North Melbourne turned the corner in 2014, overcoming their ‘near but so far’ season in 2013. What does 2015 hold for the Kangaroos?
1. The free agency decisions
Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite are two big names who are a boon for the club, especially considering the struggles that North Melbourne has previously had in attracting top-line AFL talent. It is understandable why North Melbourne made the decision to sign both Higgins and Waite, but there is still the possibility that the team was set where Higgins and Waite offer greatest value.
With Ben Brown up forward, could Waite destabilise the squad. It is a little bit of an unknown whether Higgins is going to be allowed the freedom to roam across half-back or if he is going to be used as a midfielder. Down back, with Shaun Atley and Luke McDonald, North Melbourne have some outstanding potential.
As an attacking midfielder, Brent Harvey still is the benchmark. Of course Higgins – like Waite – could fit alongside these players, but it is still going to likely be a ‘what if’ in years to come if they had chosen to go a different route with the available salary cap space that this incoming duo will take up.
2. The Third Man
Here’s a random stat that would stump all your friends. Who had more hitouts in 2014, Drew Petrie or Nick Dal Santo? The answer might surprise as Dal Santo reigned with 25 hitouts to 23.
What the answer does say is how North Melbourne are trying to give their sole ruck option of Todd Goldstein support.
Rather than using a second specialist ruck, North Melbourne are willing to allow their midfield to attack the contest.
Jack Ziebell, Daniel Wells and the now departed Levi Greenwood all had multiple occasions where they would go third man up and it was a positive tactic that North Melbourne employed over the year.
Having seen the 2013 grand finalists Hawthorn and Fremantle use this tactic successfully, it is a small indication that North Melbourne are learning from the best, that they are in tune with the modern game and are wanting to strive to be the best.
3. Finally getting that recognition
It is remarkable to think that a player who averaged nearly 25 possessions a game last year and has played 60 straight games since his debut in 2012 could still be an AFL unknown. Alas though, it took a dominant semi final display against Geelong to really entrench Gibson as one of the budding elite midfielders in the competition.
In a year where Matt Priddis won the Brownlow, Gibson was testament to the true battlers in the midfield that can be vital cogs of a midfield group. Gibson’s 2015 season will be an intriguing one to watch.
Without Levi Greenwood there may be more expectation to win the contested ball, but opposition clubs may also realise how important Gibson can be to North Melbourne’s team success. In his AFL career, every time that Gibson has got more than 30 possessions the Kangaroos have won.
It happened six times last year. Six or more times this year is an exciting prospect for North Melbourne fans.
4. New roles for young stars
Shaun Atley and Luke McDonald have been two real highlights of the North Melbourne defensive system and both appear ready to take on larger roles in 2015.
Atley is ready to be freed up for time in the midfield where his outside run and carry can help to have an impact on scoring plays and this decision will free up Atley’s spot rebounding off half back for McDonald to step up.
McDonald’s development benefitted from a year of defensive training, but in 2015 using this base and allowing his natural run and skill to shine, North Melbourne have two bright prospects in new roles in Atley and McDonald.
5. Injury plagued pre-season
One of the lingering concerns as the season approaches is how many of North Melbourne’s depth players have been forced to have off-season surgery or have had injury affected pre-seasons.
More than ever, a full pre-season is vital for an AFL club and getting the required fitness levels and miles in the legs is vital over the course of a long season.
Ben Brown, Aaron Mullett, Drew Petrie and Aaron Black head a list of Kangaroo players who are likely to be underdone going into the 2015 pre-season.
With a lot of forwards among that group there is perhaps some danger on the injury front that this off-season will affect the season proper. The positive is that long time injury risks Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite seem to be as healthy as they have ever been as AFL players.
6. A complex opening to a top-six draw
Potentially the greatest challenge for North Melbourne this season is that their top-four finish last season means they have been left with a top six draw in 2015.
Compounding the toughness of those double up games is the opening fortnight of the season which sees them play Adelaide in Adelaide and Brisbane in Melbourne.
Based off last season, North Melbourne should start heavy favourites in both these games. However, with Adelaide desperate to start the Phil Walsh era with a win and potentially an excited Brisbane team peaking early in the year, getting two wins in the first two weeks is going to be a tougher assignment for North Melbourne then first imagined.
Realistically though, two wins has be a must as from these two games as they go into a brutal stretch following that includes Port Adelaide, Geelong, Hawthorn, Richmond and Essendon. There are not many easy games in the AFL in 2015, but North Melbourne have definitely been given one of the tougher assignments.
7. Coaching hot seat
Brad Scott has been vindicated for a lot of hard work that he has put into North Melbourne, having guided the club to a preliminary final last year.
The passion that Scott has shown for his players and club has been infectious for players and fans alike and has created a sense of club and identity.
Despite all that hard work and success from an outsider perspective, whether Scott and North Melbourne are a long term fit is still debatable.
Looking ahead there is still a scenario that both club and coach decide to move on as early as at the conclusion of this season.
It seems unlikely right now but if North Melbourne were to miss finals this year then both club and coach may look at other options.
Scott may look at a new challenge at another club and now with an impressive AFL resume, a club like Collingwood or Carlton may consider taking a close look if Scott was available or had the potential to be available.
North Melbourne meanwhile may look at a favourite son, who will have had two years of coaching experience, namely Adam Simpson, who like Scott still has questions about his long-term future at West Coast.
The expectation is high for Scott and North Melbourne going into this year, and as stakes rise so too does the risk involved. Imagine North Melbourne missing finals this year which leads to Scott moving on and North Melbourne making a power play for Simpson.
Admittedly on face value this set of circumstances seems a little crazy, the more you think about it, the more this could happen. You have got to love the world of coaching and the world of AFL. Let speculation reign.
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