Suffering from major football withdrawals, I decided to watch a bunch of VFL footage from this year. This is what I learnt about the depth of North Melbourne’s fringe list heading into 2019.
It made for some very interesting viewing and highlighted the depth in our list ahead of the new season – although I have no doubt my optimistic viewpoints will draw considerable ire from those not interested or familiar with the full North Melbourne list.
Taylor Garner
When fit, he would have to be a walk-up start in our best 22. He’s as hard and ferocious as a tomcat and provides so much X factor in the forward line. If only we could keep him fit.
Nick Larkey
By the end of 2019 this kid could be the W80 replacement we so sorely need. He has strong hands, is getting better around the ground, is an accurate kick and will benefit from another preseason pumping weights. He’ll form a dangerous partnership with Ben Brown in the future.
Cameron Zurhaar
Such an interesting, impactful player – 189 centimetres and 90 kilograms of pure skilful explosiveness. He keeps getting better too. There is a reason afl.com selected him in our best 22 for 2019. I have him on the fringes, but anything is possible.
Ben McKay and Sam Durdin
This pair is the future of the NMFC back line. These guys leak bugger all goals and have proven to be great intercept marks and good users of the footy. Big Ben is a gun and should share the season with an aging Scott Thompson. Durdin is an excellent nullifying KPD in the mould of Daniel Talia. Big forwards had very little impact against our seconds this year.
Luke Davies-Uniacke and Will Walker
These first-year kids have a big future ahead of them. They got better as the year went on and will both be challenging hard for best 22 in 2019. I can’t wait to see what they are capable of. They’re exciting, impactful and so full of potential it’s ridiculous.
(AAP Image/Craig Golding)
Kyron Hayden
He’s a little bit behind his first-year contemporaries, but that could be explained by a limited preseason due to injury. He played some really good games though, and with a full preseason it will be very exciting to see what Kyron has to offer.
Tristan Xerri
Management is really high on this kid to the extent that they rate his abilities more than big Brayden Pruess. He showed great signs in his first season, but he will need help in the ruck in 2019. He’s a great prospect for the future, but we don’t want to burn him out too early. He’s very handy up forward as well.
Tom Murphy
He’s such a classy player, and we all saw his promise in his couple of league games this year. He uses the footy so well and combines accountability with defensive flair. He’s done enough to earn a contract extension and the promise of an upgrade to senior list to in 2020.
Of further note to me is that management must have considerable faith in young Declan Watson to release Daniel Nielson. I trust our staff and look forward to what a fit Declan can offer in 2019.
Recruiting staff need to look at a mature big-bodied ruckman to support young Tristan Xerri. Pruess was a ruck monster this year – the best backup ruckman in the game hands down – and while Xerri will catch him up eventually, in the meantime he could use some help. Some key forward depth wouldn’t go astray either. If Larkey makes the big leagues as expected, some VFL cover will be required.
With the delisting of Alex Morgan and the potential recruitment of Tarryn Thomas and Bailey Scott, three places could be available on the senior list along with two rookie positions. This provides an interesting predicament considering our draft hand – we could be in the market for potentially two delisted free agents.
Maybe one of the delisted players mentioned above gets another crack, or maybe we go to the market with names like Jake Neade, Luke Partington and Tommy Sheridan available for purchase. As I said, quite an interesting predicament, and I am curious to see what happens and hear constructive opinions.
There’s some quality young talent on this list, so the decision by North Melbourne to recruit mature talent for 2019 is completely justified as we seek a potential return to finals footy in 2019.
TomC
Roar Guru
Hey, it might well work. Richmond weren't much more than that, and it feels like teams don't have to be exceptionally good anymore to be premiers; being solid and lucky is enough. But all the same North seem a fair way below the mark. There are probably only nine or ten players on the list who could be relied on to get a game at most clubs. They did an excellent job with their squad in 2018, but my suspicion is that will be the high point for a while.
Paul D
Roar Guru
North is basically a giant list of jobbers with good work ethic. Throw a whole bunch of fringe players, talk lots about shinboners, and try and graft their way into finals.
TomC
Roar Guru
Hopeful fans will often try to convince neutrals that such-and-such young player is certain to become a gun because of how successful they are in the seconds. But of course being successful at a lower level is no guarantee of anything; in fact it's pretty much a prerequisite for being on an AFL list in the first place. Stack North Melbourne's youngsters against almost every other team and they look second best. My suspicion is that the club themselves are conscious of this, and are investing in recycled players in their mid 20s as their best chance for success is in two or three years. But from what we've seen of the playing group - and given the mediocre quality of the new recruits - most likely they'll continue to battle outside the eight until being forced into a new strategy. It's not like the club is doing anything massively wrong. They're just competing against a lot of other clubs who mostly seem to have better prospects.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Looking forward to that. it's certainly a more probable outcome than what has been outlined above
Paul D
Roar Guru
I imagine Aaron Hall will have a go at that, best of luck to you though - he reminds me a lot of Kane Lucas that's not intended as a compliment
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
How could that be? 2020 is the second year of Freo's 8peat.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
North 2020 premiers and will be along with Brisbane the dominant team of the early 2020s
Davo
Guest
North’s in need of a small goal scoring sneak. There doesn’t seem to bemuch depth there in that department and Turner needs to score more. 8 goals for the year is not good enough. Will Walker looks good and should take his spot and more games need to pumped into McKay. I’m not sure if Durdin is going to make it.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Touch wood. Xerri was producing more impressive outcomes during the season - but I suspect with our seniors being in with a chance late into the season meant we didn't elevate Preuss to bolster his trade value!!