We continue on with our AFL preview series today by looking at two of the clubs that parted ways with their coaches in 2019, took on interim replacements and then kept them in charge for 2020 and beyond.
There is a sense of optimism about both North Melbourne and St Kilda on the eve of the season. Is it well founded or does an ill wind blow?
North Melbourne
The Kangaroos have finally rid themselves of Brad Scott and thus get to put a decade of mediocrity behind them. In his nine full seasons at the helm they never finished higher on the ladder than sixth and only once lower than tenth. Yuck. Few coaches get the luxury of a full decade to prove they can’t make an impact.
Let’s have a look at the cattle Rhyce Shaw has to work with this year.
North Melbourne best 25
B: Shaun Atley, Majak Daw, Marley Williams
HB: Jamie Macmillan, Robbie Tarrant, Jasper Pittard
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Shaun Higgins, Jed Anderson
C: Trent Dumont, Ben Cunnington, Jared Polec
HF: Tarryn Thomas, Nick Larkey, Jy Simpkin
F: Jack Ziebell, Ben Brown, Cameron Zurhaar
Int: Mason Wood, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Aiden Bonar, Kayne Turner
Em: Luke McDonald, Josh Walker, Ben Jacobs
Scott Thompson and Sam Wright have retired, taking 377 games of experience out of the backline with them, while Aiden Bonar is the only addition from another club after two years and six games with the Giants. He is expected to get every opportunity at the Roos.
North’s defence hasn’t even been a relative strength in recent times. Despite a ten-win season last year, only four teams conceded more points against than them. Majak Daw’s return after missing the entire 2019 season should help solid citizen Robbie Tarrant, who is entering greybeard territory.
(AAP Image/Hamish Blair)
The running backs are a workmanlike lot yet to prove they can stop consistent scores against or to dazzle with penetrating run and carry. No-one is paying their entry fee to watch that lot go to work.
Up forward is where some excitement lies, though. Ben Brown is perennially in Coleman Medal calculations, Nick Larkey has impressed with some strong marking and a couple of bags after finally getting an opportunity and Cameron Zurhaar has shown he can kick goals and take names.
Of the younger brigade, Jy Simpkin is getting better, while Tarryn Thomas lived up to the reputation that preceded him as an academy pick with some classy touches and a sense that he will be a big-moment player.
Looking at the midfield, which Champion Data rank as the second-best in the competition, there is a nice balance there with ruckman Todd Goldstein leading the way.
Ben Cunnington is almost as unstoppable around the clearances as the likes of Nat Fyfe and Patrick Cripps when he’s in the zone. Jack Ziebell provides able support, and Jed Anderson has a harder edge and greater effectiveness than many envisioned when he left the Hawks.
Jared Polec became even more outside than at any other stage of his career in his first year at North, fulfilling the role of attacking wingman while Trent Dumont is more on the defensive side. Shaun Higgins is pure class and has been for a long time, but it would be nice to see him get up to 25 goals-plus again.
From the moment Brad Scott announced his resignation North won five of six games, which was followed by losing four out of five, including a game down at Geelong, where they kicked only one goal. The week after, they kicked 22 majors against Port. What a conundrum.
The best of the Roos under Shaw last year was ferocious and uncompromising, but they were also unable to sustain it. Perhaps a full preseason under their new coach will help reinforce his ethos. They are one of the toughest teams to place this season, capable of contending for the top four but may equally be out of the finals race from midway.
Predicted finish: ninth.
(Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
St Kilda
Alan Richardson was a dead man walking for a long time at the Saints given he simply wasn’t very good. His last six games saw a four-point win over a Gold Coast on an 18-game losing streak and five losses by an average margin of 45 points. It was time to go.
Brett Ratten had been assumed as the next coach by many since coming on as senior assistant for 2019, and so it proved. As was a constant theme for caretakers last year, the Saints responded and won their first two games under his care. What does 2020 hold?
St Kilda best 25
B: Jarryn Geary, Dougal Howard, Callum Wilkie
HB: Hunter Clark, Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton
Foll: Rowan Marshall, Dan Hannebery, Seb Ross
C: Brad Hill, Jack Steele, Zak Jones
HF: Jade Gresham, Tim Membrey, Jack Billings
F: Dan Butler, Max King, Jack Lonie
Int: Paddy Ryder, Luke Dunstan, Shane Savage, Ben Long
Em: Josh Battle, Jack Sinclair, Daniel McKenzie
The Saints made wholesale changes to their list at the end of 2019, a move that excites fans and breathes fresh air into a stale and irrelevant club.
