Former captain Jack Ziebell is adamant North Melbourne is not going to lose focus regardless of a sequence of off-field distractions threatening to derail their progress beneath Alastair Clarkson.
The Kangaroos are within the midst of an necessary pre-season, laced with expectation they’ll flip a nook with Clarkson on the helm after successive picket spoons.
But the membership has hit the headlines for all of the flawed causes, with younger star Tarryn Thomas taking time away from soccer as he faces allegations of mistreating girls.
Clarkson, too, is embroiled in controversy amid the continuing investigation into allegations of racism throughout his time at Hawthorn, which he denies.
Meanwhile, Kangaroos president Sonja Hood is ready to endure surgical procedure after a shock breast most cancers prognosis final week.
Ziebell, who mentioned he had reached out to Thomas in latest days, insists the gamers’ minds are on the duty at hand with simply 5 weeks left till spherical one.
“We’ve got a job to do on the field. We come in and we’ve got to get our work done,” Ziebell mentioned.
“The club has made that decision (on Thomas) and as players we’ve just got to come in and do our work.”
Thomas hit the headlines in January after being charged with threatening to distribute an intimate picture.
In a separate incident, he was stopped by police when driving with a suspended licence through the Kangaroos’ Christmas break.
The 22-year-old has since confronted recent allegations of mistreating girls and final week stepped away from the membership indefinitely.
Ziebell has handed the captaincy to Jy Simpkin and Luke McDonald this 12 months after six seasons within the position however noticed it as his obligation as a senior participant to the touch base with Thomas.
“I check in on all our players and that will continue, whatever they’re going through,” Ziebell mentioned.
“He’s going OK. It’s been a tough time but there’s probably not too much I can comment on in this situation … because the AFL integrity unit are doing their research and we don’t have too many facts.”
Ziebell had by no means met Clarkson earlier than the four-times Hawthorn premiership coach and former North Melbourne participant returned to Arden Street late final 12 months in his teaching comeback.
The 31-year-old mentioned Clarkson is already having a optimistic impression on your complete membership.
“The way he treats people, the way he builds relationships with not just players but everyone … has really reshaped our footy club,” Ziebell mentioned.
Ziebell mentioned it was a “perfect time” to go on the Kangaroos captaincy with a brand new coach approaching board, highlighting a recent sense of optimism and stability following a horror interval that included David Noble being sacked as coach final July.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
