were watching North and were projected to rise the most quickly

That development would come from within, recruiting sub Tier 1 talent established players Logue Corr Tucker Daniel Parker Darling were at an end.

The playing list has the individual talent. Can the club and the players create a team with that talent or a bunch of individuals.

Anyway interesting discussion

 

[spicerFanClub]

I choose to believe

 

[choppy]

That's why I only come on here once very few months and leave. I've posted a conversation without revealing details of who. Is it true, effed if i know

he was paid thousands to facilitate a 4 hr leadership session at a global multinational company.

Had a conversation with him at the lunch break without knowing his background and this came up in conversation

And you get this pathetic shit. If you don't like it or accept then eff right off.

heck the internet is a toxic shithole.

I long for the days in the early even mid 2000s when every north supporter despite us not agreeing with each other rallied against lobster man Duffy, time will tell Aylett, USC , Demetriou

As they so go **** yourself

 

[Moti]

Other than the Larkey comment, nothing you said surprises me. I have been saying for a long time that the need for mature players because they are mature is an old, irrelevant concept. It comes down to the quality of the person, regardless of age.

Hopefully, the round 1 team doesn't reflect the old thought process and promotes the push to get theis team moving,

 

[GoldSoundz]

Thanks for the insights Choppy. This Jai saga is actually a good thing. Will get the right players in the leadership group.

 

[the big lebowski]

Jeye

 

[DuckYeah]

From my profile you can see I was one of the original North bigfooty contributors when this board started in 2000 ish
Haven't started a post nor contributed much over the last 10 years as one realises what one writes here makes no difference to anything.

Remember the first colour grand final as a 5yo watched those mid to late 70s , spent 13 years from 79 to 92 being as somewhat irrelevant as we are now.

But the 90s, their was heartbreak 93 94 95 and then the ultimate to attending 96 98 and then 99 and then 2007 was the real low point.

Those people bemoaning the club's performance over the last 15 years. I get it.

But if you werent around in 2007, to go through that feeling of those three months when you didn't have a club to follow. That's real pain.

Getting to my point reason for creating a post for the first time in probably 10 years. By coincidence had a long discussion with a training facilitator at a work leadership event today who was involved at the club until 12 months ago on player leadership and who was then 'let go' as certain 'leaders' - senior players at the club couldn't handle the feedback.

It was hoped that when Ziebell Cunnington Goldstein etc left that the next group Simpkin LDU Zurhar recruits like Logue Corr would step up. But they didn't and haven't put the team first.

To play that selfless team first approach rather than the... look at me I'll go ball hunting with a me first approach.

The club realises that it is the next gen of players that will take the club forward.

Sheezel Wardlaw Larkey Xerrie were mentioned as being team first - leaders

He mentioned and rattled off 9 players at the Brisbane Lions under 23 whom he is now involved with that had this selfless leadership quality. To put the team first rather than themselves.

This is a turning point. As Clarkson said three years ago he will find out who will play in the next North premiership. He also said don't underestimate the impact of the Clarkson episode - the club lost 18 months, Clarkson has only two years of input.

Explained that Brisbane went 18 17 18 16 before going top 4 but then had straight sets 2 years lost prelims lost grand final.

Said that we were looking at 2-5 year before doing what Bris are doing now.

But emphasised that he had never come across someone with the leadership qualities of Sheezel plus the individual qualities and leadership inputs that Wardlaw Larkey and X have.


I know people hang shit on Larkey but he said he was one who the players followed.

Raved about Sheezel. Said he is generational potential. And Wardlaw, leadership through action. Harry was action and articulation. George just all action.

Simpkin won't be captain if he stays. Untenable. Will be removed from leadership group. Will either become selfless and play his role in a team or would be a Clayton Oliver in 12 months for a future 3rd and North paying 60% of his wage to remove his current toxic attitude.

Surprised me, always liked Jiye , take it with a grain of salt. As i said this bloke was let go but is employed at Brisbane for the last 12 months.

He had a lot of good points about building teams as part of the training session.

Its a FAFO moment for Jiye and the playing group.

