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Courier-Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
AFL 2025: David King analyses North Melbourne 101-point loss to Geelong Cats, failed draft gamble, Alastair Clarkson press conference
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Questions continue to be asked of North Melbourne's on-field identity after a 'sickening' 101-point loss to Geelong on Saturday night amid more evidence of a failed draft gamble. The Kangaroos finished a staggering -41 for inside-50s, -10 for clearances, -16 for contested possessions, and -18 for marks inside 50 on a night they couldn't come close to halving the territory battle nor begin to contain the Cats' purring forward line, with superstar Jeremy Cameron running riot for 11 majors. It was North Melbourne's 14th-straight defeat at the hands of Geelong and its fifth-straight loss as it remains with a measly four wins to its name for the season. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. 'For North Melbourne fans, that would've been a sickening watch; incredibly frustrating. You feel sorry for the Kangaroos fans, who have watched this for six years,' the Herald Sun's Jay Clark told Fox Footy's Super Saturday Live post-match coverage. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY Dual All-Australian and two-time Kangaroos premiership player David King pondered the machinations of the club's game plan and lamented its inability to adequately defend. 'This (the North Melbourne rooms) would be an awful place to be, at the moment. It's a tough one, because when you watch them play, it's kind of difficult to work out what they're trying to execute,' he began. Questions are being asked of North Melbourne after the 101-point loss (Photo by) 'Are they handballing when the options are available, and then run and gun? Or is it take territory and get numbers to drop of ball? Is it a mix of both? I don't know what they're doing defensively; that's just not working at all — 40 (Geelong) scores tonight.' The Cats scored 27 times from 58 intercepts on Saturday night, exemplifying the ease of which they were able to transition and punish the Roos on the counter. 'They just smashed them; they walked through them. The amount of times Jeremy Cameron was out the back by himself, and it'd be uncontested possession, uncontested possession, goal,' King continued. 'I'd love to ask Alastair Clarkson 'what are you trying to achieve?' Show us what it should look like, and then we can at least enjoy the ride. Because we just go from week to week and not see it. We have seen it in patches throughout the year, but we're not seeing it now. 'I know the ruckman's (Tristan Xerri) not there, I know Nick Larkey's not there, but that shouldn't have as big an effect as what it does on their ability to stop the opposition moving the ball full length of the ground.' X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY Patrick Dangerfield was tactically substituted out of the game, his 200th for Geelong, and the sight of the veteran sitting on the bench munching on a kebab while the game was still going on would have rubbed salt into the wound for North fans. Patrick Dangerfield eats a kebab after getting subbed out. Photo: Fox Footy. Serious questions continue to be asked of the Roos' direction under Alastair Clarkson in the third year of the four-time premiership coach's reign, with the club benefitting from top picks for the better part of the past six years. In 55 games under Clarkson, North Melbourne is 10-44-1. The club has finished 17th on the ladder in consecutive seasons and currently sits 17th with four games left to go this season. Asked when the pressure on Clarkson genuinely gets turned up, King answered: 'It's a great question; it's hard to answer. I think you have a blind faith in the club that the decision-makers will get it right. 'Words are cheap; it's really hard to just listen to the same conversation over and over and over. It's a tough place to be, there's no doubt about that ... third year in, a penny for his thoughts, is he able to do what he once thought he could do with this group? Are there any doubts there? 'You walk off the ground tonight, you have to doubt your own plan. You've got (Jack) Darling, (Luke) Parker and (Caleb) Daniel to the club to try and stiffen up with a bit of seniority; that doesn't look like it's working as well as it probably should.' X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY North Melbourne fielded eight former top-12 draft picks against Geelong, as King declared the club's issues didn't revolve around an absence of talented players. 'It's not a talent issue; it's a system problem,' he said. 'You can be really brutal and say 'it's coaching', right, but it's also performance of that system. 