AFL coach breaks down as Bondi mum identified as daughter of loved footballer

An AFL club is honouring mum Ashlee Good, who died in the Bondi stabbing attack, after confirming she is the daughter of a popular footballer.

Steven Febey, posts images of himself with Ash Good, who died the Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing massacre. Picture: Instagram

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has broken down before his team’s clash against Geelong on Sunday over the Bondi stabbing rampage that has rocked the country.

The usually stoic coach needed to be supported during his pre-game interview with Fox Footy after being asked about Sydney mum Ashlee Good, who died in the Bondi Westfield attack.

The Kangaroos on Sunday morning confirmed Ms Good is the daughter of club great Kerry Good, who played 74 games for the football club.

Ms Good’s family has revealed her baby daughter is “doing well” after hours of surgery.

According to witnesses, Ms Good tried to save her daughter after they were both attacked, handing her baby to two strangers as she fought for life.

The Sydney mum was rushed to St Vincent’s hospital in a critical condition, but died soon after arriving.

Kerry Good, who retired in 1983, served on the club’s board of directors during the Kangaroos’ premiership seasons the 1990s.

The Kangaroos announced the club would be honouring Ms Good with black armbands after getting the support of her family.

Clarkson showed how significant the loss is to the football club when he struggled through his classy pre-match interview.

“It’s shocking for our club and in particular for the family,” he said.

Alastair Clarkson was overcome with emotion in his pre-game interview. Ashlee Good is pictured with former Demons star Steve Febey, a close friend.

“Kerry’s been a significant part of our club for a long time. It’s just so sad. That beautiful girl ... she’s not going to have a mum. Breaks our heart. It breaks out hearts. Even more, it’s just humanity. This is happening in our country.

“We’re going to get the same excuse. Drugs and alcohol. We’ve got to do something about it. There’s got to be a time where it just stops.

“The strange part about it is you get to the next day these boys get to do what they love and that’s been denied to Ashlee and five other families. Now we have a game of footy that we have to play. Our hearts are pretty low today.”

Fox Footy analyst and Kangaroos legend David King also wrote on Twitter: “Awful news. Unimaginable what KG and family are going through at the moment. Thinking of you guys.”

The football club and the AFL have also released statements.

Club president Dr Sonja Hood said those connected to North Melbourne were tremendously saddened by the news.

“Like all Australians, we were horrified to see the awful details coming out of Sydney on Saturday,” Dr Hood said.

“To learn later that Ashlee and her daughter were victims in this tragedy really brings something like this close to home.

31/8/1982. North Melbourne player Kerry Good.

“Our thoughts and condolences go to all those impacted by the awful events, especially to Ashlee’s partner Daniel Flanagan, Kerry and Dian, Ashlee’s mother Denise, and Ashlee’s extended family and friends.

“Kerry and his family are incredibly important people in our club’s history and we offer them our love and support through what is an unimaginably difficult time.”

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said his thoughts and those of the entire football community were with the Good family and all families impacted by the horrific and random attack.

“I know so many people who know Kerry and the family are hurting and the football world is united in its sympathy for the Good family and the many people across our North Melbourne and football community and the wider community who have been affected by this attack,” Mr Dillon said.

“You shudder when you hear the news on Saturday and find it hard to comprehend that an activity that is so normal and so common to every Australian family, could end so tragically. As a football person I know everyone across the football family will join the North Melbourne Football Club and their supporters in offering our condolences to all impacted by Saturday’s attack, particularly Ashlee’s partner Daniel Flanagan, Kerry and Dian, Ashlee’s mother Denise, and Ashlee’s extended family and friends.”

Clarkson was supported by Geelong great Cam Mooney.

It emerged earlier on Sunday that Ms Good was a popular and active figure in football across Melbourne.

Demons great Steve Febey was among the football figures to make public comments about Good.

“Words fail me, absolutely shattered and can’t comprehend how this could happen to the most amazing, beautiful and caring human,” Febey wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of himself and Ms Good together.

“I will always cherish our friendship and the great times we shared. Love ya forever Ash.”

Ms Good’s family are also continuing to honour her memory.

Describing the Sydney mum as “outstanding human” they said the family was struggling to come to terms with what had occurred.

“Today we are reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all round outstanding human and so much more,’’ the family said in a statement.

“We appreciate the well wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl.

“We can report that after hours of surgery yesterday our baby is currently doing well. We are so grateful for the expert care and attention of the medical team at Sydney Children’s Hospital.”

The family wanted to offer thanks to emergency responders and the two men who cared for Ms Good’s baby daughter.

“We would also like to thank the New South Wales Police for their kindness and diligence in this tragedy and emergency services for getting our baby the care she needed as quickly as possible,” the family said.

“To the two men who held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not – words cannot express our gratitude. We are struggling to come to terms with what has occurred. We would appreciate peace and privacy while we work through this as a family.”

As news filtered out on Saturday night, Sky News reporter Laura Jayes struggled to hold back tears during a live cross as she reported on the death of her friend Ms Good.

“I didn’t know the others but I knew one,” Jayes said on-air. “I can tell you that it was a mother, a mother in the prime of her life, a new mother with a nine-month-old baby. She’s a beautiful woman.

“Her baby went into surgery and her mum didn’t make it. That is really hard news to take. She was so smart, so beautiful and it was all ripped away in seconds.”

Originally published as AFL coach breaks down as Bondi mum identified as daughter of loved footballer