‘I hate it’: Host blows up over Roos skipper’s ‘condescending’ response to great’s whack

A North Melbourne star has been labelled “condescending” after a reply to a legend’s criticisms of the struggling Roos.

Mark Robinson has hit out at comments made by North Melbourne skipper Jy Simpkin.

North skipper Jy Simpkin’s belief that David King’s stinging criticism comes from a “place of love” has been labelled “condescending” and a “tarnish” on the analysis of the Roos’ shortcomings.

King slammed the “shameful” efforts of five North Melbourne players – including Simpkin – on Fox Footy’s First Crack, as he questioned if the commitment was there.

But speaking on Monday, Simpkin appeared to shrug off the damning vision, where his efforts were labelled “unacceptable”, by stating King was overinvested as a two-time premiership Roo.

Watch every match of every round of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

“I saw a bit of what Kingy had to say, we’ll take that on board,” he told media.

“He’s coming from a place of love, he’s passionate about this club and wants us to get better.

“We understand as players we’ve got to be better.

“I saw a bit of vision he’s shown and it doesn’t look great.

“We’re all out there trying our hardest and doing our best.

“When you look at the vision like that, it’s probably not up to scratch.

“That’s why he was so frustrated, because he knows we can do so much better.

“Just little things within ourselves – turning the ball over, couple of efforts where they’re probably not up to AFL standard, it really does hurt.”

Jy Simpkin (middle) took over the captaincy at North Melbourne this year alongside Luke McDonald (left). (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Fox Footy’s Mark Robinson wasn’t impressed with the comments from Simpkin, who had two instances shown by King for simply trailing his opponent and not engaging in efforts that “doesn’t pay the bills”.

“You know what really annoys me? And I really like Jy Simpkin, I think Jy deserved the captaincy … but I hate it when former players of a team criticise the team and the player comes out and says it’s coming from a place of passion – love and passion,” Robinson said on AFL 360.

“It’s a little bit condescending for me.

“It’s coming from a place of factual looking at the way you’re playing!

“It’s more than love and passion.

“It seems to tarnish the comments a little bit in my eyes.

“(It’s saying) ‘OK, OK, OK, you’re a former player’ – no no no, watch the whole game, everyone.

“They should sit down and watch the entire game.”

David King (left) and Mark Robinson (right) host First Crack together. Picture : George Salpigtidis

Robinson said players needed to be “dog hungry” but what he saw from the Roos was “like they were chasing a frisbee on the weekend” – and that’s a worrying sign for coach Alastair Clarkson.

“We were laughing and that is a terrible thing to say about an AFL club,” he said.

“Alastair Clarkson is not getting out of this team what everyone was hoping to get.

“There’s no way known Alastair Clarkson is getting the level of competitiveness everyone expected to happen.

“This is a storm inside this footy club – everyone’s under pressure.

“The players’ performance and Alastair not getting it out of them is one of the surprises of the season.”

AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley agreed the effort of the Roos players highlighted by King was a concern.

“It’s the manner in which they are getting beaten which is the source of concern,” he said.

“There’s trying and then there’s really trying.

“It’s not a one-off as the problem is it?

“They are having these, not fully engaged with hearts and minds yet.”

Originally published as ‘I hate it’: Host blows up over Roos skipper’s ‘condescending’ response to great’s whack