Prediction Dr Sonja Hood AM

[GoRoos2023]

I love the passion, but imagine trying to call the President to a meeting after a scratch-match loss and then going public when you get rejected.

An all-time nuffy crashout imo.

lol, I don’t think it was Debbie from the Cheersquad who called the meeting mate.

Almost certainly Mark Dawson and his crew.

 

[year of the roo]

lol, I don’t think it was Debbie from the Cheersquad who called the meeting mate.

Almost certainly Mark Dawson and his crew.

I think I'd rather hear what Debbie has to say.

 

[TruRoo]

Willingness to recognize what’s being by done isn’t working.

She did it with Noble.

The fact she’s tied herself to Clarkson makes it difficult to make the same call.

Self interest always wins.

The cost to get rid of Clarkson wouldn't be viable surely. Sadly that was likely the trade off for coaxing him to come and take over our mess.

 

[Chadwiko]

100% agree.

Most of the pressure should be on Clarko, Viney and Kevin and Brady.

I am incredibly surprised Brady Rawlings survived last year. There were strong whispers he would go, but obviously that never panned out.

I know that we, as fans, love to rate our own players highly. And that's fine. That's how it should be.

But if you take a critical look at just our recent drafting, it doesn't paint a good picture. I'm going to be overly harsh for some of our players here, and I'm sure many will take umbrage to some of these assessments, but imagine you're looking at this through non-NMFC eyes. This is only looking at our National Drafts, and doesn't include rookies/MSD either:

2022

• Pick 3 - Harry Sheezel - 67 games played. 28 Brownlow votes. Elite. 10/10 selection
• Pick 4 - George Wardlaw - 39 games played. 4 Brownlow votes. Injury concerns pre-draft which have proved valid. 6/10 selection.
• Pick 26 - Brayden George - 0 games played. Huge injury concerns in the draft obviously. Glad he's getting healthy but big question marks about whether he will ever make it. Risky pick that hasn't paid off. 3/10 selection.
• Pick 56 - Cooper Harvey - 10 games played. He is what he is. 4/10 selection.

2023

• Pick 2 - Colby McKercher - 39 games played. Solid pick. Big upside still to come. Slight risk he leaves for Tasmania. 8/10 selection
• Pick 3 - Zane Duursma - 23 games played. Attitude/Effort concerns. Asked for a trade. Not best 23 (yet?). Make or break year. 5/10 selection
• Pick 20 - Taylor Goad - 0 games played. Raw, but lots of upside. Selected him knowing he'd take time. Not really fair to judge quite yet. 7/10 selection
• Pick 22 - Wil Dawson - 8 games played. Still a skinny beanpole. Not ready for AFL footy. I dunno. Hard to tell. 6/10 selection
• Pick 23 - Riley Hardeman - 20 games played. Very good player. Hugely positive signs. 9/10 selection

2024

• Pick 2 - Finn OSullivan - 22 games played. Very good player. Trending upwards massively. Needs to impact games more but that will come with experience. 9/10 selection.
• Pick 27 - Matt Whitlock - 2 games played. Costly trade to get him. Will take time to develop. Still too early to fairly judge. Trade cost really skews the assessment though. 6/10 selection
• Pick 57 - Luke Urquhart - 0 games played. Flashed some potential. Works hard. Skills let him down a bit. Most likely to play VFL this year. 6/10 selection.

For obvious reasons I'm not including the 2025 draft selections in this list yet.

But even just looking at this three year period, we have had eight top 25 picks. Of those eight, only 50% are comfortably best 23 players at the moment (Sheezel, Wardlaw, Colby, and FOS), with Hardeman certainly seeming to push himself into that position as well. Wardlaw has injury concerns which have massively impacted his availability missing 30 of a possible 69 AFL games.

Anyway, all of this is to say that given the absolute premium draft picks we've had, I think it's fair to say we've 'hit' on 50%~ of them at best. Which is... not a strong return on investment.

 

[King Corey]

It's a positive sign we still have enough passion out there to cause agitation.

The board does present as a closed shop which is ok if the team is thriving but concerning when things seems to be on a loop of nothingness.