'Where's the disconnect? Are the players not understanding? Are they not prepared to work hard enough to ensure the system works? I think they're good enough, and I don't think they're that young that they can't compete defensively. That's not really a talent issue. 'I'm the same as all those people in the room and all those watching on, I don't understand the system, because I see so many flaws in it, so many holes in it. 'I don't see it; it's not consistent enough to say 'this is their identifiable brand'. And I think when you see 150 points against, I think even they'd say 'you wouldn't be able to see it tonight'.' X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY Speaking post-game on Saturday night, Clarkson, who lamented glaringly obvious deficiencies in contest, clearance and territory, made it a point to highlight the discrepancy in experience between the sides. 'The Geelong forward line versus the North Melbourne backline, just see the void that sits there in terms of just experience and exposure,' he said. 'And I don't want to make excuses for our players, but it's where we're at, though. 'And we're giving these young players some exposure and opportunity, and in our back end in particular, we're going to be left very, very vulnerable down there against a formidable forward line if we couldn't control the middle of the ground as well as we'd like. And Geelong was too good in that space.' X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY The Roos fielded the second-youngest team in the competition in Round 20, with eight-game key defender Wil Dawson among those in royal blue and white tortured by Cameron and the Cats, who licked their lips each time they entered forward 50. 'Everyone will look at win-loss and all that sort of stuff, and making progress — and even if it is just win-loss, we have made some progress,' said Clarkson in his press conference. 'But we've had three performances that were well below our best, which (were) the Carlton game in Round 6 here, the Hawthorn game about a month ago down in Tassie, and tonight. 'But outside of that, we've been much more competitive than what we were last year, winning more quarters and being in more games at three-quarter-time than we had last year.' X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY But while Clarkson continues to preach that non-linear progress continues to be made at Arden Street, the Roos' list management's choice to trade away the club's first-round pick this year has come back to bite hard. Last November, North Melbourne — banking on a significant uptick this season — traded its future first-round pick to Richmond to secure the No.27 selection, key-position utility Matt Whitlock, who has played just one senior game in his debut season. That future choice is currently slated to wind up as the second overall pick. Injecting young talent isn't as urgent for the Roos as it has been in previous seasons, but given the stagnancy of this season, it's premium draft capital they'd absolutely love to have this off-season. 'I think they thought they would be further progressed, because they did trade that pick away,' Clark said on Fox Footy. 'Would they have traded that No.2 pick away if they thought they were going to finish second-last on the ladder? No way. They thought they would be up the ladder; they thought they would improve, that's why they gave that pick away. 'So, it tells you that they thought they would be better than they're at; that's really clear.' The Roos are currently slated to make their first draft choice this November at No.20, holding a pair of picks at the top of the second round. Originally published as Roos' identity crisis amid Clarko question as 'sickening' loss lays bare failed draft trade gamble
Mercury
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Mercury
AFL Sydney superstar Isaac Heeney's record-breaking day leads Swans post North Melbourne Kangaroos
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sydney have kept their highly improbable finals hopes alive for another week with a 31-point victory over an uninspiring North Melbourne outfit at the SCG. The Kangaroos briefly hit the front early in the second term, but never got back within striking distance for the rest of the match as the Swans won 11.10 (76) to 6.10 (46). FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Superstar Isaac Heeney was the star of the show with his sixth-ever five-goal haul at AFL level, before being dragged to the bench with half a dozen minutes to play in the match. The 29-year-old finished the match with 34 disposals — 16 contested – 13 clearances, 11 score involvements, nine inside 50s and five majors to finish with one of the games of the 2025 season. Isaac Heeney dominated in a record-breaking performance. (Photo by Phil Hillyard) It was also revealed Heeney's combination of at least five goals and more than 11 clearances had never been achieved in the same game in AFL history. For North, the absence of star ruck Tristan Xerri was sorely missed, as replacement ruck Callum Coleman-Jones went down with a calf injury before quarter-time in his first AFL game for 477 days. It meant rival star Brodie Grundy spearheaded a ruck bloodbath to register 22 disposals, 62 hit-outs and 11 clearances before being rested for the final 11 minutes of the match. 