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Opinion
2023 was a tough year to be a North supporter. Nearly everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
North won two games, had a record losing streak, sacked an underperforming coach, lost their first-ever No.1 pick to a raid from an interstate club and had their incoming super coach messiah embroiled in a racism scandal.
Despite what is without a doubt the annus horribilis of all time for an already struggling club, those of faith believe that the proud, passionate Shinboners of North Melbourne are ready to turn the corner and bear the fruit of the recruitment tree that has been slowly ripening over the years of North’s decline into irrelevance.
What many don’t know is that this was a decline that the club was destined to have if it was to reinvent itself as a competition powerhouse. Brad Scott recognised this back in 2019 before he was the first casualty in a tumultuous four-year period for the club.
Brad informed club power brokers that the only way forward was a complete ground zero rebuild. This was a result of the club’s inability to get big time recruits through the door to take North from a struggling middle-tier club, to a legitimate contender. Brad recognised that if the club couldn’t recruit top-level talent then it had to recruit and develop its own.
Brad’s proposition was ultimately declined by the club who believed that the worrying financial position of the club would be further damaged by a period of declining team success.
Ultimately the plan came to fruition as some poor drafting and decision-making led to to the inevitable deterioration of on-field success. Luckily North Melbourne supporters embraced the idea of a full-scale rebuild and the club’s off-field fortunes grew stronger despite the growing misfortune plaguing the playing group.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
The mistakes are numerous and well-documented. These include the naming and fall from grace of Rhyce Shaw, the botching of the Ben Brown contract scenario, the multiple delistings of experienced players, the high-cost recruitment of bit part players and the appointment of David Noble.
All of these mistakes have contributed to North’s decline, however, all has not been lost. The rebuild has had some recruitment gems resulting in positive outcomes and a core of young talented players stand ready to propel the club back into competition relevance.
There are several reasons for supporters of North Melbourne to feel confident that the club is moving forward heading into season 2023.
Alastair Clarkson
Despite the scandal hanging over the head of the modern era’s greatest coach, many people in the football industry feel that Clarkson will be coaching in 2023. Clarko has been resolute and definitive in his determination to challenge these allegations haunting him and has assembled a top-notch team of powerful, acclaimed lawyers to defend both his legacy and his future as the league’s foremost coach.
No doubt AFL headquarters will take steps to protect First Nations footballers going forward but it is unlikely that this will end the careers of both Clarkson and Fagan.
Watch this space.
Time will tell and the truth will out.
Clarkson is a coaching master. His experience and expertise will provide North with much-needed structure, system and discipline, and his management style will undoubtedly result in bringing out the best in talented, underperforming players.
Underperforming players
A new system will result in a return to form for some of the game’s most talented performers.
Tarryn Thomas was ready to join the competition elite in 2022 but struggled with form, health and personal issues.
Tarryn has already started training and will come back bigger than ever in 2023.
Jaidyn Stephenson is an enigma – freakishly talented but is yet to find the level that will see him make the most of his prodigious talent. Stevo will thrive in an environment led by Clarkson.
Jared Polec has struggled with form and injury since joining North on a big-money deal. On his day Polec is an outstanding wingman and could rediscover his mojo in a new look side. It’s easy to forget the impact that Brad Hill played on a wing under the coaching of Clarkson.
Also worth considering is the effect a new system could have on underperforming senior players Jack Ziebell, Aaron Hall, Luke McDonald, Aidan Corr and the evergreen Todd Goldstein.
Then there is also the re-inclusion of Ben Cunnington whose toughness and ability to inspire courage in the face of adversity will no doubt lift his team to greater heights. North’s record with Cunnington in the side is significant compared to its record without him.
The existing core
This does not include aforementioned players.
Led by future All Australian candidates Luke Davies-Uniacke and Ben McKay, this is a strength heading forward. Names on this list that will play a part in North Melbourne’s future success include Nick Larkey, Cam Zurhaar, Jy Simpkin, Bailey Scott, Curtis Taylor, Callum Coleman Jones and Tristan Xerri.
The kids
Some real talented kids coming through who will shape the future of the club heading forward.
Will Phillips – free of injury and illness, this kid will take off in 2023.
Tom Powell – as above.
Charlie Comben – has put on 10 kilos and is ready to repay the faith shown in him by the club. Will provide an amazing combination with Larkey and Zurharr heading forward.
Josh Goater
Eddie Ford
Jackson Archer
Flynn Perez
Paul Curtis
Miller Bergman – an unknown but did enough to get a debut early in the year due to his talent and game awareness.
The incoming
North did well to use the enhancement selections from the AFL to bring in two senior players from Fremantle.
Griffin Logue will make a huge difference to the North defence. An underrated defender capable of shutting down some of the game’s most dangerous forwards. His inclusion will free up McKay, McDonald and Corr to better utilise their strengths in rebounding and fixing North’s issue of allowing easy exits from defensive 50.
Darcy Tucker will add an experienced, hardened body to contribute to midfield rotations and protect the young, prodigiously talented midfielders coming through the system.
The future
Whilst losing Horne-Francis was a huge blow, North did their best to turn an unfortunate circumstance into a break- even scenario.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Getting two of North’s top-rated talents in this year’s draft will enhance the list further, with the addition of two first-round selections in a bumper 2023 draft crop the cream on the cake. A look back at the history of pick 2 and 3 in the draft will give an indication of the incoming talent North can expect.
Heading forward
With a new-found stability and a Clarkson-led improved on-field performance in 2023, North Melbourne could be an attractive destination in the 2023 trade period. The days of North being easy-beats will be over. The young talent on the list will only get better.
It’s not all doom and gloom – the future is in fact quite bright, and the multitude of high-end talent will eventually pay dividends for the once-proud Shinboners.
Getting out of the bottom four will be a start for the Kangas but the ultimate success will be closer to reality in the years to come.
Onwards and upwards.
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