AFL 2024: North Melbourne president Sonja Hood ‘flattened’ by woeful season
The Kangaroos president has called for coaching stability but laid out her view of the 2024 season in no uncertain terms.
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North Melbourne president Sonja Hood feels “flattened” by another torrid AFL campaign but has reasserted her support for senior coach Alastair Clarkson.
Hood urged Kangaroos supporters to have faith in a stable football department but said the Roos would be “questioned and challenged” if they didn’t take steps forward next season.
The Kangaroos’ medical team was praised and Hood hailed the development of “some of our younger players” in a letter to members on Friday that backed Clarkson and football boss Todd Viney.
After a fifth consecutive bottom-two finish, Hood said a 3-20 season had taken its toll on club leaders but maintained the Roos were still on a path to “sustainable, long-term success”.
“First, the men’s season. One word – disappointing. The disappointment doesn’t nullify the moments of light – and I’ll get to those in a minute – but let’s not pretend it was a good 24 weeks overall,” Hood wrote.
“For many of us, it’s 24 disappointing weeks on top of a succession of disappointing seasons. And that takes its toll – inside and outside the club.
“I remain bullishly optimistic about our future, but I am as flattened as anyone by the football we watched to finish our year. I know you are, too.”
Hood blamed “instability” for the club’s woes since its back-to-back preliminary finals appearances and said a mostly untouched football department would be vital for the Roos to rise up the ladder.
“Next year, for the first time in a very long time, we enter the pre-season with a stable football department with minimal changes,” she wrote.
“I simply cannot think of two better people to lead us out of this on-field predicament than Alastair Clarkson and Todd Viney.
“Their experience and the confidence they and their team bring to the club is as important as the instability has been challenging in the preceding years.
“Make no mistake, though – stability doesn’t mean performance isn’t questioned or challenged. It is and will continue to be, but the people we have in place are the people who will fix this performance issue.”
Despite a bleak win-loss record, the Kangaroos celebrated second-year utility Harry Sheezel’s season on Thursday as he claimed the AFL Coaches’ Association Best Young Player award.
Sheezel and ruckman Tristan Xerri were both named in the 44-man All-Australian squad for the first time, but neither was picked in the final team.
Originally published as AFL 2024: North Melbourne president Sonja Hood ‘flattened’ by woeful season
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