AFL 2023: Every North Melbourne player’s contract status, future analysed
Jack Ziebell and Aaron Hall are retiring – but how many of the other uncontracted North Melbourne players will surive the ‘reasonably deep’ cut? Here’s the verdict on each one.
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The Roo cull is coming.
Almost certain to finish in the bottom two for the fourth year running – a run of uncompetitiveness the club hasn’t gone through since the late 1920s and 30s – North Melbourne is preparing for a dramatic shift in its list.
Just short of a third of North Melbourne’s list of 46 players is out-of-contract, with 16 players waiting for a new deal.
One of the veterans who will be back next year is Hugh Greenwood, who has ticked off a games trigger to return for a third season at North Melbourne.
Greenwood was scooped from Gold Coast in late 2021 at the behest of former coach David Noble and given a two-plus-one contract, with a trigger for the third year based on games played.
The 31-year-old will remain at the Roos in 2024, despite playing five VFL games this year, including on Sunday against Werribee.
Among the others, skipper Jack Ziebell has already retired and others are soon to follow.
Concessions handed out by the AFL to help the Roos will make the cuts even deeper, as list boss Brady Rawlings eyes a makeover.
“The thing with our list going into next season, we currently have 46 players on our list given the AFL gave us two extra spots and we have two inactive players, so we have to get from 46 down to 42, which we are well aware of,” he told members in a Q & A session.
“To bring players in through the draft and to bring players in from other clubs, we will have to cut reasonably deep on our own list.”
The bounce back up the ladder will come off the back of elite junior talent in the draft – last year’s picks Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw have been excellent in 2023 and the club is salivating about the injured Brayden George – but the Roos are still keen to add mature bodies to the list.
No team has used as many players as the 42 that have suited up for the Roos this year, as they try to get a good look at all their options.
Football manager Todd Viney brought up additions Melbourne made in his most recent tenure with the Dees, with the likes of Bernie Vince, Jordan Lewis and Daniel Cross important in building a professional culture that eventually led to the 2021 flag.
The Roos dipped their toes this year in bringing in Liam Shiels and Daniel Howe but both look set to be part of the cull.
With Ben McKay almost certainly looking for greener pastures and Griffin Logue set to miss most of 2024 with a busted knee, Rawlings will target a mature key defender.
“We will have to have a look at that key defensive position,” he said.
“As most people know, we have some older players and whether that be this year or next year, we are going to have to make some calls on their careers.
“We obviously have the draft at the front of our minds but we need to bring in mature talent as well. We have a pretty good group of 25-and-unders we are pretty confident in but we need to keep adding to that as well.”
So which Roos are under threat and who will be part of the eventual bounce up the ladder?
This is a look at where every North Melbourne player stands as Rawlings begins preparing to “cut reasonably deep”.
1. Jack Mahoney
Age: 21 Games: 44 (2023 games: 2) Contract status: Out-of-contract
Shoulder surgery cut down Mahoney’s season, with the forward featuring just twice at AFL level before going under the knife. Given he averaged a tick under 15 disposals and half a goal in five VFL appearances, he will be in danger of the axe.
Status: In trouble
2. Jaidyn Stephenson
Age: 24 Games: 108 (2023 games: 19) Contract: End of 2025
The horror edits of his effort haven’t surfaced this year and Stephenson showed some glimpses of his former goalkicking self in the early rounds. If he can get to 30 goals in the season for a lowly team like North Melbourne, it might be a pass mark.
Status: Staying
3. Harry Sheezel
Age: 18 Games: 19 (2023 games: 19) Contract: End of 2026
North Melbourne couldn’t move fast enough to extend Sheezel after his outstanding start to the season. He is right in the race for the Rising Star. The kid can play and should spend more time as a pure midfielder next year after starting life as a classy ball user off half-back, akin to Nick Daicos.
