It is officially a crisis.

[Samsquanch]

You sound like a very well shaped character Dodecahedron.

He has become multi-faceted over the years.

 

[I Want To Believe]

Can you get memberships for Essendon and all of the other clubs? Just leave out North

Also for every NRL team except Dragons. Just for me. Cheers.

Annnnd can you nominate every NBA team except Orlando? Please thanks.

For purely selfish reasons I just wanna see how lucky/unlucky you are.

Very unlucky.

Watched some other games on the weekend too and threw my support behind a couple of other teams.

My GF actually barracks for Roosters NRL and Swans. Both comfortably beaten. My GF is currently evaluating our relationship during the week... outcome pending.

Went to the pub yesterday with my best mate to support Hawks for him....

 

[Caracas]

I’m a bit in the same boat as most on here. However, I’m fully aware that it’s just the, hopefully, temporary effects of my team going through a slump. Hell, I used to get up in the middle of the night and watch Manchester United play, when they were dominating. I’m not doing that right now, I can tell you. Same goes for North. When your team(s) start underperforming to expectations, the desire to put yourself through the constant disappointment gradually gets eroded. However, I can’t get past the notion that I like these players. I’m just waiting for them to give me an opportunity to really get on board again…

 

[Supreme_Chancellor]

Hurts my soul that our club which prides itself on being the "Shinboners" allows a single soft, unaccountable player out on the field, let alone 15+ of them.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

Trust me LETSGOKANGAS I know what you are saying, and this may not help, but no more culling on a large scale, we have already done this with players in 2020 and we did it to such an extent that its part of the reason we are in this mess even though it had to be done, I feel we should have kept a few older experienced players to help the kids.

Sonya is not the problem, she has done everything to try and help our club but even though supporters don't want to hear about it, it does take time and when we have losses like yesterday, I understand, the knives come out for everyone. We cleaned out our support coaches and got new guys in and that also expands to fitness staff. Many after Good Friday will no doubt firmly disagree with this, but we must and I stress MUST stay the course.

That doesn't mean we can't get angry or ask WTFH, but we need to stay together, at the end of the year take our required 3 selections in the national draft but focus on the trade period with a couple of players to come into our team, good experienced players towards the end of their career, finally use the money to offset the imbalance in our squad that last year was helped by the inclusion of Luke, Caleb and Jack, also the "No first round draft pick" for this year comment has to be kicked out the door, in my eyes we made the correct decision in getting Matty and we can trade 2 years of trade picks for established players which is what I think we will do so that is not even a problem.

Alastair, apart from the racism saga, he is still in his infancy, I know what people are thinking but he too has to be given time, I don't believe for one second he's passed it, that's just a copout, some people out of anger want to see an angry "Clarko", show some disappointment to the fans, he is still the same man, has the desire, the smarts, its just that with our young squad he's going about it a different way, he knows what he is doing. Yes anger is get rid of everyone but since we've done that we must now stabilize our team. As I've already spoken about, the games up to the half way point {round 12} will be a very interesting watch in one way or another as to how we respond and go about it.

Most of this you could have written word for word 12 months ago

 

[Cold Gin]

The following is not intended as political opinion or commentary.

Talent alone has never been enough for success in elite sport - just ask Nick Kyrgios! - and there is simply no substitute for seriously hard work and a ruthless pursuit of excellence at every level, every day.

I have no doubt everybody involved is working hard but, collectively, are they ruthless?

We see and hear a lot of feel-good 'we have the talent' and 'it's not linear' platitudes from the club and players, as though there is an expectation, or a default entitlement, for success to just happen one day. This is not an allegation, and I could be miles off the mark, but I do wonder.

There's no denying the club has taken a divisive stance on certain social issues in recent years, and whilst this is proof of nothing, it could be consistent with a culture or ethos of prioritising feelings over results. There are countless examples of businesses in particular where a decline in performance has coincided with a focus on progressive social agendas, suggesting a possible correlation between the two. And why wouldn't there be, if outcomes count for less than 'virtues'?

Is there a cultural issue at North, driven by feel-good inclusiveness over a ruthless and uncompromising enforcement of standards? I don't know. But I do believe the coach has been hobbled by a directive to avoid controversy and uncomfortable publicity for the club. Gone is the angry little man, with an apparent milquetoast imitation taking his place.

