Full post-match, R24: Hawks

Hawthorn’s press conference after Round 24 highlighted their dominant performance, with 10 goals in the final term securing their largest-ever win over North Melbourne. Heading into the final round in seventh place, Hawthorn needed the victory to clinch a top-eight spot.

North Melbourne, finishing with only three wins and in the bottom two for the fifth consecutive season, including two wooden spoons, faced criticism. Roos coach Alastair Clarkson, who previously led Hawthorn to four premierships, acknowledged his former team’s impressive form in the latter half of the season. “The spirit fell out of us unfortunately,” Clarkson said. “The Hawks showed us a clear pair of heels.”

Highlights: Hawthorn v North Melbourne

Clarkson admitted that North Melbourne lost their “fizz” in the closing weeks of the season and noted that rebuilding clubs face greater challenges than ever. With an average of 110 points conceded per game in 2024—the worst in the AFL—and a 96-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs in the penultimate round, North struggled. Clarkson acknowledged the difficulties of staying motivated in the final weeks with limited stakes. Despite this, he emphasized that the team’s performance in the second half of the season, where they were strong and competitive in 10 of 12 games, should not be overlooked.

Full post-match, R24: Kangaroos

In North Melbourne’s press conference after their Round 24 match against Hawthorn, Clarkson reflected on drawing inspiration from Hawthorn’s rise to the top eight, as well as other teams like Melbourne that have turned their fortunes around. Despite the challenges, Clarkson maintained that the rebuild was as anticipated, though he acknowledged that factors like the compromised draft, father-son rules, and talent academies have made it more difficult to secure top-end talent. “We knew it was always going to be tough,” he said, but emphasized, “We feel like we’re on the right track as a footy club.”