If there’s one team that will be hoping for some much needed change in luck this coming season, it’s the North Melbourne Football Club.
Last season, the Roos were on the wrong end of so many narrow losses that proved to be the difference between their season-ending finish of 10th and an elusive finals berth.
Ten of the club’s 12 losses last season were by less than three goals; five of them less than a kick. Imagine had they held on to win all of those matches, they could possibly have entered this season as premiership favourites.
Instead, Brad Scott will find himself under pressure as the Roos focus on trying to close out the tight matches this year, and improve their mentality in such matches.
Let’s now take a look at the Roos’ chances for season 2014:
North Melbourne
Last season: 10th
Most recent premiership: 1999
Notable arrivals: Nick dal Santo (St Kilda), Robin Nahas (Richmond)
Notable departures: None
Leading goalkicker: Lindsay Thomas (53)
All-Australians: Scott Thompson
Best-and-fairest: Scott Thompson and Daniel Wells
Take away North’s final ladder position for a while, and you will see that they are a very well-rounded side that is capable of challenging for the upper reaches of the ladder.
There’s the old head in Brent Harvey, who is the only Kangaroo remaining from the 1990s, fullback Scott Thompson, the only Roo representative in last year’s All-Australian team, captain Andrew Swallow, vice-captain Jack Ziebell, and former top draft pick Daniel Wells, who tied with Thompson for the club’s best-and-fairest in 2013.
And in 2014, a big experienced name will arrive at the club – former St Kilda tagger Nick dal Santo.
His arrival will be greatly anticipated at the Kangaroos and his experience will be key to the team’s hopes of contending for finals – or if not, staying afloat this coming season.
That said, the Kangaroos desperately need to work on their mental game and kill the demons of last year whereby so many games were lost by narrow margins.
In most matches last year, they built up very good leads, only to fail to hold on and end up losing in the cruellest possible way. It’s the AFL’s equivalent of losing a tennis match from two sets up.
It’s hoped that the extra workload that will be expected from dal Santo will help to cure what was definitely the Roos’ Achilles heel in 2013.
Let’s take a look at some of the highlights that Roos fans can expect in 2014.
Matches to watch in 2014
1. North Melbourne versus Sydney Swans, Round 4
It will only be Round 4 when the Kangaroos face up to their biggest challenge of the season, taking on the star-studded Sydney Swans in the Harbour City.
The Roos’ record against Sydney has been poor in recent times, having not beaten them since 2007 and only coming close twice (a draw in 2008 and a one-point loss in 2011).
In fact, it was the Swans who handed the Roos their worst marginal defeat of 2013, by 39 points at Bellerive Oval in Hobart in Round 3.
But Brad Scott’s men will relish such a challenge, and it could act as a late precursor as to how the Roos’ season will eventually unfold.
This match could also see Majak Daw go head-to-head with Aliir Aliir, a Sudanese prospect drafted by the Sydney Swans during the off-season.
2. North Melbourne versus Geelong, Round 10
A match that must not be missed for more occasions than one.
The Roos will have the honour of being the first away team to feature in what will be the first ever Friday night match at Simonds Stadium, when they oppose the Geelong Cats in Round 10.
This special occasion will not only bring together the Cats and Kangaroos, but also see twin brothers Chris and Brad Scott oppose each other for the fifth time.
Since Brad Scott took over the reins of the Roos in 2010, the brotherly rivalry is split at two apiece – this includes their two meetings in 2013, both of which were decided by less than 10 points.
Never in this rivalry has either Chris or Brad had two consecutive wins over the other, and with Brad having claimed the most recent victory, he and his Roos will be keen to make it two straight.
3. North Melbourne versus West Coast Eagles, Round 11
The Roos will return to the scene of arguably their most heartbreaking loss when they fly out west to face not just the West Coast Eagles, but also their new coach, ex-North Melbourne champion Adam Simpson.
It was in Round 8 last year when the Roos were sunk after the final siren. Nic Naitanui booted the match-winning goal for the Eagles to give them a two-point victory, which counted among the many narrow losses the Roos suffered.
This was one from which they never really psychologically recovered.
Not only that, the acquisition of Adam Simpson as the Eagles’ new head coach will add some spice to this mid-season showdown.
Simpson was a legend of the Roos, featuring in their two most recent premierships (1996 and 1999), playing over 300 AFL games and enjoying his best season in 2002 when he won All-Australian selection and was also named the club’s best-and-fairest.
The thought of Simpson and his West Coast Eagles plotting his old club’s downfall will sicken Roos supporters, who have already suffered long enough since their most recent flag.
4. North Melbourne versus Hawthorn, Round 16
The pioneers of Friday night football, the Kangaroos’ fourth of five Friday night matches in 2014 will pit them against reigning premiers Hawthorn in what is guaranteed to be a blockbuster of a showdown.
In what will be their only meeting for the year, the Roos will also be keen to reverse two narrow losses to the Hawks from last year, the first of which was by only three points early in the season.
Their chances will slightly increase given they will not have to handle Lance Franklin, Roos supporters not forgetting the torment he caused when he kicked a baker’s dozen on them in Round 10 of 2012.
However, All-Australian fullback Scott Thompson is expected to have his hands full trying to contain Jarryd Roughead, the reigning Coleman Medallist, in what will be the match-up of the match.
The verdict
If the Roos are to improve on their 2013 finish they must not only get off to a good start in matches, but also hold onto those leads and not ‘play safe’ late in matches.
The Roos’ draw isn’t that tough, though only get the likes of Gold Coast and GWS once, while they also miss out on hosting either of the Western Australia teams, having to travel to Perth for their only meetings against Fremantle and West Coast.
As much as I would like to see the Roos make some progress and erase the demons of those narrow defeats in 2013, unfortunately I could not find a place for them in my top eight for 2014.
Prediction
10th
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