 

[justroyal]

The following is not intended as political opinion or commentary.

Talent alone has never been enough for success in elite sport - just ask Nick Kyrgios! - and there is simply no substitute for seriously hard work and a ruthless pursuit of excellence at every level, every day.

I have no doubt everybody involved is working hard but, collectively, are they ruthless?

We see and hear a lot of feel-good 'we have the talent' and 'it's not linear' platitudes from the club and players, as though there is an expectation, or a default entitlement, for success to just happen one day. This is not an allegation, and I could be miles off the mark, but I do wonder.

There's no denying the club has taken a divisive stance on certain social issues in recent years, and whilst this is proof of nothing, it could be consistent with a culture or ethos of prioritising feelings over results. There are countless examples of businesses in particular where a decline in performance has coincided with a focus on progressive social agendas, suggesting a possible correlation between the two. And why wouldn't there be, if outcomes count for less than 'virtues'?

Is there a cultural issue at North, driven by feel-good inclusiveness over a ruthless and uncompromising enforcement of standards? I don't know. But I do believe the coach has been hobbled by a directive to avoid controversy and uncomfortable publicity for the club. Gone is the angry little man, with an apparent milquetoast imitation taking his place.

You don’t know?

 

[Event Horizon]

The following is not intended as political opinion or commentary.

Talent alone has never been enough for success in elite sport - just ask Nick Kyrgios! - and there is simply no substitute for seriously hard work and a ruthless pursuit of excellence at every level, every day.

I have no doubt everybody involved is working hard but, collectively, are they ruthless?

We see and hear a lot of feel-good 'we have the talent' and 'it's not linear' platitudes from the club and players, as though there is an expectation, or a default entitlement, for success to just happen one day. This is not an allegation, and I could be miles off the mark, but I do wonder.

There's no denying the club has taken a divisive stance on certain social issues in recent years, and whilst this is proof of nothing, it could be consistent with a culture or ethos of prioritising feelings over results. There are countless examples of businesses in particular where a decline in performance has coincided with a focus on progressive social agendas, suggesting a possible correlation between the two. And why wouldn't there be, if outcomes count for less than 'virtues'?

Is there a cultural issue at North, driven by feel-good inclusiveness over a ruthless and uncompromising enforcement of standards? I don't know. But I do believe the coach has been hobbled by a directive to avoid controversy and uncomfortable publicity for the club. Gone is the angry little man, with an apparent milquetoast imitation taking his place.

You only have to take a good look at the club songs to know there is a cultural issue there. Clarko is used to working for a club that "plays to win", and now that he's back at the joint that "plays to pass the time away" he's lost for answers

 

[BlueanWhiteKanga]

Is there a cultural issue at North, driven by feel-good inclusiveness over a ruthless and uncompromising enforcement of standards? I don't know. But I do believe the coach has been hobbled by a directive to avoid controversy and uncomfortable publicity for the club. Gone is the angry little man, with an apparent milquetoast imitation taking his place.

This could be on the money here tbh. I can't ever re-call another coach (across other sports as well) where a coach has seemed to handle himself so passively or calmly to the media after getting thrashed week in, week out.

I think this season hurts more for a various reasons

Firstly, and I guess most importantly is that this re-build has been going on how many seasons now, and yet we're still conceding 100 points week in, week out.

A big reason why it's been even more dissappointing is I feel is down to the first two games.
We were competitive, and could have beaten the Dogs in the opener.
Then we did the number on Melbourne

It filled us with hope. I don't think anyone seriously expected us to be competing for finals football or anything of that nature, but they were signs that things were on the up.
Add to that, LDU signs on the dotted line, and we're being fed lines that it's encouring because he can see we're on the right path etc.

Yet that said, we have players coming off the pitch not having made a single tackle, we have a squad of players who regularly concede 100 points, we have some players who look to avoid contact. Why? Is it a culture thing? Is it a coaching issue? I feel at AFL level, these things shouldn't need to be coached into players.

