Prediction Dr Sonja Hood AM

[Mr north man]

Beats me. Should have been given the arse immediately after trading our future first.

Sounding like a broken record Rawlings won’t be sacked by his mates

 

[disco_cowboy]

1. Employ someone that holds Clarkson accountable. Which would have to be someone of significant footballing expertise, Greg Swan type, on a part time basis.
2. Employ an assistant coach with experience in delivering defensive tactics and offensive plan. Our current crop of assistants are mud. Remove Patch immediately and start looking to replace them at end of season.
3. Create a succession plan (which they may have done) but not with Adam Simpson because he’s an old son. Start looking for someone. They have time.
4. Scrap the wellbeing coach or whatever the **** thats called. Waste of resources.
5. **** Brady off Tomorrow morning 9am.

Thats a start.

Although I disagree with the overall plan I do agree with the sentiment.
The club needs to be accountable.
Ie. if we don’t finish above 12th this year, we will be looking at succession plans for clarko or wrapping up some of our line coaches.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Just stop

No. I agree with the decisions Sonja has made, so I'm not going to stop voicing that view just because it upsets you.

I've outlined the team will need to at least double the number of wins this year, and have a better 2nd half, to justify the current strategies in place. Very fair and transparent, and hardly controversial.

 

[archereleven]

No. I agree with the decisions Sonja has made, so I'm not going to stop voicing that view just because it upsets you.

I've outlined the team will need to at least double the number of wins this year, and have a better 2nd half, to justify the current strategies in place. Very fair and transparent, and hardly controversial.

And if we finish with 2 wins and a % of 50 odd? What then? Go around again with fingers and toes crossed?

 

[ferball]

Both can be true, yes.

Another truism is 'Doing everything the same and expecting different results is the definition of insanity"

Since 2017 we've changed the board and coaching staff repeatedly.

If Clarkson coaches this season till the end of the season then it will be the first season since 2018 we've had a single coach for the second full season in a row. It was more ... he'd been there 8 years but since then we have not had a coach serve out two consecutive full seasons of football.

 

[archereleven]

Since 2017 we've changed the board and coaching staff repeatedly.

If Clarkson coaches this season till the end of the season then it will be the first season since 2018 we've had a single coach for the second full season in a row. It was more ... he'd been there 8 years but since then we have not had a coach serve out two consecutive full seasons of football.

I don't want Clarko sacked, but if we have a 2-20 season, the assistants have to go, Rawling and Claytons have to go and a lot more money needs to go into the soft cap to support Clarko.

If we have another poor season in 2026, the jungle drums will be beating flat knacker and there may well be a complete clean out.

 

[NMFC49]

The manifestation that as a club we have overwhelming problems. While us rank and file throw shit everywhere trying to work out what is the cause and solution.

The people paid to solve these problems simply aren’t and there is a feeling of sameness as we circle around inside this pit of despair.

There’s also radio silence from the top sans the odd fluffy email. While the content from the club is the very definition of don’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining.

I really want to hope that another capitulation at our marquee game was cause for the board to meet within the last three days.

Whatever they are doing, what the coaches are doing whatever the players are doing is simply not enough or fundamentally not working and it is their collective roles to fix it.

We from here can do nothing but throw shit, endure, and hope that at some point the circling stops and we actually move forward toward something that is not another loss.

Letter to President Hood, CC: to CEO Jen Watt, Todd Viney, and Alastair Clarkeson.

Dear Sonja, as a fellow NMFC supporter and member, I want to reach out and with all respect offer some humble advice on how we might fix the dilemma our club now finds itself in after six rounds in a season we were ensured we would make some modest advancement after the debacle of the previous five years. It is apparent our group of professional highly paid footballers are bereft of commitment and the will to bleed for the blue and white. I must also raise what I believe is the demise of this club. I began going to North Melbourne matches in the late 1950s. We were once a proud and hard as nails working class club. We were often knocked down but we always got off the floor and came out hard the next week under the demands of coaches like Wally Carter, Alan Killigrew, John Kennedy, Ron Barassi, and Denis Pagan. These men demanded strength of character. Along the way we have lost this once great attribute of our club. Today we are a shadow of that culture.