Status: Staying
4. Aidan Corr
Age: 29 Games: 135 (2023 games: 15) Contract: End of 2025
Just over halfway through a five-year deal he inked when moving down from GWS Giants, Corr will be a crucial cog in the Roos defence in 2024 without the injured Griffin Logue and possibly a departing Ben McKay. Never flashy but he does a job.
Status: Staying
5. Curtis Taylor
Age: 23 Games: 64 (2023 games: 12) Contract: End of 2024
He has shown traits of an outside midfielder at VFL level, but Taylor has battled to have an impact in the AFL side. He was dropped after playing in the first nine games this year and hasn’t had over 20 touches in any match. Will probably have one last swing at it next year.
Status: Likely staying
6. George Wardlaw
Age: 19 Games: 7 (2023 games: 7) Contract: End of 2026
Superglue Wardlaw’s magnet to the middle of the board for the next decade at North Melbourne. The Roos have been delighted with his first season and he appears set to be a long-term centre bounce midfielder.
Status: Staying
7. Jack Ziebell
Age: 32 Games: 277 (2023 games: 19) Contract: Out-of-contract
On Friday, Ziebell told his teammates he was pulling the pin. A great club servant, the rugged former captain will stay at Arden Street, having joined the club’s AFLW coaching panel.
Status: Retiring
8. Bailey Scott
Age: 23 Games: 74 (2023 games: 19) Contract: End of 2024
Speculation mounted this time last year that Scott would push his way out of Arden Street, but he instead inked a two-year deal. A hard worker and a good size, Scott has been able to find free ball but has little impact inside the contest. One of the club’s best runners, he finished third in the club’s best-and-fairest count last year and probably cracks the top ten again in 2023.
Status: Staying
9. Luke Davies-Uniacke
Age: 24 Games: 83 (2023 games: 12) Contract ends: 2025
Outside of the teens Sheezel and Wardlaw, Davies-Uniacke is probably the shiniest toy in the North Melbourne garage. Would a team be bold enough to try and prize him out of the Roos? Davies-Uniacke will be a restricted free agent at the end of his current deal in 2025, so the clock will be ticking for North Melbourne next year to try and ward him off the market. Why wouldn’t a team needing some grunt like Sydney or Geelong come knocking early?
Status: Staying
10. Ben Cunnington
Age: 32 Games: 237 (2023 games: 8) Contract ends: 2024
It should never be undervalued how inspirational Cunnington’s fight was to return to regular football life after testicular cancer battles. This season though, the veteran has been subbed off twice and played his last eight games in the VFL. While he holds a contract for next year, it might be time to come to an agreement to hang up the boots.
Status: Retirement
11. Luke McDonald
Age: 28 Games: 178 (2023 games: 19) Contract ends: 2026
The co-captain remains a crucial part of North Melbourne’s often under siege defence. McDonald has had a slight uptick on his career numbers in 2023 and is always reliable.
Status: Staying
12. Jy Simpkin
Age: 25 Games: 130 (2023 games: 14) Contract ends: 2029
Simpkin inked a long-term extension in May to commit to the rebuild at North Melbourne. The co-captain is still only 25 and can only hope the upswing comes and he gets a taste of finals football by the middle of his contract run.
Status: Staying
13. Darcy Tucker
Age: 26 Games: 122 (2023 games: 14) Contract ends: 2025
It hasn’t exactly been the ideal first year back in Victoria for the former Fremantle midfielder. Knee surgery hit Tucker’s pre-season and he has battled on field, ranking below average as a midfielder and spending three games in the VFL. With a year to run on his contract, he will want to make the most of his 2024.
Status: Staying
14. Liam Shiels
Age: 32 Games: 271 (2023 games: 16) Contract: Out-of-contract
The former Hawk answered the call from Alastair Clarkson to provide some experience on the wing and Todd Viney described his influence as “invaluable”. “It has been really good for our players to be learning off a three-time premiership player,” Viney said. Shiels is likely a one-and-done and may step right in to the North Melbourne recruiting team after spending some time there this year.
