Well, here we are. Six weeks into the AFL season and North Melbourne are 6-0, the only undefeated team in the competition, and will this week remain at the top of the ladder for a third successive round. So, do you rate them yet?
Many readers will be well aware that I am a North Melbourne fan and that unlike many others who write about football I have no interest in trying to hide that fact. Yes, unbiased writing is good writing, but footy is all about passion, and I think the football writing world needs a bit of that too.
From a North fan perspective one thing I can tell you is that in the eyes of the opposition fans this team seems to have lacked legitimacy over the past few years, despite the impressive results that the club has put forward.
Four finals wins in two years and a strong start 5-0 start to the season – these are not the kind of outcomes that happen by accident, though that is certainly the tune that much of the football world has been singing, at least until yesterday.
For whatever reason, it seems to be a lot easier for many people to believe that this team has unwittingly bumbled its way through a period of relative success, than to believe that North Melbourne might actually just be pretty good at what they do.
In the lead up to last night’s match many opined that a win over the Bulldogs would give North’s start to the year some legitimacy. Former player Wayne Carey said in the lead up to the match that it was “an opportunity… to win over some of the doubters.”
That logic in itself is a bit strange. The Bulldogs came into last night’s match with four wins, but all against bottom-half battlers: Fremantle, St Kilda, Carlton and Brisbane. North at least had one win over a fellow finals hopeful in Adelaide. If anything, a win over North should’ve legitimised the Bulldogs moreso than the other way around. But, perception and logic are two very different things.
At any rate, that situation has come to pass. So the question is, do people now rate North Melbourne? Because what we have here is a very rateable side.
Let’s start with the forward line. Many were asking last week, is it the Hawks or the Crows who boast the best forwards in the league? But North deserve to be in the conversation. While last night’s match turned into a low-scorer, the Roos forwards have as much firepower as any team in the league.
Jarrad Waite has played as well as any key forward has in these first few weeks of the season and after being on the AFL’s junkpile just eighteen months ago is now the centrepiece item in a league-leading forward half.
Combine that with the perennial talent of Drew Petrie, the rising star of Ben Brown, the class of Shaun Higgins and Brent Harvey, and the loved-only-by-North-fans Lindsay Thomas, and you’ve got a forward six where every member is a potential match-winner.
Given the potency of what’s in front of them, the midfielders only really need to control the game for 30 or 40 per cent of the time in order to kick a winning score. Last night North had 79 less disposals, 13 less clearances, 13 less contested possessions and 10 less inside 50s – but the forward line converted their opportunities better, and the result was a win.
That midfield is showing it can compete with the best, even if it’s not as star-studded as some. Jack Ziebell has improved his consistency and fitness to the point where he is approaching elite status, Daniel Wells is playing career-best footy, and the rest of the mix in the middle is functioning like a well-oiled machine.
Todd Goldstein has been in quality form again in the ruck to start the year, and while he had a quieter game than usual last night there is something of a silver lining in that it’s nice to see the team get a win over a fellow high-placed side without him needing to be the reason behind it.
That leaves just the defence which has rightly been described as North’s Achilles heel. It’s not poor so much as it is just average standard, though some plaudits are rightly deserved for keeping the Bulldogs to a low total of only six goals last night.
In particular Robbie Tarrant is an underrated performer and in last night’s match Scott Thompson played probably his best game since he held Lance Franklin goalless and had 24 disposals in Round 4, 2014. Michael Firrito plays like only a 259-game veteran can, Luke McDonald looks back on track after some second-year blues in 2015.
The team has been criticised for being old – it’s the oldest team going around right now and one of the oldest in decades – but as I wrote a fortnight ago, why do we think being old is a bad thing? Right now we’re seeing the benefits that maturity and experience bring to a playing list, and they are significant.
Whether this team can go all the way in 2016 or not remains to be seen, but right now they are in a great position to give it a genuine go. Their next three fixtures will see them come up against St Kilda, Essendon and Carlton, making a 9-0 start to the season wholly possible, though there is always a danger in counting eggs before they hatch and the club will do well to remember that.
That would provide an excellent platform for North to challenge for a top four position after the home-and-away, as well as giving them enormous momentum and confidence heading into the middle and later parts of the fixture.
Of course, there will always be people happy to cast doubts on this team. They only won because the Bulldogs had injuries, or the because the Bulldogs made mistakes, they’ll say – as if adapting to limited personnel or not making mistakes weren’t parts of the game.
That crowd, however, is beginning to dwindle. So why not join in the chorus and start rating North Melbourne? None of us know for sure where we’ll all end up in the fullness of time, but right now there’s plenty of room on the North Melbourne bandwagon, and believe me, we’re enjoying the ride.
Paul
Guest
My prediction is a North-Geelong Grand Final. It's the 20-year anniversary of the Centenary Premiership...maybe this is a good omen for all North fans! Above all, it's time to end the Hawks run.
Mookeye
Guest
I couldn't agree more, but hardly anyone seems to see that.
Mookeye
Guest
I don't understand why so many AFL lovers find it so hard to see North Melbourne as a strong club this year. If you look back at the last few years the team sitting on top had an easy run to start the season but we're still classed as Unbeatable or Final favourite. I bet if Hawthorn or Sydney had the same matches NMFC had this year and were top of the ladder the news reports and comments about how good they are and how great the team played would be massive. One thing I've noticed this year with the Roos is that they haven't died off for an entire quarter during the match and they have continued to tackle as soon as the balls lost. I can't wait to hear the comments from everyone after we do play some other teams, as I see north as a real strong team and do have a good chance for finals so long as they continue on.....