What else, The talent recruited over the last 3 years of drafts was greater than any other club in the league . Recognised amongst clubs that North has the most and best young talent.

Could they develop and harness that , million dollar question. But once the signs are there then elite established talent will come.

This generation of players have been bought up watching NBA college football. They want the crowds social media exposure. They can't handle the old school Clarkson Pagan Malthouse type of feedback.

What else

He was in contact with current people at the club, its a small industry , every club knows what's going on at other clubs no hard feelings sometimes things don't work out or clubs or players are not at that stage of maturity or development to receive certain messages

Final thing he said which I mentioned above their is the greatest amount of young talent on the list as any club, with Tasmania coming in. Other clubs were watching North and were projected to rise the most quickly

That development would come from within, recruiting sub Tier 1 talent established players Logue Corr Tucker Daniel Parker Darling were at an end.

The playing list has the individual talent. Can the club and the players create a team with that talent or a bunch of individuals.

Anyway interesting discussion

I always said Jys leadership (and Happy Meals) should have ended start of 2025. At the time they were made captain, i think Jys training standards were paramount to keep the spirits up however he just oozed poor leadership.. CCJ achilles injury said it all.

What you mentioned above regarding the young players, this was mentioned by Clarkson mid year.. he wrote these mature guys off, i think rightly so. They are B graders on massive coin taking the absolute piss.

I agree on Larkey and xerri i think they’re the new lesdership group.

Anyway, lets hope we keep this young core group together

 

[dus]

Sensational post and story.

IUB should apologise.

Hopefully our 2 first rounders isn’t gonna be 2 third rounders now.

Hi Ralphy. Hold the story a couple of days mate.

 

[Danni_Benson]

From my profile you can see I was one of the original North bigfooty contributors when this board started in 2000 ish
Haven't started a post nor contributed much over the last 10 years as one realises what one writes here makes no difference to anything.

Remember the first colour grand final as a 5yo watched those mid to late 70s , spent 13 years from 79 to 92 being as somewhat irrelevant as we are now.

But the 90s, their was heartbreak 93 94 95 and then the ultimate to attending 96 98 and then 99 and then 2007 was the real low point.

Those people bemoaning the club's performance over the last 15 years. I get it.

But if you werent around in 2007, to go through that feeling of those three months when you didn't have a club to follow. That's real pain.

Getting to my point reason for creating a post for the first time in probably 10 years. By coincidence had a long discussion with a training facilitator at a work leadership event today who was involved at the club until 12 months ago on player leadership and who was then 'let go' as certain 'leaders' - senior players at the club couldn't handle the feedback.

It was hoped that when Ziebell Cunnington Goldstein etc left that the next group Simpkin LDU Zurhar recruits like Logue Corr would step up. But they didn't and haven't put the team first.

To play that selfless team first approach rather than the... look at me I'll go ball hunting with a me first approach.

The club realises that it is the next gen of players that will take the club forward.

Sheezel Wardlaw Larkey Xerrie were mentioned as being team first - leaders

He mentioned and rattled off 9 players at the Brisbane Lions under 23 whom he is now involved with that had this selfless leadership quality. To put the team first rather than themselves.

This is a turning point. As Clarkson said three years ago he will find out who will play in the next North premiership. He also said don't underestimate the impact of the Clarkson episode - the club lost 18 months, Clarkson has only two years of input.

Explained that Brisbane went 18 17 18 16 before going top 4 but then had straight sets 2 years lost prelims lost grand final.

Said that we were looking at 2-5 year before doing what Bris are doing now.

But emphasised that he had never come across someone with the leadership qualities of Sheezel plus the individual qualities and leadership inputs that Wardlaw Larkey and X have.


I know people hang shit on Larkey but he said he was one who the players followed.

Raved about Sheezel. Said he is generational potential. And Wardlaw, leadership through action. Harry was action and articulation. George just all action.

Simpkin won't be captain if he stays. Untenable. Will be removed from leadership group. Will either become selfless and play his role in a team or would be a Clayton Oliver in 12 months for a future 3rd and North paying 60% of his wage to remove his current toxic attitude.

Surprised me, always liked Jiye , take it with a grain of salt. As i said this bloke was let go but is employed at Brisbane for the last 12 months.

