As North Melbourne prepares to mark its 100th year in the V/AFL tonight, one of the club’s most iconic figures has delivered a blunt message to the current playing group: show some heart, or don’t bother showing up.
Former coach Denis Pagan, who steered the Kangaroos to glory in the 1990s with premierships in 1996 and 1999, will address the team before their Thursday night showdown with the Western Bulldogs.
And his message, he says, won’t be sugar-coated.
“You just can’t put up with that”
Reflecting on last weekend’s disappointing effort in Launceston, Pagan didn’t hold back.
“That rubbish they served up down in Launceston last week was pitiful,” he told SEN Breakfast. “You just can’t put up with that, whether you’re a supporter, whether you’re a coach, whether you’re just a member of the football club — it’s just totally unacceptable.”
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Pagan said his speech would focus on effort and intent, warning that talent alone wasn’t enough. “There’s enough talent at our football club, but you don’t want soft, undisciplined talent,” he said. “You want talent in guys who have a fierce desire, where nothing is going to stop them.”
He urged players to be more physical and more accountable. “No daydreaming at stoppages… get really physical with them, and make sure people think ‘geez, we hate playing North Melbourne!’ That’s the way it’s got to be I reckon.”
While he admitted the club shouldn’t live in the past, Pagan insisted understanding its proud history was vital.
“To know where you’re going, you’ve got to know where you came from.”