At a loss to see how they can actually turn the club around. Experience was supposed to be a big plus for us this year with adding Parker/Daniel/Darling. Darling is being used incorrectly, Parker I'd give a pass mark for and Daniel has been fairly dissappointing and certainly not worth the pick we gave up for him. You also have to ask yourself, how many players would you genuinely be gutted if they left - Curtis, Wardlaw, Sheezel, Xerri, Archer - can probably make a case for FOS already. Potentially Larkey

I feel as a fan base, North have had a pretty passionate base, especially given how long we've been poor for. I want to see that passion matched by the club. Not necessarily advicating to get rid of Clarkson, but I want to see him fire up. I want to see the players with hunger for the competition. Wardlaw showed more passion in that one game, than most others have in the season.

 

[Cold Gin]

You don’t know?

Point taken. But, yes, I think I do know.

 

[franjon]

I actually think it’s the other way around. The ones posting in here and social media are the relatively insane minority who react with high emotion. A lot of people just keep rolling up - then a sniff of good times and plenty come back fast.

Spot on. And it wouldn't be the first time the fair weather have done that. I'm not excusing the current rubbish, but I've sat through two examples of it.

 

[TruRoo]

Hurts my soul that our club which prides itself on being the "Shinboners" allows a single soft, unaccountable player out on the field, let alone 15+ of them.

We don't pride ourselves on being the shinboners in that sense.

“I really felt coming in that we needed a fresh start, that we needed to park the term Shinboner until we could redefine it in the team’s image and redefine it for our supporters so we could once again wear it as a badge of honour,” Scott told the Herald Sun.

After several workshops and surveys involving a cross-section of club employees, players and fans, North Melbourne has pinpointed and identified a set of guiding ideals befitting of Shinboner Spirit.

They are "belonging, being real, being bold and never being beaten".

For James Brayshaw, having Shinboner Spirit is "a way of behaving, the way you carry yourself".

"That’s really the work – OK I’ve got my own version of it, which is different to Brad (Scott’s) which is different to Boomer (Harvey’s) which is different to Keith Greig’s… so we’ve all got to have our input and hopefully at the end of it we have come up with something that is meaningful to everyone,” said Brayshaw.

Scotts and JB managed to touchy feely it into self determination bullshit.

 

[ohmygewd]

Haven't watched the last half yet!! Had our easter egg hunt on Good Friday and of course my daughter and her partner are blues supporters and wanted to watch the game, already seen the 1st Q and told everyone sternly, 'we aint watching the footy unless you want me to spoil the night"..l backed us.
Read most of the comments and listen to Kingy and few pundits on the drive home yesterday from camping trip so l'll watch it tonight and see how crestfallen l'll be..l stopped the replay at half time, 20 down....

 

[ferball]

I can totally understand your position. I still live in Melbourne, buy a family membership with Social Club area seating and attend most games. But I have also reduced my level of "care" or "being invested". I have a business which often keeps me busy on the weekend, and whilst I do my best to clear up the time slot to attend games, I rarely watch interstate games live anymore. Just keep my eye on the scores and at times switch Kayo on in the car etc. A year or two ago that would have been unthinkable. And if I have anything on that clashes with footy, I no longer fight hard to keep it free.

You're watching the footy while you are driving???!!!

 

[ferball]

Is there a cultural issue at North, driven by feel-good inclusiveness over a ruthless and uncompromising enforcement of standards? I don't know. But I do believe the coach has been hobbled by a directive to avoid controversy and uncomfortable publicity for the club. Gone is the angry little man, with an apparent milquetoast imitation taking his place.

He got a two week suspended ban after calling Jimmy Webster a ********er and then had people try to start a witchhunt to fulfill that sentence a few games in last season. Which is why he doesn't coach from the sideline any more.

 

[RightWingRoo]

We don't pride ourselves on being the shinboners in that sense.




Scotts and JB managed to touchy feely it into self determination bullshit.

I think it's a big reason why things have gone so badly array.
The Shinboner Spirit has gone from an intangible expectation for everyone who passed through the club, a legacy that required respect and inspired one to keep fighting regardless of the odds.
To a meaningless buzzword shorn of it's historical meaning, that legacy is now being de-faced.
We no longer have a soul and any pride in the history and identity of the club.

We're lost, aimless and broken

 

[Cold Gin]

He got a two week suspended ban after calling Jimmy Webster a ********er and then had people try to start a witchhunt to fulfill that sentence a few games in last season. Which is why he doesn't coach from the sideline any more.

