MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 02: The Kangaroos look dejected after a loss during the 2021 AFL Round 03 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on April 02, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King has lambasted the Kangaroos following their 128-point loss to the Western Bulldogs on Good Friday.
The Bulldogs booted 20 of the final 22 goals of the match, with key-forward Josh Bruce booting 10 goals against a hapless Kangaroos defence.
The loss places North Melbourne with an 0-3 start for the season and a measly percentage of 37.4 as they sit 18th on the ladder.
The demolition the Dogs handed David Noble's side follows the Kangaroos' embarrassing outing against Gold Coast the week prior, with the Suns collecting their first win of the season in the 59-point win.
Kangaroos skipper Jack Ziebell told The Herald Sun this week that he and his teammates were preparing to bounce back in strong fashion following the Round 2 loss.
“We’ll definitely expect a response on Friday,” he said.
“The boys are pretty good, the coach is fantastic and he has some really good messages in those situations.”
The Roos' "response" seemed nonexistent, with King going on to slam the playing group after their horrific loss that followed Ziebell's claims.
“Use whatever words you want, that was a disastrous performance, it’s unacceptable,” King said on Fox Footy.
“As you said, we’ve been in this position seven days prior.
“When you make statements like that, I think you’ve got to back it up, clearly they didn’t.
“It fell away big time in the second half, and they invite the pressure that comes now from external sources."
King pinned a majority of the blame on the Kangaroos' "middle core" of players, stating star veterans and inexperienced rookies played their part, albeit in a 20-goal loss.
“I’m giving him (Ben Cunnington) and Jack (Ziebell) an out because they worked so hard, and Todd Goldstein the same,” King added.
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“But that middle core of player didn’t come to play today, particularly for the final three quarters.”
The Kangaroos will host Adelaide at Marvel Stadium in Round 4 as they look to collect their first premiership points for the season.