He had a lot of good points about building teams as part of the training session.

Its a FAFO moment for Jiye and the playing group.

What else, The talent recruited over the last 3 years of drafts was greater than any other club in the league . Recognised amongst clubs that North has the most and best young talent.

Could they develop and harness that , million dollar question. But once the signs are there then elite established talent will come.

This generation of players have been bought up watching NBA college football. They want the crowds social media exposure. They can't handle the old school Clarkson Pagan Malthouse type of feedback.

What else

He was in contact with current people at the club, its a small industry , every club knows what's going on at other clubs no hard feelings sometimes things don't work out or clubs or players are not at that stage of maturity or development to receive certain messages

Final thing he said which I mentioned above their is the greatest amount of young talent on the list as any club, with Tasmania coming in. Other clubs were watching North and were projected to rise the most quickly

That development would come from within, recruiting sub Tier 1 talent established players Logue Corr Tucker Daniel Parker Darling were at an end.

The playing list has the individual talent. Can the club and the players create a team with that talent or a bunch of individuals.

Anyway interesting discussion

Thanks for sharing. As an outsider looking in, that’s almost exactly how I’ve seen it. And to make Clarko’s job even tougher from the outset, he inherited a so-called ‘leadership’ group that, generally speaking, was simply inept at leading.

 

[danj]

From my profile you can see I was one of the original North bigfooty contributors when this board started in 2000 ish
Haven't started a post nor contributed much over the last 10 years as one realises what one writes here makes no difference to anything.

Remember the first colour grand final as a 5yo watched those mid to late 70s , spent 13 years from 79 to 92 being as somewhat irrelevant as we are now.

But the 90s, their was heartbreak 93 94 95 and then the ultimate to attending 96 98 and then 99 and then 2007 was the real low point.

Those people bemoaning the club's performance over the last 15 years. I get it.

But if you werent around in 2007, to go through that feeling of those three months when you didn't have a club to follow. That's real pain.

Getting to my point reason for creating a post for the first time in probably 10 years. By coincidence had a long discussion with a training facilitator at a work leadership event today who was involved at the club until 12 months ago on player leadership and who was then 'let go' as certain 'leaders' - senior players at the club couldn't handle the feedback.

It was hoped that when Ziebell Cunnington Goldstein etc left that the next group Simpkin LDU Zurhar recruits like Logue Corr would step up. But they didn't and haven't put the team first.

To play that selfless team first approach rather than the... look at me I'll go ball hunting with a me first approach.

The club realises that it is the next gen of players that will take the club forward.

Sheezel Wardlaw Larkey Xerrie were mentioned as being team first - leaders

He mentioned and rattled off 9 players at the Brisbane Lions under 23 whom he is now involved with that had this selfless leadership quality. To put the team first rather than themselves.

This is a turning point. As Clarkson said three years ago he will find out who will play in the next North premiership. He also said don't underestimate the impact of the Clarkson episode - the club lost 18 months, Clarkson has only two years of input.

Explained that Brisbane went 18 17 18 16 before going top 4 but then had straight sets 2 years lost prelims lost grand final.

Said that we were looking at 2-5 year before doing what Bris are doing now.

But emphasised that he had never come across someone with the leadership qualities of Sheezel plus the individual qualities and leadership inputs that Wardlaw Larkey and X have.


I know people hang shit on Larkey but he said he was one who the players followed.

Raved about Sheezel. Said he is generational potential. And Wardlaw, leadership through action. Harry was action and articulation. George just all action.

Simpkin won't be captain if he stays. Untenable. Will be removed from leadership group. Will either become selfless and play his role in a team or would be a Clayton Oliver in 12 months for a future 3rd and North paying 60% of his wage to remove his current toxic attitude.

Surprised me, always liked Jiye , take it with a grain of salt. As i said this bloke was let go but is employed at Brisbane for the last 12 months.

He had a lot of good points about building teams as part of the training session.

Its a FAFO moment for Jiye and the playing group.

What else, The talent recruited over the last 3 years of drafts was greater than any other club in the league . Recognised amongst clubs that North has the most and best young talent.