Gone are Jack Steven (183 games for St Kilda), Jack Newnes (155), Josh Bruce (99), Blake Acres (75), Billy Longer (57) and poor Paddy McCartin (35).
Brad Hill and Zak Jones arrive to give the Saints pace and skill on the outside, a desperately needed duo. Paddy Ryder will offer support for Rowan Marshall in the ruck and between the two of them try and be a marking avenue to goal when resting forward.
(Michael Willson/AFL Photos)
Dan Butler brings the precious resource of Richmond culture and should give more bite and pressure inside forward 50 alongside Jack Lonie. Dougal Howard has been brought in to add some steel in defence and aerial support to Jake Carlisle and Callum Wilkie but can also pinch-hit in the ruck or up forward if required.
Max King is yet to debut, an event that is eagerly awaited after glimpses at VFL level in 2019 and seeing what his twin brother was capable of up at the Suns. Add in a much fitter Dan Hannebery and a returning Jarryn Geary after both only played five games last season, plus Dylan Roberton after two years out of the game, and the Saints really do look like a brand-new side.
Each one of these new and ‘new’ faces gives the Saints something that they don’t already have. It’s been extremely astute recruiting at face value, a complementary mix.
How much better can Hunter Clark get? Can Marshall improve again? Is Ben Long finally going to deliver on preseason talk? If Seb Ross, Jade Gresham, Jack Billings, Jack Steele and Tim Membrey play to a high level again and everything else clicks, finals could beckon.
The best way to judge depth at a club is to see what sort of names didn’t make the best 22, and St Kilda are finally seeing the squeeze put on with a number of flankers and pockets waiting in the wings.
Brett Ratten coached five full seasons at Carlton, never delivering less than ten wins, and has since spent several years under the master Alastair Clarkson. He’ll be better for the experience.
A return to Moorabbin and the Saints giving Hawthorn a tune-up in the Marsh series has buoyed hopes. Maybe, just maybe, they have a team that is ready to deliver on them.
Predicted finish: tenth.
Predicted ladder
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6. Brisbane
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9. North Melbourne
10. St Kilda
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15.
16.
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18. Gold Coast
David C
Roar Rookie
After that Marsh game I think they are destined for bottom 4.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
It is starting to look like Port won that trade deal with Hawthorn. I think Burton and Duursma accomplished much more than Wingard did last year. He seems to have an attitude problem and is not committed. Wingard saying he doesn't care about football and is only doing it for money speaks volumes about his character, which is quite shocking for a footballer if that is true. Maybe Clarkson and Hawthorn will sort him out and get him playing to his potential but so far he has been very ordinary for them imo.
Raimond
Roar Guru
It’s just such a slog in a socialist competition. In the 1990s Manchester United were completely dominant, and Manchester City were ignored. City were able simply to buy their way to the top, as North did in the 70s. That option has been cut off.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Welcome to the world of Wingard. He hates footy, he's said it many times, he does it as a job, I don't think he's even watched a game of AFL on the telly since he's been playing in the big league. Talk about a bloke that doesn't know what he's got.
Davo
Guest
I think its make or break for Durdin this year. Finally showed some something late last year after a few nothing years hampered by injury. They need him to lift as the cupboard is bear when it comes to tall defenders as they can't rely on Daw having a full season. Maybe top 8 but top 4 I don't think so.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
So are you saying the culture and history of clubs does not matter? I think it matters a lot to be honest. If these weren’t important, then there would not really be any point following the sport at all. I think quite a lot of fans are still invested in tradition. E.g. Collingwood/Richmond traditional rivalry seems to still be going pretty strong, especially after the 2018 prelim. It is probably not the same like it was in the 1970s/1980s or so but it still exists You are right however to an extent that football has become commercialised and these aspects of the sport are becoming more redundant but that does not mean it is good.
Raimond
Roar Guru
I don’t understand why clubs & fans are obsessed with “tradition,” when they are at the bottom of the heap in a crowded marketplace.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
It is an interesting point. I wonder how many Fitzroy supporters decided to follow Brisbane or another Victorian side or give away the sport altogether? I think a merger would make the history and culture of the existing clubs meaningless. You are still basically starting from scratch and wiping the slate clean. If North did merge with Fitzroy in the 90s, then they would be a completely new entity and it is just isn't the same. All their history and culture would be gone. I think a lot of supporters would become disaffected by this if this happened to their side. I am not sure if many Brisbane supporters currently feel any connection with Fitzroy and it would be understandable considering they are all the way up in Brisbane but I think even if a merger happened in the same state, it wouldn't be too much better in terms of support. Hopefully it doesn't happen anytime soon.
