Furious footy great Alastair Clarkson lashes out at Australia’s failure to deal with ‘scourge of society’ he says is behind Bondi stabbing rampage

Alastair Clarkson has criticized Australia’s failure to deal with drug and alcohol-related violence after the Bondi Junction stabbing that shocked the nation.

The North Melbourne coach was visibly emotional on Sunday when asked about the horrific incident ahead of his side’s match with Geelong.

Earlier in the day it was revealed that one of the victims, Ashlee Good, was the daughter of ex-North Melbourne great Kerry Good.

The 38-year-old died hours after she and her daughter were stabbed in the shocking attack.

Good’s family have confirmed that the baby is now ‘doing well’ after emergency surgery.

40-year-old Joel Cauchi from Queensland was responsible for the attack and was known to have mental health problems and an obsession with knives.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said investigators will investigate whether Cauchi was under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack.

Clarkson was emotional as he discussed the tragedy, mentioning recent, unrelated incidents in Victoria involving the deaths of Samantha Murphy and Hannah McGuire.

‘It is of course difficult for the Good family to deal with this tragedy. It is difficult for all of us to deal with this,” he said.

“To be honest, you’re just tired of it. There are three families in Ballarat who are grieving. We get the same thing after each one, drugs or alcohol, and yet as a society, as a government we say, “Our fellow Australians, we mourn our lost once again.”

‘When will things really change? When will people actually do something about this scourge on society that is drugs and alcohol?

‘The government is not doing anything about it to the extent that it should. Drugs are a problem in our sport and we don’t do enough about them and we should. And it paralyzes society. And this is one of the best countries in the world, but we can do something about it. But we just tolerate it and don’t resist it.

Queensland man Joel Cauchi (pictured) was shot dead by a lone policewoman after killing six people at Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday afternoon

Clarkson (pictured) called for stricter laws on alcohol and drug-related violence

“And then these kinds of tragedies happen and it’s just… I really feel for everyone involved. I sympathize with those families in Ballarat.

“I spent three years in the Ballarat area as a child when I went to school and I thought that community, that beautiful, close-knit community, was hurting too.

“It shouldn’t be happening this way in this country. We have to do something about it. It’s not one person. There must be a whole bunch of people encouraging… Our justice system doesn’t do that… so often they say, “Oh yeah, he was out on bail or parole” or whatever. It just has to stop. It has to stop.

‘That poor little girl, Harriet, now without her mother. Ash Good was a beautiful, beautiful lady.

‘A bloody tragedy. A bloody tragedy.’

Roos chairman Sonja Hood said the club was ‘extremely saddened’ by the incident in Bondi.

“Like all Australians, we were shocked to see the horrific details coming out of Sydney on Saturday,” Hood said.

‘To later learn that Ashlee and her daughter were victims of this tragedy brings something so close.

Kerry Good played for North Melbourne in the VFL in the 1970s and 1980s

‘Our thoughts and condolences go out to everyone affected by the terrible events, especially to Ashlee’s partner Daniel Flanagan, Kerry and Dian, Ashlee’s mother Denise and Ashlee’s extended family and friends.

“Kerry and his family are incredibly important people in the history of our club and we offer them our love and support at this incredibly difficult time.”

Good was well known in the Melbourne community and was close friends with ex-Demons player Steve Febey, who posted a heartbreaking tribute to her on Sunday morning.

“Words fail me, absolutely shattered,” Febey posted on social media alongside a series of photos of himself and Good together.

“I can’t fathom how this could happen to the most amazing, beautiful and caring human being.

“I will always cherish our friendship, five stars and the wonderful times we shared. I love you forever Ash xx.”