Leadership is always a challenge. To be blunt, there is a distinct lack of leadership both off-field and on-field. Several of our senior players that are required to set high standards of commitment, determination and commitment, just melt under opponent pressure. There are confusing signals coming out of our match committee. Senior players on poor performance are being selected when they should be dropped to VFL. The apparent and genuine leadership of our team comes from: Curtis, Xerri, Wardlaw, Archer, Sheezel. It is embarrassing that these young players set a high standard while our senior 'so-called' leaders fail to lead.
As the leader of our club Sonia I ask that you and the Board take time to consider the state of the culture of our club. The current culture is simply not working. It floats down to the whole organisation. An example - Sonia. Videos on NMFC media celebrating players joking and playing juvenile games is not reflective of a club that is dire on field. Gifting games to players failing to perform reflects lack of profesional standards and discipline in our club. Please step back and consider our prime objective; that is to win premierships. Everything else is irrelevant.
I ask that you and the Board harden up. We the members demand change. We can be a great club again, it's in your hands.
Sincerely, DGJ

 

[ferball]

I don't want Clarko sacked, but if we have a 2-20 season, the assistants have to go, Rawling and Claytons have to go and a lot more money needs to go into the soft cap to support Clarko.

Are we spending less than the soft cap? We can't really afford to go over cos the league fines clubs at an exorbitant rate.

Also do you really think we're on track for a 2/20 oe 3/20 season?

I think we all ready have to ask the question of our assistants. The only one who seems to have improved their line is Clarke. My understanding is all list management decisions, especially ones like trading for Daniel or trading for Whitlock are signed off by the whole club - ie the board and Viney.

If we have another poor season in 2026, the jungle drums will be beating flat knacker and there may well be a complete clean out.

Even so then we would be better off beginning our process to replace Clarkson in 2026 and letting him see out his contract.

It'll be seven years since the club has seen the someone coach two full consecutive seasons if Clarkson makes it thru this year. The last time it happed was Jy, Souv and Zurhaar's second season of football. LDU's first...

And its not just that.

There has been no continuity between systems in that time. No wonder they look like headless chooks.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Do we honestly think the social media stuff designed to engage the casual is emblematic of what goes on?

 

[Only Forwards]

Do we honestly think the social media stuff designed to engage the casual is emblematic of what goes on?

I think the performances on game day are emblematic of a club that has multiple things broken.

That these performances have been consistent over such a long period of time is emblematic of the failure to fix those problems.

The social media is merely the part of the circus of turd polishing.

If we were winning it would be almost funny. We are not, and that makes it sad and like everything is fine. It’s clearly not. No part of our win loss is fine. None of it.

 

[archereleven]

Are we spending less than the soft cap? We can't really afford to go over cos the league fines clubs at an exorbitant rate.

Also do you really think we're on track for a 2/20 oe 3/20 season?

I think we all ready have to ask the question of our assistants. The only one who seems to have improved their line is Clarke. My understanding is all list management decisions, especially ones like trading for Daniel or trading for Whitlock are signed off by the whole club - ie the board and Viney.



Even so then we would be better off beginning our process to replace Clarkson in 2026 and letting him see out his contract.

It'll be seven years since the club has seen the someone coach two full consecutive seasons if Clarkson makes it thru this year. The last time it happed was Jy, Souv and Zurhaar's second season of football. LDU's first...

And its not just that.

There has been no continuity between systems in that time. No wonder they look like headless chooks.

If we are still poor in 2026, I want our existing regime nowhere near a succession plan.

Not sure on soft cap numbers, but Clarko is on 1m, which would be a fair chunk of it. Piss the feng shui guy off and psychologist as they are adding nothing and hire proper midfield and defensive coaches.

A coach that ties it altogether even, something like a game plan/game day tactics coach that sits in with Clarko.

Didn't we have Tudor doing something like that at one point?