And he was skewered for a largely benign comment while defending a player to that female journo.

 

[ferball]

And he was skewered for a largely benign comment while defending a player to that female journo.

He actually has the ban from the Webster comment hanging over his head until the end of this season.

 

[franjon]

He got a two week suspended ban after calling Jimmy Webster a ********er and then had people try to start a witchhunt to fulfill that sentence a few games in last season. Which is why he doesn't coach from the sideline any more.

I know it's not the same thing, but I'd prefer he coached from the sidelines just for that reason. I think it's time at North that foot met arse.

 

[HongKongRoo]

I'm a premiership club member and was there on the Good Friday bloodbath.

Early in 2025 I started thinking I could do with a taste of success this year, so I also signed up as a member of the Melbourne Storm. And they just got pumped on the weekend too.

I'm starting to think I'm effing cursed!

But rather than feel sorry for myself I'm starting to think outside the box.

Hello 2026 Essendon Membership

If you are looking for success - VFLW NMFC, AFLW NMFC, both defending premiers atm and hungry to go back to back. I would rather put burning rods of steel through my eyes than consider an Essendon membership, although it is basically being run by North people from 2011.

 

[Caracas]

You only have to take a good look at the club songs to know there is a cultural issue there. Clarko is used to working for a club that "plays to win", and now that he's back at the joint that "plays to pass the time away" he's lost for answers

We played to “pass the time away” through the seventies and nineties, didn’t we? I’m not denying there’s been a cultural shift - there definitely has been. However, an argument could be made that we dragged our heals in that respect and, just maybe, that might be the root of our ills. Let’s face it our women's team are as ruthless a mob as you could come across. I’ve rewatched the Good Friday game. We were running around like dodgems throughout the game. The ball seemed to bounce out of our hands, sometimes as a result of two players going for the same ball. Clarko knows this stuff, surely. Just get it done guys!

 

[shintemaster]

Very unlucky.

Watched some other games on the weekend too and threw my support behind a couple of other teams.

My GF actually barracks for Roosters NRL and Swans. Both comfortably beaten. My GF is currently evaluating our relationship during the week... outcome pending.

Went to the pub yesterday with my best mate to support Hawks for him....

 

[The Talent Scout]

I'm a premiership club member and was there on the Good Friday bloodbath.

Early in 2025 I started thinking I could do with a taste of success this year, so I also signed up as a member of the Melbourne Storm. And they just got pumped on the weekend too.

I'm starting to think I'm effing cursed!

But rather than feel sorry for myself I'm starting to think outside the box.

Hello 2026 Essendon Membership

I just want you for a moment to picture yourself as the object in the foreground,
this is what happens next.....

 

[ohmygewd]

Haven't watched the last half yet!! Had our easter egg hunt on Good Friday and of course my daughter and her partner are blues supporters and wanted to watch the game, already seen the 1st Q and told everyone sternly, 'we aint watching the footy unless you want me to spoil the night"..l backed us.
Read most of the comments and listen to Kingy and few pundits on the drive home yesterday from camping trip so l'll watch it tonight and see how crestfallen l'll be..l stopped the replay at half time, 20 down....

Following along the lines of my autopsy post after the watched the last half..FMD!!!

I wouldn't call it a crisis from a whole club perspective but if I was on that board I would be having hard questions on why certain players are still getting game time, why certain players are still playing in positions that they are clearly not capable of playing, why there is a lack of accountability defensively and to each other, do we need to call in an umpire to explain what is incorrect disposal and 15m rule?

It is a crisis from a supporter point of view because we are (certainly I am) are expecting a lot more from this playing group - YES!

However, it's only round 7 and l await to see the response from this team and coaching before l believe it's crisis time.

This time last year we were 0-7 with a av losing margin of 51pt and the response was a further 0-5 to the bye with a av 52.4 losing margin.

So at 1-6 with 41pt losing margin (59pt win excluded), l like to see where we are come the bye...0-5 with that losing margin increasing...yep time for an extra ordinary board meeting...

 

[ferball]

I know it's not the same thing, but I'd prefer he coached from the sidelines just for that reason. I think it's time at North that foot met arse.

I agree but at the same time I can see why he doesn't. Doesn't want to miss games which is what would happen.