Mark Hounslow can now get down to what he was appointed to do with some certainty following North Shore’s decision to field football teams this year.
The future of the GFNL’s most successful club has been the subject of speculation for much of the summer, and intensified when a letter from AFL Barwon to the club asking it to meet a list of requirements became public earlier this month.
With the local governing body satisfied the Seagulls have met those criteria, the club made the call to play on this year on Tuesday night.
Hounslow, who was announced as coach in October, says it’s now time to move forward.
“It’s a great relief for the whole group,” he said.
“Obviously, not knowing, being a little bit in limbo three weeks out from the start of the season isn’t ideal, but a lot of the guys were confident that it would go ahead.
“They actually didn’t find out until last night. I knew myself the night before, but then we just wanted to make a proper announcement and things like that.
“So, a lot of the playing group actually didn’t know at training on Tuesday night… it’ll be great tonight. It’ll be a good vibe down the ground.”
With only 24 days until North Shore’s Round 1 meeting with Colac, Hounslow’s priority is education of his players, with several new faces walking through the doors of Windsor Park since the club’s plight became public.
Match simulation with GDFNL club East Geelong is on the cards for next week, with plans for a practice match on March 29.
“It’s simplify everything – that’s what it’ll be about this year,” Hounslow said. “It’s pretty much teaching defence and set-ups. and what’s required from each player.
“Break it down step-by-step and really educate the players, and there’ll be a lot of reviews and things like that.
“So, the next three weeks, yeah, fast-track considering the last three weeks we’ve had about 14 or 15 young guys come in.
“They’re quick (to learn) but they just need to be taught a little bit more game sense.”
2026 AND BEYOND
Hounslow isn’t naïve to the pain that North Shore is likely to endure in 2025.
The Seagulls have a nightmare start to the season, with a trip to Colac followed by meetings with 2024 surprise packet Bell Park, premier Leopold and runner-up South Barwon.
However, he’s taking a big picture approach to the coming season.
“We understand there’s going to be a little bit of short-term pain but that’s just being realistic,” he said.
“We understand where we’re at as a group. So, we just want to make sure we can keep this group together.
“Halfway through the year, we want to look at re-signing the list and then build again.
“So, guys are already looking towards 2026 at the moment behind the scenes, and so we won’t be sitting back on our hands at all”
Hounslow says the speculation resulted in a couple of potential Darwin-based recruits getting cold feet.
“Once they saw a few articles that the club might not go ahead, that didn’t help, which wasn’t great,” he said
“It sort of put us in not a great position. But it is what it is now.
“We’ve just got to go full steam ahead and just do the best we can do and make sure week in, week out; we’re just keeping morale up with the group and having a positive attitude.”
A DIFFERENT APPROACH
With a significant proportion of the list set to enter the rigours of a GFNL season with a less-than-ideal preparation, Hounslow will try and keep his players as fresh as possible.
“We’ve got to try and keep our best side on the paddock,” he said.
“So whether that’s having a lighter night on a Tuesday night, and it’s just a review night.
“Or really managing the group and offering a variety of training. So, not just going out on the ground and just drilling into them in regards to skills and that sort of thing.
“It’s about really managing and making sure their bodies are right, and if it’s a lighter week on the track, well, so be it.
“We understand where we’re going to be at, and it’s just about keeping that group together and making sure that they don’t fall away in the middle of the year, which is what happens.”
NO MAN’S LAND
Hounslow admits he’s been living in something resembling football purgatory in the past fortnight.
He’s tried not to let the scrutiny get to him as he attempted to remain upbeat for his players.
“We wanted it to go ahead, and I was trying to remain positive, and you’ve got to do that with the group,” he said.
“But it has definitely hurt just in regard to trying to sell the club and recruit. It’s really hurt in the background.
You only have to Google the club and all the articles come up about not being there, and that’s what hurts you.
“But, look, it is what it is now. We’ve just got to create a great culture down there and change a little bit of the environment and bring that semi-professional type of atmosphere down there.
“And if we can do that, we’ll attract good people down there, which I think we can do.””
X: @krockfootball
