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North turmoil: Why has nothing improved under Clarko?
SEN • July 28th, 2025 10:19 am
What is going on at North Melbourne and when, if ever, will things turn around?
It’s a question debated at length by Kane Cornes and David King after the side’s 101-point demolition at the hands of Geelong over the weekend.
Amid a glut of horrendous statistics from the game, it marked the second worst defensive performance in the AFL for 14 years and the biggest losing margin of the 2025 season.
It leaves North 17th on the ladder with just four victories to their name this year and yet coach Alastair Clarkson still finds ways to defend his team.
Another write-off season has left King concerned for his former club.
"You have to be worried don’t you?” he said on SEN's Fireball.
“I don’t care what you’re spitting, if those numbers ring true.
“Nothing has changed defensively, and when nothing changed what are you building?
“Clarko for five years was perfect, but I thought there would be a more significant improvement in the third year.”
Since the four-time premiership winning coach took over at Arden Street, North have won just 10 games.
He has rolled the dice when it comes to the draft and the talent he has brought in, but little to nothing has changed.
So how long will the North Melbourne faithful continue to buy what the club is selling?
“In my own heart of hearts, this club desperately need stability,” King said. “It’s been through turmoil. It’s spat out coach after coach for six or seven years.
“But we’re still here. It’s just so confusing trying to watch them and work out what they’re doing.
“From a personal point of view I always wonder if the coach is telling the absolute truth or is it just words to appease a 10-minute press conference. Or is this what he really feels?
“I feel like sometimes they’re words; I’m not going at Alastair I’m not. It’s just so confusing.
“I didn’t expect to be here at this point. There is so much work to do. I get confused with how they reward Caleb Daniel with selection – it baffles me.
“I haven’t seen him do one thing that blows my mind. Defensively he causes confusion for the rest of them.
“I would love them to honestly talk to us about it. It has not improved defensively.
“There’s massive questions. I don’t want to hear about what other clubs have done; I want to see North do it.”