'Xerri's not playing, he's been their driver (and) dynamo all season — but no one's really stepped up in and around,' 1988 Brownlow Medalist Gerard Healy said as the final siren at the SCG loomed. The Swans have now won 13 of their past 14 games against North Melbourne, including a current streak of 10 victories. North last came up trumps against the Bloods back in Round 7, 2018. By extension, the Roos have also lost 13 of their past 16 games at the SCG. 'Isaac Heeney destroyed this game today … who from the Kangaroos of those elite picks can go to that level?' two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King said on Super Saturday Live post-game. While Heeney was dominating, fellow star Errol Gulden was penalised for a highly unusual abuse call in the third quarter. With two minutes left in the term, Nick Blakey and Gulden exchanged a handpass one-two, with the 'Lizard's' errant handpass setting Gulden a task. He tried to handpass to Heeney, but the umpire had called the ball out of play and it's fair to say the All Australian wasn't happy. Errol Gulden had some choice words for the umpire. Photo: Fox Sports Gulden threw his arms out before taking out his mouthguard so he could send some obviously choice words in the umpire's direction The umpire swiftly said: 'Free kick North Melbourne. Free kick for abuse.' Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy: 'Gee we haven't seen an abuse free kick paid in a long time. Dissent. We haven't seen that. 'Fair enough though, that is the rule. It's just unusual in season 2025 for it to get paid.' Mark Howard added: 'It did look rather vehement from Errol. Now the crowd are also showing a touch of dissent. Heeney and former Swan Luke Parker at the SCG. (Photo by Phil Hillyard) While it wasn't always pretty, Sydney remains alive in the finals race after wearing down North Melbourne and all eyes were on that man Heeney. From early in the contest, his Swans teammates were understandably lowering their eyes trying to pick him out inside 50. 'They are trying to isolate him almost every time Isaac Heeney when he pushes into that forward line,' Healy noted. 'He can get you in the air and he can get you on the ground.' Dual All-Australian Montagna at half-time pondered whether North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson would seek a different matchup for the unstoppable Swan. 'Isaac Heeney's first half; you can't do much more — 19 disposals, five inside-50s, six score involvements, he's kicked a couple himself and he has eight clearances,' Montagna said. Brodie Grundy also had a day out for the Swans. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/for Getty Images) 'He is doing absolutely everything and that's why he's one of the best players in the competition. 'Maybe they might have to find a different matchup — Tom Powell trying to go with him at clearance but just doesn't have the size or class to match. So, it'll be interesting if Clarko decides to make a change.' Just a few minutes into the third quarter, Heeney reeled in a high Hayden McLean entry with one hand, prompting caller Mark Howard to remark: 'He can do it all, this man.' 'He's just playing with them, Isaac Heeney,' Montagna added in reaction. North Melbourne closed the gap to 12 points at the final change, but couldn't get any closer as Heeney kicked a goal in the first minute of the fourth and then another before taking a rest on the bench in the closing stages. Originally published as Isaac Heeney's record-breaking day leads Sydney past North Melbourne
Courier-Mail
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
AFL Sydney superstar Isaac Heeney's record-breaking day leads Swans post North Melbourne Kangaroos
