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Sport Nation
Clarkson: The football world wants to judge us on our wins and losses
SEN • May 2nd, 2025 1:17 am
- Clarkson was questioned on Kane Cornes post-game
- This week North banned Cornes from their rooms
- Clarkson limited his comments on the issue
Alastair Clarkson has spoken about Kane Cornes' controversial comments regarding North Melbourne for the first time since the club blacklisted the *SEN Fireball *host.
Following the Kangaroos' spirited three-point loss to the Bombers, Clarkson was once again questioned on Cornes' remarks.
"The football world wants to judge us on our wins and losses," he said.
"Were making some progress as a footy side.
"I thought (Sheezel and Simpkin) played some good footy for us. Both of them have been pretty good for us this year, particularly Harry. Would we like to play him midfield and forward a little bit? Yes.
"He won a Best and Fairest off the half back. (It's) hard to have score involvements when you play at half back flank.
"We just need guys that use the ball really well. Winning requires no explanation, but when you lose you need to justify everything.
"If we keep applying ourselves in the way that we did, a win is not far away."
In discussing the message passed down to the club, Clarkson remained adamant that the young list doesn't need outside noise for motivation.
"Play footy," he continued.
"We don't need outside things to motivate us to play.
"That's short lived, you can't manufacture that to play every week."
Clarkson refused to over-comment on the issue, stating that the removal of Cornes from the rooms was not forwarded to the team by the coach himself.
"I didn't tell them.
"It didn't come from me."
After falling victim to Cornes' criticism mid-week, Harry Sheezel finished the contest with 32 disposals and five tackles, while Jy Simpkin managed 21 and two goals.
Earlier this week, Cornes was told he was no longer allowed to take part in Channel 7's pre-match interview with Clarkson after club's GM Todd Viney said the Kangaroos would refuse to engage with the commentator on ‘any of his media channels’.
North Melbourne travel to Hobart to take on the Brisbane Lions next Sunday afternoon.
