“Inconsistent: not staying the same throughout.” That’s Google’s definition of inconsistent and there isn’t a better description to explain the North Melbourne Football Club.
While the goal of all the AFL clubs is to establish a level of good consistency, the Kangaroos haven’t been able to do this, as their up and down play that has been with them the last few years didn’t go away in 2015.
North just made the finals last season, finishing eighth on the ladder with a 13-9 record. As always, the Roos had some awesome wins and some horrible losses.
Wins against the likes of Geelong in Geelong, Richmond, the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers had pundits talking about how this was finally the year that the Kangaroos had turned it around and were a legitimate premiership contender.
However, losses, including a 77-point collapse against Adelaide, a 60-point deficit to Hawthorn, a 73-point thumping to Fremantle and a 55-point hit against Gold Coast, were indicators of how North Melbourne were still a model of inconsistency.
Despite their inconsistent ways in the home-and-away season, the Kangaroos have still been able to make two straight preliminary finals, proving that they can step it up when it matters most in September. The Roos have lost both of those preliminary finals, however, and with a list that is getting older rather then younger they head into a make or break 2016 season.
North Melbourne have one of the oldest playing lists in the league, so it is safe to say the team is in a win-now mode. But do the Kangaroos really have enough talent to contend with the likes of Hawthorn, West Coast and Fremantle?
Todd Goldstein is undoubtedly the Roos’ biggest star, as his breakout 2015 season was something to behold. Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite were welcome additions and made an impact in 2015 and players such as Robbie Tarrant and Ben Jacobs established themselves into North’s best 22.
The main aspect holding back North Melbourne is their midfield. Not that the midfield is bad – Nick Dal Santo, Jack Ziebell, Jacobs, Ben Cunnington and Andrew Swallow are all very solid footballers. But is that crop of midfielders enough to launch North into the elite level of teams?
The Roos’ midfield is full of in-and-under players. The ‘Shinboner’ Spirit definitely lives on at Arden Street but in an AFL world where teams are getting faster and faster, where is the outside run and midfield run going to come from?
Best 22
B: Lachie Hansen, Robbie Tarrant, Michael Firrito
HB: Sam Wright, Scott Thompson, Shaun Atley
C: Nick Dal Santo, Jack Ziebell, Ben Jacobs
HF: Shaun Higgins, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
F: Lindsay Thomas, Jarrad Waite, Ben Brown
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Andrew Swallow
INT: Sam Gibson, Luke McDonald, Jed Anderson, Daniel Wells
MVP: Todd Goldstein
Goldstein had one of the best seasons a ruckman has ever had in 2015 and placed himself in the middle of the Brownlow talk. He was simply an unstoppable force in the ruck for the Kangaroos in 2015, as he averaged 14.7 disposals, 4.2 tackles, 4.2 marks and an incredible 44.1 hitouts per game last season, which allowed him to take home the Syd Barker Medal, North’s best and fairest award.
Goldstein imposed himself on the game like never before in 2015 and his All-Australian selection validated his amazing season. Expect much of the same this campaign.
Future Star: Ben Brown
To say Brown, a player who, coincidently, plays inconsistently, is North’s ‘future star’ is a sign of how the Roos’ list is deprived of quality young talent.
Now, this isn’t a knock on Brown. The cult figure is a fan favourite at the Kangaroos and his 200-centimetre frame allows him to be a tough match-up in the forward line for any defender.
However, some argue that Brown has already reached his ceiling and the question is whether he can become a legitimate goal-kicking force or will he just be a 30-goals-a-season guy?
Make or Break: Daniel Wells
2015 was yet another injury riddled season for Wells, as he was only able to put on the blue and white jumper for just two games. This followed up an injury-struck 2014 as well, where Wells could only play in ten games.
When he is on the field, Wells is able to turn games around, as he has that innate ability to take over the game that only very few players can. Yet after two straight years of injury problems, Wells will head into the 2016 season at the age of 31 and facing a crucial stage of his career.
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