North Melbourne star David King says it is “hard to see” his club once again struggling on and off the pitch.
North Melbourne is a “disintegrated” football club that has to acknowledge that there are internal problems before it can move on, according to two former Prime Minister stars.
Wayne Carey and David King were forceful in their response to the resignations of three recruiting employees and rumors of riots with the chosen chosen Jason Horne-Francis.
King said it was “hard to see” as the club once again struggled both inside (1-9 after 10 rounds) and off the field.
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“It simply came to our notice then. That the turmoil of 18 months ago was over, “he told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Wednesday evening.
“North Melbourne Football Club does not have the advantages of other clubs. It’s a different place.
“It’s a football club that plays in the AFL.”
But King was confident the club could respond again, but they had to be honest about where they were.
“Nothing really changes (after the three recruiters leave) – the football club is moving forward … It’s upside down now. Listen to all the bad stories today … the players are out, they’re all gone , they will close the doors (and) they will go to Tassie … today is the day; it is an easy day, so go there “, he said.
“If these problems are genuine, which I think some of them are, it would be stupid to say that everything is fine here, nothing to see.”
Carey i AFL360 Co-presenter Mark Robinson agreed the club should be honest with his response, with coach David Noble scheduled to face the media on Thursday morning.
“That (Kangaroos CEO) Ben Amarfio says this is a media beating, it’s nonsense,” Robinson said.
“If you’re a North Melbourne supporter sitting at home and you just hear Ben Amarfio, the CEO, say this is a media beating … seriously? Say anything other than a media beating. Don’t say it’s a media beating when three people walk from your club in the same apartment – we’re not idiots!
“Sometimes I think clubs try to treat fans like idiots … tell us the truth. If you go to North Melbourne, you love this club, but take us with you!”
Speaking to Triple M, Carey said three people do not leave a club for no reason.
“You can’t improve until you admit we’re broken. I’m talking off the ground. We know they’re broken on the ground. Clearly there are things off the ground,” he said.
“No people give up for no reason.”
Gerard Whateley of the AFL360 said the club had not been “a priori” with the club’s events on Wednesday, as the Kangaroos have only been in a rebuild for two years.
“Your most important department is recruiting! That’s zero point,” Whateley said.
“They all left after two years with many years to go.”
Originally published in North Melbourne, he labeled an “AFL field football club” amid the turmoil