Status: Retirement
15. Daniel Howe
Age: 27 Games: 105 (2023 games: 9) Contract: Out-of-contract
Another former Hawk, Howe was drawn in through the rookie draft and has played at AFL level once since round 11. Howe has averaged 26.7 disposals per game in the VFL this year so still can find the footy but if he is not getting a regular game in this North Melbourne side, it’s hard to see him sticking around for another year.
Status: Going
16. Aiden Bonar
Age: 24 Games: 34 (2023 games: 2) Contract: Out-of-contract
The defender had to work through a quad injury this year but has played just twice at AFL level. He is undersized as a key defender and not quite nimble enough as an attacking backman. Bonar has played in four wins in 28 matches with North Melbourne.
Status: Going
17. Lachie Young
Age: 24 Games: 47 (2023 games: 4) Contract: Out-of-contract
The former Dog played 20 games last year but has only just earned his way into the Roos team in recent weeks. He has a month to prove he should be around in 2024. The injury to Griffin Logue and Ben McKay’s likely departure works in his favour and he may get a reprieve.
Status: Staying, just
18. Hugh Greenwood
Age: 31 Games: 116 (2023 games: 12) Contract ends: 2024
When North Melbourne poached Greenwood from under Gold Coast’s nose, they handed him a simple trigger to complete his three-year deal, and he has ticked that off. Greenwood’s signing was a David Noble brainwave and he has played in the seconds five times this year. While he has been in and out of the Roos line-up, it may suit both parties to have one more year of the big body around the contest as George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel grow.
Status: Staying
19. Griffin Logue
Age: 25 Games: 79 (2023 games: 15) Contract ends: 2027
The first-year Roo went down with an ACL rupture in July so he will miss a large portion of next season as he rehabs. Logue is set to stick around for the long-term after being lured from Fremantle late last year.
Status: Staying
20. Nick Larkey
Age: 25 Games: 90 (2023 games: 19) Contract ends: 2029
North Melbourne had a huge win in signing Larkey long-term during the season. The spearhead has managed to stay in the top four goalkickers for most of the season despite his team’s woes and should kick some big bags when he has better delivery and more support. One of the big questions of North Melbourne’s off-season is whether they have a second banana to Larkey on the list or need to find one elsewhere.
Status: Staying
21. Callum Coleman-Jones
Age: 24 Games: 28 (2023 games: 9) Contract ends: 2025
It hasn’t quite happened for Coleman-Jones, who has been caught yo-yoing between the firsts and the seconds and between the ruck and the forward line. A nine-goal haul against Frankston inflates his VFL numbers this year and he has kicked just four goals in nine matches at the top level. With Todd Goldstein possibly on his way out, next year will be an important one for the young tall.
Status: Staying
22. Todd Goldstein
Age: 35 Games: 311 (2023 games: 16) Contract ends: Out-of-contract
Locked in a debate with Noel Teasdale as the greatest ruck in club history, Goldstein has been an excellent and timeless servant for North Melbourne. Having been in and out of the AFL at times, it could be the right time to hang up the boots. Goldstein has shown he is still capable of playing at a high level and did say in April he was keen to play on. North Melbourne just needs to know more about its own talls, so it might be in the club’s interest to have him clear from the list. He has often been linked with other clubs, would a one-year flyer at Sydney, Port Adelaide or Geelong suit to chase a flag? It might be a couple of years too late.
Status: Going, potentially to retirement
23. Ben McKay
Age: 25 Games: 67 (2023 games: 15) Contract ends: Out-of-contract
It’s pretty well accepted that McKay is far more likely to be somewhere else next season given he has won just seven of his 67 AFL games. A restricted free agent, North Melbourne will have its fingers crossed to secure a pick as high as No.3 as compensation if the key back landed somewhere else and it may be in the best interests of both parties for that to happen. Essendon, Port Adelaide and Sydney have been most often linked to the interceptor and the better the salary, the better the compensation for the Roos.