Don Freo
Guest
The Swannies? You don't think Brisbane is a chance to take them down?
Xavier Smith
Roar Rookie
North fan here. You can only beat the teams you're fixtured to play against, so I don't get the carry on about needed to beat Hawthorn, Sydney etc. That will come in time. Personally, whilst some of their play has been fantastic, North still have a lot to improve upon (skill errors etc). I think that will happen as the season goes on, so whilst not getting ahead of ourselves, the rest of the season is indeed looking bright.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I thought the standard of the game on Friday night was very poor. not as bad as the Richmond v Collingwood game a few weeks ago, but poor. Yes, the defensive pressure from both teams was excellent, but there were far too many mistakes when players were not being tackled, particularly from the Doggies. I have a higher opinion of North now than I did at the start of the year, because it's a great sign of mental toughness to string 6 wins together, including against Adelaide and the Doggies. But I can't ignore the fact the Doggies were missing 5 of their Best 22, played exceptionally poorly all night, kicked poorly for goals, and yet were somehow still in the contest all the way through (terrible misses by Roughead and Stringer could have seen them undeservedly pull within a point if they had been able to hit a barn door) and only lost by 16 points. But I didn't think North played particularly well either and to win when you're not playing well is also a sign of a good team. I think the jury is still out on both teams, but North are clearly a top four contender - which I wouldn't have said 6 weeks ago. I still fancy Swans as the premiership favourites and can't ignore Hawthorn. The current 8 looks locked-in already.
geoff
Guest
Marie...this is a typical nonsensical argument...."who have they beaten???" The correct answer is EVERYONE THEY HAVE PLAYED TO DATE!!! I don't barrack for North, but what is impressive about them and why they are a LEGITIMATE team is that their lesser lights are now solid players (McDonald, Wright), they have genuine match winners (Waite, Zeibel, Goldstein). They have a perfect mix of competent players, players improving to serious A graders (Zeibel again) and champions (Harvey, Goldstein, Thompson)
Ben Parer
Guest
I hear what you're saying and to be honest what more can North do but beat the team in front of them. The two quality teams they've beaten in Adelaide and Doggies play an attacking style of footy full of run. North have been able to stop them. I think North v Giants would be fun to watch. I'm keen to see them play teams that have the contested footy balance with a bit more equilibrium: Swans, Hawks and Cats. North look like they're going to be in the mix up the pointy end. Side point: what have West Coast shown this year to be rated so highly? Their game looks way off, lacking system and intensity. I expect a smashing at Simmonds Stadium next week. They're playing like they will finish 6-8 at the moment. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
LuckyTiger
Guest
I think the issue with North is not whether they are a good team but whether they can win the flag.They seem to have gotten the absolute most out of themselves reaching prelims the past two years and while I can see them getting back there is harder to see them going further and winning the comp. Have they already reached their peak? Still with a little luck (that any premier needs) you never know.
justinr
Guest
Nobody rated the Swans much of a chance in 2012 either. A focused football team out on the field is like a horse on the racetrack: they don't care what punters & bookmakers think of their chances.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Ah the Carlton blues...agreed it was no spectacle.
Darren
Guest
I only saw 2nd half but neither team played well. Lot's of fumbling and little system. North had Waite (how much does that pain me) and he was the difference.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
You're right injuries don't happen at the same rate but all teams do have to deal with some. NM hasn't ... Yet.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
Not as bad as Goeff painted it but there was a lot of unforced errors as well. North earned and deserved the win but the standard of the game was far below what was expected of a 1 vs 2 battle.
Davico
Guest
"but" basically everything you said after that is what you actually think. Can't stand the whole i believe this BUT thing
Perry Bridge
Guest
Yeah gee - I'll take North's 61 for a 16 pt win ahead of Hawthorns 83 and losing by 75. Hawthorn at 4-2 are better place than last year where they got to 4-4, however - they have been a tad lucky and % has taken a whack. In the race for top 4 spots - wins in the bank and health (enough) % are crucially important. For North - let's hypothesise that they get past the Saints, Blues, Bombers and hit the Swans at the SCG 9-0 and lets say North are kinda due for a lose and drop that game - will it be such a big deal? Will it be more critical that if they do drop it that it's no more than a 20 pt loss and not a hammering. Draw wise I wouldn't want to look any further ahead than that - form is fickle, injuries a curse and who knows which teams suddenly find their mojo.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Dazza you can't seriously put this down to Footscray having a bad game?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
exactly
Pope Paul VII
Guest
It's fair to say every game is unique. The great thing about NM is EVERYONE thinks they are rubbish. Even their opponents reckon they are on every time. That's made NM stronger still, unlike that mental epitaph "what doesn't kill ya makes you etc" And can everyone nail their colours to the mast? What dazzling jazz handed mob do you support Hickok?
Darren
Guest
HI Josh, it depends what `rate' means. North have shown in past years they can match it with teams on their day. Consistency was the problem in past years, so far this year they've addressed that. So is rate, North is a team with talent that have potential for top 4 or even GF? Yes. Is rate North are one of the top couple of teams in the league? Not sure yet but you'd have to say they are getting close as they seem to be a lot more consistent this year. They still seem susceptible in defence - Friday they did well but that seemed as much to do with Bulldogs being awful in their front half. After Hawks were smashed by GWS you would have to say this year is looking wide open at the moment and you couldn't pick the standouts amongst 6-7 of them.