AFL 2025: North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson says positioning of rising star Colby McKercher a ‘balancing act’

North Melbourne is managing Colby McKercher’s role to balance the benefit of immediate impact and his long-term future.

North Melbourne is managing Colby McKercher’s role. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

North Melbourne is jostling between the present and future with the positioning of young gun Colby McKercher.

McKercher is enduring a minor slump from his debut season after shifting from halfback to a more forward-of-centre role.

The dashing left-footer is averaging 15 disposals this year, down from the 24 per game he recorded in 2024.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson says it’s a “balancing act” of playing McKercher where he’ll find the footy or where he’ll benefit the club long term.

“Any player in the competition that comes in to try and learn the game usually finds it easier behind the ball rather than in front of the ball,” Clarkson said.

“That’s been a challenge … he’s finding his feet in terms of half forward, wing, a little bit of on-ball, we think that’s where he’s going to end up playing

“The challenge of putting him in a position where he can win a little bit more of the footy and help us, which he did last year, and trying to nurture him in the position he’s likely to play long-term in his footy career – that’s a balancing act.”

North Melbourne is managing Colby McKercher’s role. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

North Melbourne followed the same structure with Harry Sheezel but have been forced to drop the vice-captain back in recent weeks.

Clarkson says the Kangaroos must assess “quarter-to-quarter” where on the ground Sheezel and McKercher can lift the side.

“As we’ve seen with ‘Sheez’ (Harry Sheezel), start him at halfback for a season, move him into the midfield and forward the bulk of last season,” he said.

“We got to round 6 of this year and it was like ‘wow, we need his (Sheezel) ball use, stability and safety in our back end’.

“He’s gone there the last three weeks and it’s helped us enormously defensively. He and Colby we’ll just need over various weeks depending on opposition, will just switch between playing half back and on-ball.

“It’ll all depend on opposition from time to time, who we’ve got available for our half backline – he will continue to play a whole variety of roles for us.

“Sometimes that’ll just be game-to-game but sometimes it’ll be quarter-to-quarter. We just need to use him where we think is best going to fit the side.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson says positioning of rising star Colby McKercher a ‘balancing act’