“In my final few months,among other things,we’d like to progress our Arden masterplan,secure a national draft assistance package from the AFL,extend some major sponsor partnerships and launch a future fund for the club.”
The Kangaroos will conduct a wide search,likely to include Xavier Campbell,the departing Essendon chief. Former North Melbourne premiership player Peter Bell has been linked to the Kangaroos’ vacancy but said on Friday his focus was solely on Fremantle,where he is the Dockers’ football boss.
Hood said earlier this year that Amarfio’s job was secure for 2023but his absence from Clarkson’s introductory press conference last week was notable. He had little input in the pursuit of Clarkson,this predominantly being left to Hood.
There has been significant agitation for change,with Clarkson even publicly questioning why highly respected AFL administrators Peter Jackson and Walsh were not involved full time at clubs. Both men have been club CEOs.
Jackson has been offering Hood advice through a period of upheaval, including the departure of football-department staff.
“I know that he[Jackson] is a great football person,and we need some guidance and stability right through our club,” Clarkson told SEN last week.
“That was the reason they got Geoff Walsh to come in and do an external review. There are just some people in the game for whatever reason they’re not directly involved in official positions in the game at the moment that just have unbelievable wisdom in the roles that they’ve had across a vast majority of clubs,and Peter Jackson is one of those and Geoff Walsh is another.
“Anyone out there who has got that wisdom that can help in the journey,then we want to tap into it,and I’m led to believe Sonja is leaning to Peter Jackson for some guidance and some assistance and also Geoff Walsh.”
Amarfio was in charge when the Kangaroos plumped for Noble,but the latter was unable to fast track what was a significant rebuild.
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However,Amarfio had success off the field,for the Kangaroos are debt free and the redevelopment of Arden St into a sporting and community hub continues apace.
“Ben’s greatest and most long-lasting legacy will be the Arden Precinct vision he led and fought for so strongly from the moment he walked through the doors. Present and future North Melbourne players,officials,members and supporters will enjoy the fruits of that work for generations to come and it has paved the way for the club to be embedded in North Melbourne for the next 150 years,” Hood said.
“On the field,it’s easy to forget that when Ben joined us,our AFL team had one of the highest salary cap spends in the competition. He has since led the club to make really brave decisions to reset our salary cap and rebuild the playing list.”
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