 

[archereleven]

Are we spending less than the soft cap? We can't really afford to go over cos the league fines clubs at an exorbitant rate.

Also do you really think we're on track for a 2/20 oe 3/20 season?

I think we all ready have to ask the question of our assistants. The only one who seems to have improved their line is Clarke. My understanding is all list management decisions, especially ones like trading for Daniel or trading for Whitlock are signed off by the whole club - ie the board and Viney.



Even so then we would be better off beginning our process to replace Clarkson in 2026 and letting him see out his contract.

It'll be seven years since the club has seen the someone coach two full consecutive seasons if Clarkson makes it thru this year. The last time it happed was Jy, Souv and Zurhaar's second season of football. LDU's first...

And its not just that.

There has been no continuity between systems in that time. No wonder they look like headless chooks.

And on everyone signing off on list management, well, one or two will have to be let go...

The last 3 weeks we have given up 300 points in 2nd halves alone. I'm really starting to fear a 1 or 2 win season...

 

[Augustine]

No. I agree with the decisions Sonja has made, so I'm not going to stop voicing that view just because it upsets you.

I've outlined the team will need to at least double the number of wins this year, and have a better 2nd half, to justify the current strategies in place. Very fair and transparent, and hardly controversial.

Sonja has shown she has the mettle to sack coaches - I think she’ll do it if we need to. I just really disagree with attacking fans for being impatient.

 

[Midas]

Sonja has shown she has the mettle to sack coaches - I think she’ll do it if we need to. I just really disagree with attacking fans for being impatient.

She needs to show she can get the best from a football department.

Not that she will or won’t sack coaches.

 

[William Caresser]

I think Clarkson should be called before the board right now to explain what in the f*** that was in our marquee game.

Not some point over the horizon.

Right now. Do better with what you have at your disposal.

Yes - definitely needs to front the Board with Viney. The list isn't anywhere near as bad or as inexperienced as the performances would suggest.

They need to be told that if performances don't improve significantly, the Board will have no choice but to appoint a Neil Balme type to manage both of them. Will they like it? No, but too bad - they're on the big $$ and they're not delivering, not by a long shot.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

We really want to go to Clarko and tell him we’re putting in a succession plan?

Jesus.

 

[Mr north man]

Letter to President Hood, CC: to CEO Jen Watt, Todd Viney, and Alastair Clarkeson.

Dear Sonja, as a fellow NMFC supporter and member, I want to reach out and with all respect offer some humble advice on how we might fix the dilemma our club now finds itself in after six rounds in a season we were ensured we would make some modest advancement after the debacle of the previous five years. It is apparent our group of professional highly paid footballers are bereft of commitment and the will to bleed for the blue and white. I must also raise what I believe is the demise of this club. I began going to North Melbourne matches in the late 1950s. We were once a proud and hard as nails working class club. We were often knocked down but we always got off the floor and came out hard the next week under the demands of coaches like Wally Carter, Alan Killigrew, John Kennedy, Ron Barassi, and Denis Pagan. These men demanded strength of character. Along the way we have lost this once great attribute of our club. Today we are a shadow of that culture.

Leadership is always a challenge. To be blunt, there is a distinct lack of leadership both off-field and on-field. Several of our senior players that are required to set high standards of commitment, determination and commitment, just melt under opponent pressure. There are confusing signals coming out of our match committee. Senior players on poor performance are being selected when they should be dropped to VFL. The apparent and genuine leadership of our team comes from: Curtis, Xerri, Wardlaw, Archer, Sheezel. It is embarrassing that these young players set a high standard while our senior 'so-called' leaders fail to lead.
As the leader of our club Sonia I ask that you and the Board take time to consider the state of the culture of our club. The current culture is simply not working. It floats down to the whole organisation. An example - Sonia. Videos on NMFC media celebrating players joking and playing juvenile games is not reflective of a club that is dire on field. Gifting games to players failing to perform reflects lack of profesional standards and discipline in our club. Please step back and consider our prime objective; that is to win premierships. Everything else is irrelevant.
I ask that you and the Board harden up. We the members demand change. We can be a great club again, it's in your hands.
Sincerely, DGJ

As a supporter of the NMFC I’m proud of this letter you have written everything written in it is the truth.
Unfortunately she will never see it as
1:She probably doesn’t know about North Big Footy.
2:A member of her inner circle with make sure she doesn’t see it.
Only way things will change if the AFL decides enough is enough and decides to walk in and take over.

 

[DuckYeah]

We really want to go to Clarko and tell him we’re putting in a succession plan?

Jesus.

I wouldn’t be telling him of a succession plan, I would be telling him, the current performance would mean we will have to explore the idea so we are not left up shit creek without a paddle.

Are we spending less than the soft cap?

Its 7.65m per year. Ive always looked at our Football department and thought there was no way we are spending close to that. But I didn’t realise we are wasting money on a Wellbeing coach either. I wish there was more clarity around our spending, just an ambiguous annual financial report.

 

[DuckYeah]

Sonja has shown she has the mettle to sack coaches - I think she’ll do it if we need to. I just really disagree with attacking fans for being impatient.

Its not about Sacking coaches. Sacking Clarkson would be an unmitigated disaster, it would be financially inept and if Clarkson is sacked then it would truly put a nail in the boards coffin. Its the team around Clarkson thats the issue, from game day tactics to behaviour around the club.

Unfortunately we are stuck with Clarkson, at least 2026

 

[Midas]

I wouldn’t be telling him of a succession plan, I would be telling him, the current performance would mean we will have to explore the idea so we are not left up shit creek without a paddle.



Its 7.65m per year. Ive always looked at our Football department and thought there was no way we are spending close to that. But I didn’t realise we are wasting money on a Wellbeing coach either. I wish there was more clarity around our spending, just an ambiguous annual financial report.

Mate leadership and mindfulness is absolutely imperative to high performance.

Every elite athlete in the world taps into this, as does every professional sporting organisation in the world.

Richmond swears the work done with Emma Murray and their premierships never happen without their vulnerability sessions.

Ask the best in the world what their mental routine is and they will tell you exactly what it looks like.

I think the question is who is running it, why, and how effective is it right now?

We seem to consistently have B Graders in - Scott ran it himself, Roos brought his mate in and the qualifications of the two we have onboard at the moment are questionable and the results are hardly flattering.

At least Melbourne went to the best in the business Ben Crowe to work with them.

 

[DuckYeah]

Mate leadership and mindfulness is absolutely imperative to high performance.

A sports psychologist should be able to deliver that? No?

 

[Augustine]

Its not about Sacking coaches. Sacking Clarkson would be an unmitigated disaster, it would be financially inept and if Clarkson is sacked then it would truly put a nail in the boards coffin. Its the team around Clarkson thats the issue, from game day tactics to behaviour around the club.

Unfortunately we are stuck with Clarkson, at least 2026

Oh I agree. Sacking Clarkson isn’t possible or advisable. Clearly though some big and ruthless decisions need to be made about the footy department. My point was that despite her amiable demeanour, Sonja has demonstrated that she is not incapable of making such calls.

It isn’t a good idea for the president to interfere habitually in the footy department. But a clear and direct conversation with Viney and/or Clarkson might be what is required to reset expectations.

 

[Only Forwards]

Letter to President Hood, CC: to CEO Jen Watt, Todd Viney, and Alastair Clarkeson.

Dear Sonja, as a fellow NMFC supporter and member, I want to reach out and with all respect offer some humble advice on how we might fix the dilemma our club now finds itself in after six rounds in a season we were ensured we would make some modest advancement after the debacle of the previous five years. It is apparent our group of professional highly paid footballers are bereft of commitment and the will to bleed for the blue and white. I must also raise what I believe is the demise of this club. I began going to North Melbourne matches in the late 1950s. We were once a proud and hard as nails working class club. We were often knocked down but we always got off the floor and came out hard the next week under the demands of coaches like Wally Carter, Alan Killigrew, John Kennedy, Ron Barassi, and Denis Pagan. These men demanded strength of character. Along the way we have lost this once great attribute of our club. Today we are a shadow of that culture.

