Alastair Clarkson calls out AFL ‘gift' to Collingwood: ‘I'd like to be the Pies'
North Melbourne have played at seven different stadiums over the past nine matches — a hectic schedule that even Collingwood star Scott Pendlebury can't help but laugh about.
The Kangaroos finished their two-week stint in Western Australia with a brave six-point loss to Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
A week earlier, North Melbourne beat West Coast by 10 points in Bunbury - a coastal town about two hours south of Perth.
The two matches in WA were technically North Melbourne home games.
It's part of a three-year deal worth about $7.5m in which North Melbourne will 'host' two games a season in Perth.
The Kangaroos agreed to the deal given their current contract with playing games in Tasmania is winding down. As one of the poorest clubs in Victoria, selling games is a necessary evil.
Over their past nine matches, North Melbourne have played at Marvel Stadium (three times), Barossa Park, Adelaide Oval, Ninja Stadium, the MCG, Hands Oval and Optus Stadium.
It's in stark contrast to Collingwood, whose huge crowd-pulling power means they are often scheduled to play at the MCG and rarely have to travel interstate compared to other sides.
In Collingwood's fixture this year, 14 of their 23 games are at the MCG, and they only have six interstate games - one of which was for Gather Round.
It's no wonder Pendlebury had a chuckle with North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson when they crossed paths recently.
'It's funny. I ran into Scotty Pendlebury, I was on the same plane when I came back from the Hall of Fame on Wednesday,' Clarkson said.
'Anyway, he was laughing about the amount that we've had to travel, compared to the gifts that they get playing at the MCG on a regular basis.
'I'd like to be like the Pies and just play at the MCG most weeks.
'But the Collingwood side are able to generate their revenue from their crowds and their opportunities.
'They get to play at the MCG and North aren't in that position at this current time.
'So we need to get on the road and play our games (in) Tassie, (or) in this case WA.
'We're happy to do so, because if we don't it puts the competition and our club in a perilous state if we can't balance the books.'
A crowd of 31,408 attended the North-Fremantle game on Saturday night.
Although Fremantle understandably enjoyed the bulk of the support, there was a large contingent of North fans, and they let their presence be felt when the Kangaroos stormed from 28 points down to level the scores late in the match.
Dockers ruckman Luke Jackson kicked the match-winning goal with three minutes remaining to secure the 10.13 (73) to 10.7 (67) triumph.
North next face Carlton at the MCG on Saturday in what marks just the second time this season the Kangaroos will play at the 'Home of Football'.
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Sydney Morning Herald
9 hours ago
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‘We'll give it back': Pies promise to defend Daicos as Windhager's tactics questioned
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Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. North Melbourne great David King has sensationally suggested St Kilda's Marcus Windhager violated the players' code during his tagging of Nick Daicos on Saturday night. The Collingwood superstar shook off a determined tag and tore the Saints apart in the Magpies' 16.12 (108) to 11.8 (74) win at Marvel Stadium. Footy pundits across the industry questioned if Windhager's niggling tactics crossed the line, but the situation took another turn after the game with St Kilda coach Ross Lyon asking the million dollar question about how umpires treat the Brownlow medal-fancy. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The success of Melbourne's Ed Langdon last round understandably prompted the Saints to send proven stopper Windhager to Daicos' side right from the first bounce. But Daicos was up to the challenge, kicking into gear physically and aerobically to ensure the Magpies went six points clear on top of the ladder. He was kept under wraps in the first quarter but broke through in style during strong second, third and fourth quarters. Daicos was crucial in Collingwood's third quarter burst – which collected three goals in two minutes – before hitting the scoreboard himself with only an inch of space in the last. You can watch the cheap shots and knee incident in the video player above Nick Daicos was worn like a cheap suit. Photo: Fox Footy. He finished with 30 disposals, five clearances, nine inside 50s, nine score involvements and a goal. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Lyon questioned whether Daicos is umpired differently to others after two early free kicks went the Collingwood star's way. Lyon saw both players 'have their moments' but was confused with some of the decisions judged against Windhager. 'Daicos had a fair bit of ball, a few entries, he moved around (and) I think we handled that,' Lyon said. 'We'll probably go early and look at some of those free kicks, I am not sure they're free kicks but I think we'll take that in and ask the question. 'Are there two sets of rules going around? I am not sure, am I allowed to say that? 'I think he's (Daicos) a great player, we know that, a great young player – at the end they (Collingwood) get the points and go, 'It didn't work'. 'When we were even and come from 20 points down, it's looking good, we say, 'It's working'. I like the theatre of it … I think it's great for the game, isn't it?' Marcus Windhager of the Saints and Nick Daicos of the Magpies. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images. It came after Collingwood coach Craig McRae shined a light on Windhager's looming Daicos assignment this week by questioning the 'value' of tagging. King said on Fox Footy after the game Windhager had gone too far, saying the Saints star's behaviour was 'against the code'. King's comments were made as Fox Footy showed clips of Daicos being pinched, pushed and smothered off the ball. It was the sight of Windhager kneeing Daicos to the back of his legs late in the game that angered King the most. 'I think Craig McRae would be frustrated,' King said. 'In the last few weeks he's put it to the media in an attempt I think to get the umpire department to wise up. This is the sort of stuff that's going on. Little knees to the hamstring. I think that's too far. 'These sorts of things. Taggers will do anything to get under your skin. There's a little whack here. Just little things that are a step too far.' King said he didn't like the treatment Daicos received at stoppages. 'The game owes these sorts of players some form of protection,' he said. Nick Daicos celebrates during against the Saints. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images. Nick Daicos appeals to the umpire. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) 'The umpires did take a stand early. They paid a free kick to a punch in the stomach 30 seconds into the game. I think perfect. Craig McRae's had a big win here. 'I still think our stars get held and contorted and twisted at stoppages.' The Magpies are now more than a game clear of reigning premier Brisbane with last-placed West Coast next week. Speaking after the game, McRae once again stressed the importance of protecting Daicos. 'I just said to Nick when he came off for the first break that we don't want him to fight the battles, we'll fight them for him,' he said. 'He didn't need to get caught up in the wrestle of that; the free kick against I am probably talking about. 'As a group, as a team, we want to look after him (and) we don't want him sitting there feeling like he's fighting his own battle. 'I feel like tonight as a collective, Nick's had 30 possessions, so you'd say his performance was pretty impactful and then the way we looked after Nick.' — with NewsWire Originally published as Coach asks the big Nick Daicos question as rival violates players' code