Could they develop and harness that , million dollar question. But once the signs are there then elite established talent will come.

This generation of players have been bought up watching NBA college football. They want the crowds social media exposure. They can't handle the old school Clarkson Pagan Malthouse type of feedback.

What else

He was in contact with current people at the club, its a small industry , every club knows what's going on at other clubs no hard feelings sometimes things don't work out or clubs or players are not at that stage of maturity or development to receive certain messages

Final thing he said which I mentioned above their is the greatest amount of young talent on the list as any club, with Tasmania coming in. Other clubs were watching North and were projected to rise the most quickly

That development would come from within, recruiting sub Tier 1 talent established players Logue Corr Tucker Daniel Parker Darling were at an end.

The playing list has the individual talent. Can the club and the players create a team with that talent or a bunch of individuals.

Anyway interesting discussion

Well said sir. Great summary of where we are really at. I suspected Jai had been told he’s not got the captaincy going forward and he’s not got the maturity to meet the challenge to put team first. Tough for him but we have to turn the corner and that starts now. BTW I well remember 2007 choppy i wonder if the young folk today would have the stomach for the fight? Hopefully in 2-5 years this will remain a hypothetical question and we old blokes can sit back in our rocking chairs and enjoy a few cold beers while watching North take out a threepeat

 

[Bucking Bronco]

From my profile you can see I was one of the original North bigfooty contributors when this board started in 2000 ish
Haven't started a post nor contributed much over the last 10 years as one realises what one writes here makes no difference to anything.

Remember the first colour grand final as a 5yo watched those mid to late 70s , spent 13 years from 79 to 92 being as somewhat irrelevant as we are now.

But the 90s, their was heartbreak 93 94 95 and then the ultimate to attending 96 98 and then 99 and then 2007 was the real low point.

Those people bemoaning the club's performance over the last 15 years. I get it.

But if you werent around in 2007, to go through that feeling of those three months when you didn't have a club to follow. That's real pain.

Getting to my point reason for creating a post for the first time in probably 10 years. By coincidence had a long discussion with a training facilitator at a work leadership event today who was involved at the club until 12 months ago on player leadership and who was then 'let go' as certain 'leaders' - senior players at the club couldn't handle the feedback.

It was hoped that when Ziebell Cunnington Goldstein etc left that the next group Simpkin LDU Zurhar recruits like Logue Corr would step up. But they didn't and haven't put the team first.

To play that selfless team first approach rather than the... look at me I'll go ball hunting with a me first approach.

The club realises that it is the next gen of players that will take the club forward.

Sheezel Wardlaw Larkey Xerrie were mentioned as being team first - leaders

He mentioned and rattled off 9 players at the Brisbane Lions under 23 whom he is now involved with that had this selfless leadership quality. To put the team first rather than themselves.

This is a turning point. As Clarkson said three years ago he will find out who will play in the next North premiership. He also said don't underestimate the impact of the Clarkson episode - the club lost 18 months, Clarkson has only two years of input.

Explained that Brisbane went 18 17 18 16 before going top 4 but then had straight sets 2 years lost prelims lost grand final.

Said that we were looking at 2-5 year before doing what Bris are doing now.

But emphasised that he had never come across someone with the leadership qualities of Sheezel plus the individual qualities and leadership inputs that Wardlaw Larkey and X have.


I know people hang shit on Larkey but he said he was one who the players followed.

Raved about Sheezel. Said he is generational potential. And Wardlaw, leadership through action. Harry was action and articulation. George just all action.

Simpkin won't be captain if he stays. Untenable. Will be removed from leadership group. Will either become selfless and play his role in a team or would be a Clayton Oliver in 12 months for a future 3rd and North paying 60% of his wage to remove his current toxic attitude.

Surprised me, always liked Jiye , take it with a grain of salt. As i said this bloke was let go but is employed at Brisbane for the last 12 months.

He had a lot of good points about building teams as part of the training session.

Its a FAFO moment for Jiye and the playing group.

What else, The talent recruited over the last 3 years of drafts was greater than any other club in the league . Recognised amongst clubs that North has the most and best young talent.

