“Too easily pleased”: Same old story for Clarkson's North Melbourne

It’s the same old story for North Melbourne, pushing hard for a strong result but ultimately falling short once more.

And it’s the same old commentary from Alastair Clarkson after their loss to Hawthorn that caught the attention of Kane Cornes and David King.

“We were pleased that we were able to compete, but disappointed that some of the chances that we had to make it more of a game weren’t taken by us,” Clarkson said post-match after the Roos’ 16-point loss in Launceston.

The contest was tight throughout, with neither side extending to a lead beyond three goals across the entire afternoon.

However, while North Melbourne did squander a number of opportunities in front of goal, it was the Hawks that had the lion’s share of the play.

+21 in the inside 50 count, +10 intercepts and +6 in scoring shots, Hawthorn could very easily have buried the game by three-quarter time.

It’s those numbers that Cornes believes rules Clarkson’s post-match commentary irrelevant.

“I’ve just heard that so many times,” Cornes told SEN's Fireball.

“‘At some point, this group is going to get these results. At some point it’s going to turn’.

“That time should be now, really. They had 29 scoring shots, Hawthorn. They kick accurately and it’s done.

“They are too easily pleased; he is too easily pleased, not demanding enough.

“This group should be better than where they are, and just for the first time, I think the pressure is really starting to rise on whether he is the person.

“He spoke about it last week and he said that if he’s not, he will move on.”

King, an All-Australian and two-time premiership player with the Kangaroos, isn’t concerned about North Melbourne’s game ahead of the ball.

He believes that their defensive woes ruled their season near-ineffective weeks ago, and has unfortunately been proven right thus far.

“When nothing changes (defensively), nothing changes on the scoreboard,” King continued.

“I told you weeks ago, they won’t win another game for the year. They had an opportunity against Collingwood, and if they didn’t win that one, that will be it for the year.

“People will go ‘you’re too harsh on them’. No, I’m just real. I’m realistic with this whole setup.”

Cornes: “I don’t think you are too harsh. I would tell you if you were too harsh.

“I don’t think your commentary around North for the last four years has been too harsh.

“I think you’ve actually been very fair, and you bite your tongue at times. I get the feeling that that’s about to change with you though.”

King: “I just think you’ve got to be fair.

“Everyone talks about Clarko in a really negative slant. When he took the job, nobody wanted the job.

“He came there to take all the bullets for two, three, four years. His first year was a complete write-off. Now’s the time where you need to see the spike.

“I’ve got no issue to this point, but the defensive side of it… To win the ball back 54 times – the AFL average is 66 – it’s an incredibly low number. You can’t compete against teams around you with that sort of number.

“The commentary in the post-match around North Melbourne missing opportunities – that’s with the ball. That’s all with the ball. That’s what annoys me.

“Every conversation that comes out of the coach’s box after the game is with the ball. I’d love to know the last time he mentioned how they went defensively.

“When was that in a press conference? He is under pressure - I don’t think to keep his job, but to do the job.”

Cornes: “There’s no thought of an extension being handed to Alastair Clarkson and nor should there be, until at least this point next year, I would think.

“It’s going to have to be a high-pressure year where he coaches into his last year of a contract and maybe they are at loggerheads with that over a few things that they have said.

“They’ve just got to hold firm on that one.”

Clarkson’s contract with the Kangaroos is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2027 season, with he and the club yet to agree on an extension as his final year approaches.

The Kangaroos take on the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium next Thursday night, with a loss all but confirming a bottom six finish.