Leadership is always a challenge. To be blunt, there is a distinct lack of leadership both off-field and on-field. Several of our senior players that are required to set high standards of commitment, determination and commitment, just melt under opponent pressure. There are confusing signals coming out of our match committee. Senior players on poor performance are being selected when they should be dropped to VFL. The apparent and genuine leadership of our team comes from: Curtis, Xerri, Wardlaw, Archer, Sheezel. It is embarrassing that these young players set a high standard while our senior 'so-called' leaders fail to lead.
As the leader of our club Sonia I ask that you and the Board take time to consider the state of the culture of our club. The current culture is simply not working. It floats down to the whole organisation. An example - Sonia. Videos on NMFC media celebrating players joking and playing juvenile games is not reflective of a club that is dire on field. Gifting games to players failing to perform reflects lack of profesional standards and discipline in our club. Please step back and consider our prime objective; that is to win premierships. Everything else is irrelevant.
I ask that you and the Board harden up. We the members demand change. We can be a great club again, it's in your hands.
Sincerely, DGJ

I share your frustration.

The reality is that from where we sit so far in the outer the above is unlikely to get anywhere near it's intended target.

Not that long ago I overheard a conversation with someone pretty close to the top of the tree at North and they remarked about the Melbourne game and the difference that it made to us not getting calls after a game. That post a loss typically there would be circa 200 calls to the club. I can only imagine that the calls would be expressing concerns not unlike what you have described and have been vented here in one form or another since Friday. But those 200 calls did not seem like anything more than a minor annoyance. Not something representative of the current disharmony from the rank and file.

There are very few palatable ways that people from the outer will be able to be heard inside the walls of the club.

wait and go to the AGM where they have to face you, have people en masse either vote with their feet for a specific game or coordinate to contact the club post the next poor loss, have a load of manure delivered to Arden St.

However these things are really unlikely to alert them to anything they don't really already know.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

Yeh someone who was top level arguably the GOAT, who loves the club and been a leader in a highly successful elite world sporting program.

Or just a PR Social Justice warrior who loves the club?

I know who would at least keep the bastards honest

You can just imagine Clarko presenting to Ponting.

'Our mantra is to be competitive in games up to 3qtr time'

 

[apollo_creed]

I share your frustration.

The reality is that from where we sit so far in the outer the above is unlikely to get anywhere near it's intended target.

Not that long ago I overheard a conversation with someone pretty close to the top of the tree at North and they remarked about the Melbourne game and the difference that it made to us not getting calls after a game. That post a loss typically there would be circa 200 calls to the club. I can only imagine that the calls would be expressing concerns not unlike what you have described and have been vented here in one form or another since Friday. But those 200 calls did not seem like anything more than a minor annoyance. Not something representative of the current disharmony from the rank and file.

There are very few palatable ways that people from the outer will be able to be heard inside the walls of the club.

wait and go to the AGM where they have to face you, have people en masse either vote with their feet for a specific game or coordinate to contact the club post the next poor loss, have a load of manure delivered to Arden St.

However these things are really unlikely to alert them to anything they don't really already know.

I'm not in the sack Clarkson camp (although he appears to be clueless to successfully setting up a football side in the modern game) but there's nothing stopping the club pulling Rawlings aside now and letting him know that this year will be his last.

He's had long enough, and he has failed long enough, the club needs to make it clear the boys club is less important than accountability. His performance has been horrible. If we employ him any longer who knows how much longer, we'll be where we are.

The Richmond trade already was terrible/laughable at the time but the fact we're almost certain to finish bottom 4 again makes it one of, if not the worst trade in history. So ridiculously lopsided that it defies belief. That alone is a sackable offence. Overpaying for Daniel then overpaying for a +20 draft pick with what we paid for Daniel is just beyond dumb.

If another club did that every single person on this board would be pointing and laughing at them. Even the biggest Rawlings apologists.