(Image: Tymunna Clements/AFL NT)
Shannon Motlop admits he felt blindsided by his recent sacking by NTFL club PINT.
The North Melbourne premiership player was axed by the new team despite the fact he led them to finals in just their second season in the NTFL Premier League.
He was initially angry at the decision and even after the dust settled is yet to receive any answers.
“LOAD OF CRAP”: PREMIERSHIP KANGAROO’S REACTION TO SACKING BY NTFL CLUB
Motlop, 45, said he saw no signs that he would lose his job, admitting he felt he had done well enough to stay on with the Greenants into next season.
“I didn’t see it coming,” Motlop told SEN’s Friday In The Top End.
“We had an end of season review and part way through that they just said, ‘We’re going to let you go’.
“I was just a bit surprised by it, I didn't think it warranted it (the decision). To this point, I don't know where it came from.
“I don’t really believe anything that I’ve (heard). My discussion with the president, Spencer (Harvey), I don’t really believe a lot of the issues that he brought up were really a problem.
“I was blindsided and surprised by it.”
There have been some suggestions that Motlop lost the playing group, but he does not believe that to be the case.
“Well, the funny thing is, if you don't (have the players), you usually hear about it,” he added.
“To tell you the truth, I really don't know, because I've had players that I've since spoken to and they haven’t shown any sign of that or mentioned anything.
“To this point now, I still don't know anything about whether the players had an issue or not. It's so confusing to me.
“I reckon they'd made the decision on me a long time before they conducted a player review.”
Motlop, who played 64 AFL games for the Roos and Melbourne from 1999 to 2006, somewhat felt like he was the one who shouldered the majority of the blame for their elimination final exit last season.
The club is yet to publicly release a statement regarding the Motlop sacking which he also finds strange.
“When the end of the season came, there was a little bit of negativity from the president after we lost the first final and I felt a lot of that was pointed at me,” he said further.
“I could understand losing a final, but not in the way that he came at the group after the game. He sort of expressed that he wanted to make changes, so I feel a lot of that was was directed at me and that was well before the review as well.
“He then came to me and told me that after doing the review they would make the decision that I wouldn't coach. That was all on the back of the review apparently.
“I just find it all very confusing.
“Obviously, they they haven't released a statement or anything. Even as far as that, I still can't tell you the real truth as to why they chose to do that.”
Listen to a candid Motlop on SEN’s Fridays In The Top End below: