“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.
Luke Sicari
Roar Guru
I guess what I'm saying with North's lack of young talent Josh is that when comparing them to some of the other younger teams in the league, I get the feeling North's younger guys aren't at the same level. Now they could develop into something special no doubt but from the outside looking in, I get the sense that the Roos are going all in on a premiership rather then focus on player development. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that, but it is a very risky strategy.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I thought he was handy against Richmond. I reckon he might have a good year.
Anonymous
Roar Pro
Agreed with your points Josh. Garner is a must in my team. Given everyone is fit and available here is my 22. B: Hansen, Thompson, Atley HB: Macmillan, Tarrant, Dal Santo C: Higgins, Ziebell, Wells HF: Harvey, Petrie, Garner F: Thomas, Waite, Brown Foll: Goldstein, Swallow, Cunnington Int: Jacobs, Anderson, Wright, Gibson It feels wrong not to have Firrito in the team but I’m struggling to find a spot for him this year. Thompson and Tarrant take the key defender spots, Hansen playing the ‘third man’ role and small defenders in Atley, Macmillan and Wright. You would probably even put Macdonald in front of him now. Unlucky to miss out is Mason Wood. He’s going to be a star. Next in line is Kayne Turner and Trent Dumont.
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
I agree with J-mac he showed in 2015 he should be part of our best 22. I would also play Garner before Thomas, Garner showed during the finals that he will be a big part of our future.
Josh
Expert
I think he'd make a handy ruckman should Goldstein be unavailable, but I don't see him becoming a regular for us if he has to play forward.
John
Guest
Jmac a howling omission Take spud or Gibson out - although the later may be helped by the rule changes
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Wonder how Maj will go?
Josh
Expert
I don't envy you trying to put together a North best 22, it's a difficult task. I will say this though, Jamie Macmillan is in there without a doubt, probably over Luke McDonald at this stage. I think we will find Taylor Garner in there come round 1 too though who he beats out is one of the big questions for us at the moment. "a list that is getting older rather then younger" - what do you mean by this exactly? If you mean that the players are getting older, well, that's true of every club. Nowhere that I'm aware of have they worked out how to reverse the aging process. If you mean that the average age of the list is rising, that's incorrect - it's actually lower this year than it was in 2015. There's no doubt we have a lot of older players who will be difficult to replace and if they all do happen to drop off in form suddenly then that will be an enormous challenge for the team to face. That being said, all of them have preformed remarkably well in recent years, and from the most important of them - Harvey and Petrie - there really has been little to suggest a downturn in form. I can't say I agree that the list is 'deprived of young talent' either. It'd be worth noting that our young talent was able to beat a full-strength Richmond side for a half of football last year before they got tired (as young talent does). A lot of those players are having to bide their time in the VFL at present, though. It's very true that we can be a bit inconsistent at times but I have a feeling - or perhaps just a hope! - that 2016 will be different. Time will tell.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Just do it already.
Perry Bridge
Guest
The age factor around Harvey, Petrie, Waite, Dal Santo, Firitto in particular will see either a united push to the finals in 2016 or a couple or more scrap heaped in the back half of the season. Make or break year too on the fringe for the likes of Daw and Black. Perhaps Mullet and McKenzie too. Hopefully a kid with talent like Mason Wood can find a role and that talented youngsters who have variously shown a bit in Kayne Turner; Taylor Garner and Trent Dumont in particular can get more opportunities. I might suggest too that the 23rd player if the squad of 22 is given - would be JMac - Jamie MacMillan - but I suggest he's a first 18 option.