If this is at the least a jolt it might be a good thing.

 

[gokangas]

It's a revolution.

 

[King Corey]

Fwiw Hood's response was reasonable.

This is still a good test of governance tho imo.

 

[gokangas]

I've tried to stay out of the sack Sonja and sack Clarko thread but 5 years of absolute embarassing crap is probably enough. Change is needed urgently.

 

[GoRoos2023]

Look, the board is a closed shop — it’s invite‑only. It’s built around filling specific skill sets: a legal member, a marketing member, and so on.


The only person on that board with genuine football experience is Andrew Swallow

Andrew Swallow

Age

38

Ht

182cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.7

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

2.9

3star

T

6.6

5star

CL

5.8

5star

No current season stats available

D

8.8

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.4

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

4.4

5star

, and unfortunately he’s based on the Gold Coast.


That’s the core issue. When you’ve got a president and CEO with no football background, and the only board member who actually understands the football side is in another state, it leaves Clarko with effectively no one above him who truly knows the game except Viney and thats his best mate.

 

[ferball]

I've tried to stay out of the sack Sonja and sack Clarko thread but 5 years of absolute embarassing crap is probably enough. Change is needed urgently.

Clarkson has had three full seasons, one and a half of which were influenced by the racism saga, Sonja wasn't even president this time four years ago.

Where does this "5 years" bullshit come from?

 

[Dinkers]

That's it's taken this long isn't a bad thing, it isn't reactive and I'm sure there's been some planning in place.
I of course have NFI but this sounds like the passion is removed and it will be a logical approach.

We need change at the top, I think can nearly all agree on that.

 

[GoRoos2023]

I am incredibly surprised Brady Rawlings survived last year. There were strong whispers he would go, but obviously that never panned out.

I know that we, as fans, love to rate our own players highly. And that's fine. That's how it should be.

But if you take a critical look at just our recent drafting, it doesn't paint a good picture. I'm going to be overly harsh for some of our players here, and I'm sure many will take umbrage to some of these assessments, but imagine you're looking at this through non-NMFC eyes. This is only looking at our National Drafts, and doesn't include rookies/MSD either:

2022

• Pick 3 - Harry Sheezel - 67 games played. 28 Brownlow votes. Elite. 10/10 selection
• Pick 4 - George Wardlaw - 39 games played. 4 Brownlow votes. Injury concerns pre-draft which have proved valid. 6/10 selection.
• Pick 26 - Brayden George - 0 games played. Huge injury concerns in the draft obviously. Glad he's getting healthy but big question marks about whether he will ever make it. Risky pick that hasn't paid off. 3/10 selection.
• Pick 56 - Cooper Harvey - 10 games played. He is what he is. 4/10 selection.

2023

• Pick 2 - Colby McKercher - 39 games played. Solid pick. Big upside still to come. Slight risk he leaves for Tasmania. 8/10 selection
• Pick 3 - Zane Duursma - 23 games played. Attitude/Effort concerns. Asked for a trade. Not best 23 (yet?). Make or break year. 5/10 selection
• Pick 20 - Taylor Goad - 0 games played. Raw, but lots of upside. Selected him knowing he'd take time. Not really fair to judge quite yet. 7/10 selection
• Pick 22 - Wil Dawson - 8 games played. Still a skinny beanpole. Not ready for AFL footy. I dunno. Hard to tell. 6/10 selection
• Pick 23 - Riley Hardeman - 20 games played. Very good player. Hugely positive signs. 9/10 selection

2024

• Pick 2 - Finn OSullivan - 22 games played. Very good player. Trending upwards massively. Needs to impact games more but that will come with experience. 9/10 selection.
• Pick 27 - Matt Whitlock - 2 games played. Costly trade to get him. Will take time to develop. Still too early to fairly judge. Trade cost really skews the assessment though. 6/10 selection
• Pick 57 - Luke Urquhart - 0 games played. Flashed some potential. Works hard. Skills let him down a bit. Most likely to play VFL this year. 6/10 selection.

For obvious reasons I'm not including the 2025 draft selections in this list yet.