Could they develop and harness that , million dollar question. But once the signs are there then elite established talent will come.

This generation of players have been bought up watching NBA college football. They want the crowds social media exposure. They can't handle the old school Clarkson Pagan Malthouse type of feedback.

What else

He was in contact with current people at the club, its a small industry , every club knows what's going on at other clubs no hard feelings sometimes things don't work out or clubs or players are not at that stage of maturity or development to receive certain messages

Final thing he said which I mentioned above their is the greatest amount of young talent on the list as any club, with Tasmania coming in. Other clubs were watching North and were projected to rise the most quickly

That development would come from within, recruiting sub Tier 1 talent established players Logue Corr Tucker Daniel Parker Darling were at an end.

The playing list has the individual talent. Can the club and the players create a team with that talent or a bunch of individuals.

Anyway interesting discussion

Why did they sign Spargo and try to go after Aleer if they're done with signing C-grade established players then

 

[Tas]

From my profile you can see I was one of the original North bigfooty contributors when this board started in 2000 ish
Haven't started a post nor contributed much over the last 10 years as one realises what one writes here makes no difference to anything.

Yeah, I am a dinosaur too. People don't post on BF because they think it will change anything, we are just chewing the fat.

Remember the first colour grand final as a 5yo watched those mid to late 70s , spent 13 years from 79 to 92 being as somewhat irrelevant as we are now.

But the 90s, their was heartbreak 93 94 95 and then the ultimate to attending 96 98 and then 99 and then 2007 was the real low point.

Those people bemoaning the club's performance over the last 15 years. I get it.

But if you werent around in 2007, to go through that feeling of those three months when you didn't have a club to follow. That's real pain.

This isn't a misery Olympics. It is the nature of footy, you have good times, bad times. Things were rapidly changing when the game moved from an amateur game to a professional one and we were too slow to adapt.

Getting to my point reason for creating a post for the first time in probably 10 years. By coincidence had a long discussion with a training facilitator at a work leadership event today who was involved at the club until 12 months ago on player leadership and who was then 'let go' as certain 'leaders' - senior players at the club couldn't handle the feedback.

I am just going to put this out there... people who are "let go" usually do not have good things to say about the entity that let them go.

It was hoped that when Ziebell Cunnington Goldstein etc left that the next group Simpkin LDU Zurhar recruits like Logue Corr would step up. But they didn't and haven't put the team first.

I think we need to define what makes a good leader before we throw that title around. Most of those guys you listed were around during the Covid period and there wasn't a whole lot of leadership on display.

To play that selfless team first approach rather than the... look at me I'll go ball hunting with a me first approach.

The club realises that it is the next gen of players that will take the club forward.

Sheezel Wardlaw Larkey Xerrie were mentioned as being team first - leaders

I love X but he packed his bags and would have been playing for the the saints had they the foresight to not haggle over a second round pick.

I don't think of "team first" when I see Larkey spraying players who do not kick the ball to him or when he is flopping on the ground pleading for a free kick from the umpires whilst the ball is being rebounded out of our forward line with no pressure because he is sulking to the umpire or worried about his shitty haircut.

Wardlaw hasn't extended yet so I am not sure how committed he is.

Sheezle is awesome, but he is kind of a freak. You have to accept reality that 99.9% of players aren't like Sheezel so you need to be more effective in getting the most out a far larger group of the players.

He mentioned and rattled off 9 players at the Brisbane Lions under 23 whom he is now involved with that had this selfless leadership quality. To put the team first rather than themselves.

This is a turning point. As Clarkson said three years ago he will find out who will play in the next North premiership. He also said don't underestimate the impact of the Clarkson episode - the club lost 18 months, Clarkson has only two years of input.

Explained that Brisbane went 18 17 18 16 before going top 4 but then had straight sets 2 years lost prelims lost grand final.

Said that we were looking at 2-5 year before doing what Bris are doing now.

I throw up everytime I see this stupid Brisbane comparison, we are NOTHING alike and I wish people would stop doing it.

But emphasised that he had never come across someone with the leadership qualities of Sheezel plus the individual qualities and leadership inputs that Wardlaw Larkey and X have.