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sydney have kept their highly improbable finals hopes alive for another week with a 31-point victory over an uninspiring North Melbourne outfit at the SCG. The Kangaroos briefly hit the front early in the second term, but never got back within striking distance for the rest of the match as the Swans won 11.10 (76) to 6.10 (46). FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Superstar Isaac Heeney was the star of the show with his sixth-ever five-goal haul at AFL level, before being dragged to the bench with half a dozen minutes to play in the match. The 29-year-old finished the match with 34 disposals — 16 contested – 13 clearances, 11 score involvements, nine inside 50s and five majors to finish with one of the games of the 2025 season. Isaac Heeney dominated in a record-breaking performance. (Photo by Phil Hillyard) It was also revealed Heeney's combination of at least five goals and more than 11 clearances had never been achieved in the same game in AFL history. For North, the absence of star ruck Tristan Xerri was sorely missed, as replacement ruck Callum Coleman-Jones went down with a calf injury before quarter-time in his first AFL game for 477 days. It meant rival star Brodie Grundy spearheaded a ruck bloodbath to register 22 disposals, 62 hit-outs and 11 clearances before being rested for the final 11 minutes of the match. 'Xerri's not playing, he's been their driver (and) dynamo all season — but no one's really stepped up in and around,' 1988 Brownlow Medalist Gerard Healy said as the final siren at the SCG loomed. The Swans have now won 13 of their past 14 games against North Melbourne, including a current streak of 10 victories. North last came up trumps against the Bloods back in Round 7, 2018. By extension, the Roos have also lost 13 of their past 16 games at the SCG. 'Isaac Heeney destroyed this game today … who from the Kangaroos of those elite picks can go to that level?' two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King said on Super Saturday Live post-game. While Heeney was dominating, fellow star Errol Gulden was penalised for a highly unusual abuse call in the third quarter. With two minutes left in the term, Nick Blakey and Gulden exchanged a handpass one-two, with the 'Lizard's' errant handpass setting Gulden a task. He tried to handpass to Heeney, but the umpire had called the ball out of play and it's fair to say the All Australian wasn't happy. Errol Gulden had some choice words for the umpire. Photo: Fox Sports Gulden threw his arms out before taking out his mouthguard so he could send some obviously choice words in the umpire's direction The umpire swiftly said: 'Free kick North Melbourne. Free kick for abuse.' Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy: 'Gee we haven't seen an abuse free kick paid in a long time. Dissent. We haven't seen that. 'Fair enough though, that is the rule. It's just unusual in season 2025 for it to get paid.' Mark Howard added: 'It did look rather vehement from Errol. Now the crowd are also showing a touch of dissent. Heeney and former Swan Luke Parker at the SCG. (Photo by Phil Hillyard) While it wasn't always pretty, Sydney remains alive in the finals race after wearing down North Melbourne and all eyes were on that man Heeney. From early in the contest, his Swans teammates were understandably lowering their eyes trying to pick him out inside 50. 'They are trying to isolate him almost every time Isaac Heeney when he pushes into that forward line,' Healy noted. 'He can get you in the air and he can get you on the ground.' Dual All-Australian Montagna at half-time pondered whether North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson would seek a different matchup for the unstoppable Swan. 'Isaac Heeney's first half; you can't do much more — 19 disposals, five inside-50s, six score involvements, he's kicked a couple himself and he has eight clearances,' Montagna said. Brodie Grundy also had a day out for the Swans. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/for Getty Images) 'He is doing absolutely everything and that's why he's one of the best players in the competition. 'Maybe they might have to find a different matchup — Tom Powell trying to go with him at clearance but just doesn't have the size or class to match. So, it'll be interesting if Clarko decides to make a change.' Just a few minutes into the third quarter, Heeney reeled in a high Hayden McLean entry with one hand, prompting caller Mark Howard to remark: 'He can do it all, this man.' 'He's just playing with them, Isaac Heeney,' Montagna added in reaction. North Melbourne closed the gap to 12 points at the final change, but couldn't get any closer as Heeney kicked a goal in the first minute of the fourth and then another before taking a rest on the bench in the closing stages. Originally published as Isaac Heeney's record-breaking day leads Sydney past North Melbourne
Courier-Mail
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
AFL 2025: Matt Rowell says he hasn't changed approach after AFL umpire contact memo, Jay Clark and David King analysis