But even just looking at this three year period, we have had eight top 25 picks. Of those eight, only 50% are comfortably best 23 players at the moment (Sheezel, Wardlaw, Colby, and FOS), with Hardeman certainly seeming to push himself into that position as well. Wardlaw has injury concerns which have massively impacted his availability missing 30 of a possible 69 AFL games.

Anyway, all of this is to say that given the absolute premium draft picks we've had, I think it's fair to say we've 'hit' on 50%~ of them at best. Which is... not a strong return on investment.

You are a bit generous there.

No way Zane is 5/10 at pick 4. Right now thats a 2/10

 

[footy front]

the thing I always come back to is what else do we want from Sonja to get success from our (men's) footy team? It was her administration that brought in arguably the greatest coach of all time on the back of Shaw and Noble failing. What would we rather they do there? Find another untried coach?

Our off-field situation is fine. Sonja doesn't kick goals, or stop them.

100% correct.

 

[Passmore]

the thing I always come back to is what else do we want from Sonja to get success from our (men's) footy team? It was her administration that brought in arguably the greatest coach of all time on the back of Shaw and Noble failing. What would we rather they do there? Find another untried coach?

Our off-field situation is fine. Sonja doesn't kick goals, or stop them.

She can put a bit of heat on those that are though. Hopefully she is.

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

\

Willingness to recognize what’s being by done isn’t working.

She did it with Noble.

The fact she’s tied herself to Clarkson makes it difficult to make the same call.

Self interest always wins.

They both will have to go and that is really the conversation that should be taking place now - ie working out the timetable for Clarko to go first - most likely at the bye or earlier if really disastrous results ensue - then the President saying she will step down at years end while welcoming 2 new Board members immediately from the new Ticket.

The new Board will appoint the new coach and Head of Football and own those decisions - Barlow will take over from mid year (or earlier if needed) and he should be a candidate for the permanent coaching role.

The transition needs to be orderly and seamless - we don't want Sonja and her crew hanging onto power like some sort of politician past their use by date.

How she manages her own exit will be a true test for Sonja.

We can all applaud the great work she has done to bring stability to the club - now she needs to put the club first and ensure the transition to a new Board and Football department is handled professionally and with the clubs best interests in mind.

 

[gokangas]

Clarkson has had three full seasons, one and a half of which were influenced by the racism saga, Sonja wasn't even president this time four years ago.

Where does this "5 years" bullshit come from?

I'm talking overall onfield performance - not specific Sonja/Clarko although this is her 6th year on the board. We are an irrelevant club in the AFL system and we need to improve. Maybe we will. Board wise I have no idea as I don't know many of the board folk. But we have shown zero improvement over that time. Something has to change. I'm not certain what or how.

 

[Loose_Cannon]

2024

• Pick 2 - Finn OSullivan - 22 games played. Very good player. Trending upwards massively. Needs to impact games more but that will come with experience. 9/10 selection.
• Pick 27 - Matt Whitlock - 2 games played. Costly trade to get him. Will take time to develop. Still too early to fairly judge. Trade cost really skews the assessment though. 6/10 selection
• Pick 57 - Luke Urquhart - 0 games played. Flashed some potential. Works hard. Skills let him down a bit. Most likely to play VFL this year. 6/10 selection.

For obvious reasons I'm not including the 2025 draft selections in this list yet.

I don't disagree with any of the ratings, maybe Wil Dawson a bit harsh he's practically a year younger than everyone and should be looked at with the crop the year after he was drafted, but if we're looking at outcomes then that's fair.

Whitlock is an interesting one, and his trade and selection is inexorably linked to the 2025 draft IMO. Even if he turns into a star, who we picked up in 2025 is a much a part of his selection being good or bad when you take all those trades into acccount. It really is a sum of all the parts with Whitlock, Dovaston, Thredgold, and yes Daniel, along with all the picks that went the other way.

 

[gokangas]

Am I right that this is Sonja's final year as President? Or does she have another?

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

The cost to get rid of Clarkson wouldn't be viable surely. Sadly that was likely the trade off for coaxing him to come and take over our mess.

