Adam Simpson Speech
Brent Harvey Medal Presentation
Life Membership Speeches
Brent Harvey and Shannon Grant IV's
Shannon Grant Retirement Speech
Jess Sinclair Retirement Speech
Dean Laidley Speech

A STIRRING insight into the disappointment of North Melbourne players and coaches was provided by captain Adam Simpson at Friday night’s Syd Barker Medal count.

Acknowledging the 76-point thrashing from Port Adelaide in round 22 – which saw the Roos surrender fourth spot – and the 35-point loss to the Sydney Swans in the elimination final, Simpson spoke of frustration over opportunities wasted.

“Outside of the player group and the coaching staff, we probably feel like we owe you guys a little bit of an explanation,” he told the crowd at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt.

“To be honest, it still sticks in our gut. It reminds me a little bit of 1998 (the grand final loss to Adelaide) and the feeling after that week, I can’t describe it.

“The feeling after this week, the players are really hurting and the coaching staff are hurting too. It’s been that disappointing to the point where we’re still not over it, there’s still plenty of hurt inside us and it’s something I haven’t seen in this playing group before.

“I’m not going to apologise because I don’t want forgiveness, but I will say there’s a good steeliness in the boys at the moment and the only way we can respond is to back it up next year and get in that same situation.”

Winning six games from rounds 15 to 20, North joined ladder-leading Geelong as the form side of the competition.

When the sides met at Skilled Stadium in round 21, the margin was 33 points but the Roos challenged the Cats for a lot of the game as David Hale kicked a career-high eight goals. 

Victory over eventual premier Hawthorn in round 13 and two wins over the third-placed Western Bulldogs also indicated the side could have an impact in the finals.

But knowing that a double chance may have fostered a finish to rival 2007’s preliminary final, Simpson expects his teammates to carry plenty of resolve.

“There’s a bit of fire in the belly,” he said. “There’s guys at the club at the moment training already, which I’ve never seen before.

“If this group sticks together, going through what we did this season, along with the coaching staff, we hope to prove a few people wrong.”