RT
Roar Rookie
I agree with you but I am not opposed to a merger with another club in the same state. Fitzroy's merger with an interstate team surely lost more supporters (or bums on seats) than had they merged with North.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Why does the matter of relocating existing clubs in the AFL keep getting brought up? I think it is wishful thinking at best to believe that any club currently in the league will be relocated or stop existing. North and St Kilda haven’t been great over the past decade but North were a great side in 90s and have a good culture and history. St Kilda were good 10 years ago and should have won a flag but failed. They may be not the most successful club on-field but they still have decades of history, culture and great past players. I hope another Fitzroy situation never occurs again and it was a travesty what happened to them. Hopefully the AFL have learned from that and have better structures in place to prevent such a thing from happening again.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
I think Geelong will probably play finals again but they don't seem to be able win the games that truly matter. I think Chris Scott has maybe done his dash. He has been coach for nearly 10 years now and has had access to great teams but has not been able to get the job done with the exception of his first year. They let a good opportunity slip through their fingers last year. Geelong probably need a change in management and some fresh faces to re-energise the club. Maybe Scott's message is not getting through after a decade at the helm and they need a new voice to restore some confidence. It will definitely be tougher without Kelly for them to win a premiership and Jack Steven will only slightly alleviate his loss. At his best, Steven is an excellent player but that was 3 or 4 years ago and I think he is past it now. He will play some good games for Geelong but I expect him to be inconsistent and not play at level he did in 2016, when he was elite.
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
The teams ranging from 6th to 16th best 22 will all look quite handy. Really will depend on how often they play together during the season. Injuries to certain players at any of this range of clubs will change their ladder positions dramatically.
Adrian
Guest
If they are so “meh” then why are you wasting your apparently valuable time commenting on them :laughing:
Ditto
Roar Rookie
North Melbourne: I’m expecting two clubs to jump from the lower part of the ladder into the 8 and for one of those teams to be top 4 at the end of the minor round. For me North Melbourne are the most likely to make the biggest jump. Outside the usual suspects, Larkey, Simpkin and Zurhaar are ready to rip and I think Sam Durdin will quickly become a force in defence. My prediction: 4th St Kilda: I remain unconvinced My prediction: 14th
Micko
Roar Rookie
North Melbourne rejected an AFL offer to move to the Gold Coast for a truckload of cash, citing the lack of a decent stadium. A couple years later Gold Coast won hosting rights to the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and then proceeded to build Metricon Stadium, and obviously the AFL then went ahead and created the Suns, who are a raging success. :silly:
Raimond
Roar Guru
When I think of either of these clubs, I think one could have gone to Tasmania or the Gold Coast (or Canberra even), on the condition that they got a truckload of cash and top-end draft picks.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
A Graders Shmay Graders. Gotta be in it to win it and North will just keep coming as they always do.
Razor Sharpe
Roar Rookie
Essendon definitely and possibly Geelong (ageing list and the loss of Kelly)
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Yeah they are a team that is very capable of doing a lot of damage in the comp this year. I don't think Patton will solve all of their problems up forward but he should be pretty reliable for them and he cost nothing to get so there is little risk for them. They seem to also have a very good midfield now with Mitchell, O'Meara, Worpel and Scully. Wingard and Scully weren't very impressive last year tbh. Scully was understandable given his long term injury but Wingard seemed very lazy at times and he might need a kick up the backside by Clarko to get his act together. A lot was given up to get him so he better start delivering for them. Mitchell might take some time to get back to his best but he seemed to move pretty well last week. The Hawks honestly should have played finals last year but they lost too many close games. At times last year though, they were very ordinary e.g. that Carlton game in Tasmania they were very lucky to win and losing to Melbourne. They are another team that is difficult to gauge but they are the most likely side to replace Essendon in finals.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Ver, I am intrigued with the Hawks this year. Hymie is a machine (sorry). Mitchell ball magnet. Scully, Omera imported guns. Big boy is a reliable champ. Sicily always seem to play a notch above his ability. Could be pushing fifth. Or they could all be reinjured and the side pushing 13th. All I know is the two Cats games at the Gee will be close.