Yes there will be a cost but that will be a negotiation in good faith with Clarko and Viney.

They know they have failed at their task. This isn't a Hawthorn situation where Clarko is leaving a long trail of flags and culture behind him. He deserved that payout from Hawthorn. He will be the first to say he has been paid 'well overs' for the miserable results he has delivered North (not to mention the support we gave him during the racism scandal).

If he pushes for a full payout it will hurt his reputation (and our soft cap!). Yes there will be a payout but I think Clarko will play ball and settle for a reasonable number (and the new Board will be able to meet that cost.)

 

[Arathrawn]

Sonja wasn't even president this time four years ago.

C'mon mate. What is it 3 years and 10 months? 11months?

She's had as much time as a US presidential term. And we still look so far off it.

 

[Mixed Results]

Am I right that this is Sonja's final year as President? Or does she have another?

She has until 2028, effectively three seasons.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Come on Clarko.

I don't even want to think about this, it's gut wrenching. All you have to do is pick and play the kids, just stop with the absolute cats from other clubs - it ain't so much to ask. Surely.

 

[Midas]

The board got a coach most considered to be elite and the agent of change. I have no issue with what they have done from a football perspective.

2026, though is the year when this decision reaches its moment of truth and if we fail and nothing is done then I would agree the board needs to be held to account.

Appointing the coach is one thing and we were all **** a hoop!

But ensuring the entire football department is strategically aligned, properly resourced, accountable, and operating ahead of the curve is the Board’s responsibility.


My concern is that the Board may have believed the job was largely done once Clarko was secured, and since then has relied on broad rebuild principles — “30–50 games into the boys,” “small wins,” “stay stable” — rather than driving a dynamic, contemporary plan suited to today’s AFL landscape.


The environment has changed significantly since Brisbane’s rebuild era. Players are playing longer. High-performance programs are extracting more from experienced lists. Contending teams are staying competitive for longer. The CBA limits time together for developing clubs. Experience and targeted acquisition matter more than ever.


So the real question is: has the Board actively interrogated how the football department is adapting to this evolving environment? Or have they defaulted to narratives about patience, stability, and historical rebuild comparisons that no longer reflect current realities?


There’s a growing sense that the football department has simply been left to “bake,” without a sharper strategy around list balance, free agency, and experienced talent acquisition. We haven’t meaningfully attracted proven players. We lack on-field experience. And comparisons to Melbourne, Brisbane or Carlton ignore the structural differences of today’s competition.


The fear is that we are being asked to trust a process that may already be outdated — and that our rebuild approach risks falling behind clubs like Melbourne, Richmond and even Carlton over Summer, who appear to have adapted more aggressively to the modern landscape.

 

[ferball]

I'm talking overall onfield performance - not specific Sonja/Clarko although this is her 6th year on the board. We are an irrelevant club in the AFL system and we need to improve. Maybe we will. Board wise I have no idea as I don't know many of the board folk. But we have shown zero improvement over that time. Something has to change. I'm not certain what or how.

Okay since 2020:

For the first three seasons we went backwards. We stagnated or went further back under Clarkson in 2023 (altho he didn't coach the whole season) and since then we've improved, even if it isn't alot.

 

[Mixed Results]

There goes Sonja Hood talking about stability again, her one solution for how to fix the club.

I see stability as a bit of a chicken or the egg situation. Do clubs have success because of stability, or does success lead to stability?

There's no real answer, but I'd lean towards the latter being true.

The club sees the former being true, and is why with the same coaches, players, and support staff, we internally have been expecting to become competitive for the past two years.

The loss to Melbourne made people realize that Zane Littlejohn and Charlie Spargo

13

Charlie Spargo

Age

26

Ht

172cm

Wt

75kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.7

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

5.3

4star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.6

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

6.0

2star

HB

2.0

1star

M

1.0

1star

T

0.0

1star

G

0.0

1star

D

13.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

aren't the missing pieces for a side that has been glued to the bottom of the ladder under Sonja Hood.

What's the saying? Madness is doing the same thing and expecting different results? That's how I'd describe Sonja Hood's leadership.