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Matt Rowell and the Suns are on a 'crash course with the AFL' over umpire contact after the star midfielder again had multiple close shaves during their 41-point win over Essendon on Saturday. During the week, the league announced it would crack down on careless player-umpire contact, with suspensions to potentially be dished out to repeat offenders. Rowell has been fined four times across the past two years, with another misstep to possibly cost him a ban. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. And after coach Damien Hardwick midweek said 'look out' if Rowell was to be banned for another discretion, the prolific contested ball-winner said on Saturday he hadn't taken any steps to alter his approach to the contest. In a post-game interview with Fox Footy's Sarah Jones, Rowell was abrupt when questioned about the umpire contact situation. Matt Rowell had more close shaves with umpires on Saturday afternoon. 'I haven't changed anything,' he told Jones after Gold Coast's 18.7 (115) to 11.8 (74) win. Asked if he had spoken to Hardwick on any tinkers to his style of play that would prevent contact, Rowell was again stern in his response. 'I'm just going to keep doing me,' he said. Herald Sun chief football writer Jay Clark remarked that the situation was 'red rag to a bull', with Gold Coast clearly unhappy with the AFL's sudden shift. 'Gold Coast is on a crash course with the AFL over this matter. There were so many close shaves ... as he (Rowell) says, he's not going to change anything,' Clark told Fox Footy's Super Saturday Live. 'The AFL wants the players to change their behaviour on this front. It's red rag to a bull. 'They (the AFL) said they don't really want to suspend players for this, but if they're going to do it a bit brazenly and not modify their behaviour, maybe they have to.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Two-time premiership Kangaroo David King said it was the second time this year Hardwick had taken aim at league headquarters, predicting a suspension for Rowell if there was to be another instance of umpire contact in the coming weeks. 'I reckon it's the second middle finger for the year (from) Damien Hardwick ... and this one is straight at Andrew Dillon, and I don't think he'll take it well,' King said. 'I think that if there is contact to be made in the next few weeks, he will get a suspension, because they've warned, and they've ignored. 'It's a pretty serious thing to be doing in the back half of the year.' Western Bulldogs icon Brad Johnson added: 'He (Rowell) is walking the fine line. We all know what the outcome is now, so it's on Rowell and the Gold Coast to either change behaviour, or it could hurt them at the end of the year.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson during the match broadcast suggested Rowell and Hardwick were on the same page with their displeasure about the AFL's mid-season crackdown. 'I think sometimes you're an extension of the coach in terms of the messaging, and when (he said) 'I'm just going to do what I do', and that means 'I'm going to dance with the devil' in these particular plays,' he said. 'Obviously, they're not happy as a club about it, and they've told him to go out and play his natural game, almost to the point where 'I'm going to put myself in this spot, and what will be will be'. 'I think it's a stance, often when you hear a player talk like that, it's coming from the coach, and a bit of a line in the sand ... 'we're not going to cop this anymore' type of attitude, and I think Dimma has instilled that in some of his players. 'This particular issue seems to have sparked something in Dimma's profile.' Four-time flag-winner Jordan Lewis said: 'I think, if I'm the AFL watching that, I am not too pleased, to be honest. But that's the risk they want to run.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY At half-time of Bombers-Suns, Lewis expressed concern about Rowell's approach amid multiple examples from the first half at Docklands where the hard-headed midfielder had multiple close shaves with men in green. 'He either didn't see the memo that came out, (or) he hasn't been spoken to by club officials,' Lewis said on Fox Footy. 'Seriously, you cannot set up like that. You cannot run the risk of then getting another fine and a potential suspension. 'I just cannot believe after the week that he's had to then set up behind the umpire and run the risk.' Lewis believed it meant the AFL would be more likely to suspend Rowell as a result of unchanged behaviour. 'No doubt, whatsoever. The umpires have sent out a memo, they've fined Matt Rowell last week $5,000,' he said. 'If he doesn't get the message from those two things, maybe the next thing is a suspension.' Originally published as AFL, Suns on 'crash course' over ump contact as star bristles in blunt interview