I know people hang shit on Larkey but he said he was one who the players followed.

Raved about Sheezel. Said he is generational potential. And Wardlaw, leadership through action. Harry was action and articulation. George just all action.

Being a good captain or a good leader is a whole lot more than being a good player. It is about taking charge on and off the field, be able to control and influence the group, set standards and a culture that is player driven. You need a strong board, a strong coaching and development group that push by the players to set the standard you demand. If it is not obvious from the outside looking in then I do not believe it exists. I do not need someone to tell me X or Y or team A has good leadership skills or a good culture because if you have that then it sticks out like dogs balls by how you play, how you prepare and what drives the group. We have it in the women's program atm, we do not in the men.

I am not surprised that someone who was hired to develop leadership skills in the men's group was let go, because I do not see any positive results from the outside looking in.

Simpkin won't be captain if he stays. Untenable. Will be removed from leadership group. Will either become selfless and play his role in a team or would be a Clayton Oliver in 12 months for a future 3rd and North paying 60% of his wage to remove his current toxic attitude.

Surprised me, always liked Jiye , take it with a grain of salt. As i said this bloke was let go but is employed at Brisbane for the last 12 months.

He had a lot of good points about building teams as part of the training session.

Its a FAFO moment for Jiye and the playing group.

I think people dumping it all on Simpkin are unhinged. He is the product of a bad system. Garbage in, garbage out. We didn't turn him into a better person or player. I don't know why you would see this decade of cascading failure and then just blame it on the one guy. I am guessing he is the guy that ratted out your source.

What else, The talent recruited over the last 3 years of drafts was greater than any other club in the league . Recognised amongst clubs that North has the most and best young talent.

Could they develop and harness that , million dollar question. But once the signs are there then elite established talent will come.

This generation of players have been bought up watching NBA college football. They want the crowds social media exposure. They can't handle the old school Clarkson Pagan Malthouse type of feedback.

What else

He was in contact with current people at the club, its a small industry , every club knows what's going on at other clubs no hard feelings sometimes things don't work out or clubs or players are not at that stage of maturity or development to receive certain messages

Final thing he said which I mentioned above their is the greatest amount of young talent on the list as any club, with Tasmania coming in. Other clubs were watching North and were projected to rise the most quickly

That development would come from within, recruiting sub Tier 1 talent established players Logue Corr Tucker Daniel Parker Darling were at an end.

The playing list has the individual talent. Can the club and the players create a team with that talent or a bunch of individuals.

Anyway interesting discussion

Meh, being in the bottom four forever means you get access to a lot of talent. Being in the bottom four forever means you are going to torch them though. At some point, people involved have to show results.

There are no accidents to being shit, for a long period of time. Lists just do not run deep enough to have a good 18 plus enough depth for a whole season and have 20-30 odd spots on your list for rebuilding your side, you have to make compromises. Teams that are rebuild make compromises with the best 18 and particularly the depth. For a side like us, when we lose a whole string of best 18 players to injuries we are just going to struggle, our best 18 is at best borderline competitive and we have no depth where it matters so we quickly go from borderline competitive to not at all competitive.

When it comes to leadership, we have seen glimpses of the style of footy that beats good teams and if not beat them then push them. However, there doesn't appear to be any natural leadership by the players and there has been nothing developed or evolved by the club and there seems to be poor standards that nobody is pushing us to play that style of game because that style of game is taxing to play. Why bust your arse when you can half-arse it and never get dropped? You are chronically overpaid because the AFL forces us to pay the entire TPP and more than half of our list are rookies, first contract players or just very young and it is worse outcome to overpay kids.

I think the club should have addressed the TPP problem with the AFL and to seek some kind of exception when so much of your list are on fixed contracts set by the AFL. It hasn't done us any favours forcing us to overpay mediocre players and for them to only get the big bucks when they perform.

We just do not have enough players that want to do the hard work and we tolerate that as a club. I'd like to hope that someone like Parker rubs off on the younger players but we have failed to turn the current mature players that have grown up here into good role models. You have to ask why everyone was doing who was being paid to get results in terms of developing good leaders.