New North Shore coach Mark Hounslow reflects on North Geelong sacking and long-term vision for Seagulls

Mark Hounslow’s last senior coaching role ended in controversial fashion. He sheds light on his exit from North Geelong, how he plans to turn North Shore around and more.

New North Shore coach Mark Hounslow with assistant Andy Viola. Picture: Supplied

Mark Hounslow believes he is a better coach now than he was in 2022, when he was sensationally sacked by North Geelong in his first season.

The newly instated North Shore coach has gained experience at Wanderers in the Northern Territory Football League and soaked up valuable knowledge from former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson while at premiership winning Eastern league club Balwyn since then.

“Either I sat back and sort of worry about it, or go and improve and grow further, and that’s what I did,” Hounslow told this publication.

“Went to Darwin, a strong indigenous club there at the Wanderers and the culture and the experience that I had up there was second to none.

“Footy in the Tiwi Islands and things like that in a really strong competition, went and grew more, made some friendships and then obviously going to Balwyn.

“I just went to better myself and work on things that I need to work on. Just like players and everyday life, we can all improve somewhere. So I just went away to work on a few things and I think I’m much better now than what I was.”

Mark Hounslow was sacked from North Geelong.

In isolation, the incident that brought the end of Hounslow at North Geelong was minor. Coaches have said and done much worse and got away with it.

Words were said by Hounslow to his charges in the changerooms regarding workrate during their come-from-behind win over Corio.

The Devils, metres away in the opposing changerooms, heard some disparaging things about them and informed North Geelong.

Hounslow was ousted as coach days later which was the “last straw” according to then Magpies president Jason Habib. It was the only reason, with some key differences of opinion between Hounslow and key members of the club.

“I’m in a good place now – moreso because I am with North Shore now. I won’t be the first or the last coach to sort of … sometimes you don’t see eye-to-eye with some people and that’s fine,” Hounslow said.

“They (North Geelong) had a good, successful year which is great for them. There is still plenty of good people there and what have you, but that happens in footy and sometimes you’re just not the right fit for each other and that’s okay, that’s life.”

He has regrets – who doesn’t – but it allowed him to go away and ensure he didn’t get caught up in the heat of the moment like that day at Osborne Park.

“Just a little more composure and think a little bit more clearly and not worrying about three or four things trying to run and just focusing on one thing at a time. And making sure I do that 100 per cent, and not four or five things at four of 50 per cent,” Hounslow said.

“Of course you regret it, you look back and everything’s good in hindsight. At the stage it is what it is. I just moved on, in the end there’s no need to sort of go over it and things like that.

“But look, I’m excited about going to a strong comp and I want to help this club rise back where it was and help develop some younger players in the region and make this club really competitive again.”

Hounslow at North Geelong ahead of the 2022 season. Picture: Mark Wilson

SUSTAINED SUCCESS

The other elephant in the room for Hounslow is the possibility of relegation for North Shore.

The Seagulls are at the bottom of the club championship table heading at the halfway mark of the two-year cycle – at this stage, it is Geelong Amateur and Torquay leading the way to have the option to be promoted into the GFNL in 2026.

All indications suggest the two clubs would pass up the chance to be promoted, but the threat of relegation remains for North Shore.

However, Hounslow, who signed on a three-year deal, won’t be splashing the cash looking for a short-term sugar hit just to avoid demotion.

Instead, he is striving for sustained success — and he knows it won’t happen overnight.

“If we can be a hell of a lot more competitive and fast track a little bit quicker, well good, that’s only a benefit for the club. But obviously it’s going to take time and if it happens and relegation’s in and that’s the way it is, then OK you just accept it,” Hounslow said.

“If you’ve got to go back and work hard and get back up in the GFNL then so be it, but that’s out of our control. We’ve got to worry about what we can control I guess. And that’s just turning up and getting the club back on track and a bit of stability.

“You go for quick fix and it can set your club backwards. We could go out and try and get big name recruits and spend a lot of money and try and get up there fast, but in the long term, you’ve got to look after what you’ve got now and slowly build on it for the longer term success. If that means taking a step back and then take two or three steps forward, so be it.

“You see it all too often at local footy, some clubs might spend a bit of money and go for the quick fix and it can bite you in the long run. So we want to go around it the right way.”

Hounslow is after lont-term success. Picture: Mark Wilson

Hounslow was approached about the role a fortnight ago and jumped at the opportunity to coach in the strong competition of the GFNL and turn around a club steeped in tradition.

And he is striving to get North Shore contending for finals by 2027.

“It’s about rebuilding the club, obviously they are a proud footy club and have been successful in the past,” Hounslow said.

“We’re under no illusion where the club’s at and where we want to get to. But now I think by year three we want to be competitive, a hell of a lot more competitive and then after that who knows, you want to be pushing right up there.

“Whether that’s fourth or fifth or sixth on the ladder, so it’s going to take time but I’m aware of what I’m going to get into, but it’s exciting at the same time.”

And despite rumours to the contrary, Hounslow says North Shore will be fielding a side in the GFNL in 2025.

“We will definitely have a team, not worries at all,” he said.

AFL KNOWLEDGE

There was a fair bit of commuting involved for the Ocean Grove based Hounslow – who works in Melbourne – but his stint at Balwyn was certainly worthwhile.

Hounslow learnt a lot under Sanderson and worked with former North Melbourne duo Kayne Turner and Josh Walker at the premiership winning Tigers.

Balwyn coach Brenton Sanderson with the cup. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“You’re not sure you know how they’re going to be when they drop back from that level, but when you’re learning off someone like (Sanderson) who is open and you’re just picking up little things – what to do different in training and things like that and on game days – I took a hell of a lot from it,” Hounslow said.

“He was great, he included me in everything. I had a big say, I ran the midfield which had the likes of Kane Turner and Josh Walker, blokes from North Melbourne there and a few ex-VFL boys.”

And he hopes to take plenty of from the 199-game former Geelong star into his role with North Shore – including messaging, relationship building and more.

“You’ve got to put processes in place and you can see where the club is at at North Shore, we’ve got to put things in place and have a clear vision of where we’re moving forward,” Hounslow said.

“So the way his messaging and calmness under pressure and ability to ask questions and how open he was and trusting he was of his assistance as well.

“And he had a really good rapport and relationship with the playing group and they really feed off that. Learnt a hell of a lot and just being able to network too.”

Originally published as New North Shore coach Mark Hounslow reflects on North Geelong sacking and long-term vision for Seagulls