Status: Going
24. Tom Powell
Age: 21 Games: 43 (2023 games: 12) Contract ends: 2024
A rolled ankle dogged Powell for much of this season and he was unable to build into the reliable midfielder-forward the Roos saw when he was their best first-year player in 2021. Like many teammates, Powell’s growth has stalled and he will want to bounce back in 2024.
Status: Staying
25. Paul Curtis
Age: 20 Games: 32 (2023 games: 17) Contract ends: 2024
Averaging just nine disposals and under a goal-a-game this year, Curtis has been left in the graveyard at times up forward for the Roos. He has some x-factor and will want to show it next year.
Status: Staying
26. Tarryn Thomas
Age: 23 Games: 65 (2023 games: 8) Contract ends: 2024
Controversy has followed Thomas off the field all season. He has put up career-best numbers on it since his return. Look no further than his three dazzling goals from the midfield against St Kilda in round 19 to see his talent. North Melbourne has shown extreme faith in Thomas despite the off-field issues so will want to keep him, but would a fresh start suit him? Fremantle, St Kilda, Adelaide and Gold Coast are all crying out for some class in the midfield and Roos great David King raised the idea of sending Thomas to the Suns to try and get pick No.5.
Status: Likely staying
29. Miller Bergman
Age: 20 Games: 12 (2023 games: 11) Contract ends: 2025
The Roos like the running defender enough to have signed him up to an extension in March. Bergman has gone up and down through between the firsts and seconds but pegs as a promising rebounding backman.
Status: Staying
28. Kayne Turner
Age: 27 Games: 126 (2023 games: 8) Contract ends: Out-of-contract
In his tenth year at the Roos, Turner has spent the majority of his time in the twos this season. The forward has kicked just two goals in his eight games at the top level and it looks likely he has reached the end of the road.
Status: Going
29. Will Phillips
Age: 21 Games: 29 (2023 games: 13) Contract end: 2024
Players taken just long after Phillips, who was the third pick in the 2020 draft, include Logan McDonald, Braeden Campbell (academy selection), Denver Grainger-Barras, Elijah Hollands, Nik Cox and Archie Perkins. Plenty of talent but not exactly a murderers row of stars. Phillips has largely dominated in his five VFL games and a 27 disposal, one goal game against Essendon in round 12 showed his talent. There is still plenty of time for him and the Roos should back him in.
Status: Staying
30. Charlie Comben
Age: 22 Games: 9 (2023 games: 7) Contract ends: 2025
A nasty broken leg in round 7 effectively crushed Comben’s year. The Roos like Comben enough that they still locked him in to an extension despite the injury and he is still a chance to return to the field late this year and he is seen as the most likely to pair with Nick Larkey long-term. “What we have seen from Charlie is his competitiveness in the forwardline, his ability to crash packs and play as a second ruck,” Ratten said. “It is a shame he got injured … he is one who could have really blossomed by playing footy this year.” The Roos like Comben as a forward but will consider giving him a run to fill the hole in defence.
Status: Staying
31. Josh Goater
Age: 20 Games: 7 (2023 games: 6) Contract ends: 2025
The young defender is still developing and inked an extension in May to stick with the team he barracked for as a boy until the end of 2025. Taken with the 22nd pick in 2021, he is another early pick the Roos will want to fire next year. Goater has been settled at half-back but Brett Ratten sees him as a potential power midfielder. “I think he could play maybe around the ball,” Ratten said. “It is something to think about and his speed and power and size can be used in multiple positions. Over time and maybe at 24-25 (years old) he will understand the game more and be really confident in himself and have the ability to go from one position to another.”
Status: Staying
32. Jacob Edwards
Age: 20 Games: 0 (2023 games: 0) Contract ends: Out-of-contract
The Roos scooped the pool to grab Edwards first in the mid-season draft in 2021 but he hasn’t come on. The young ruck is yet to debut at AFL level and hasn’t exactly been lighting it up in the VFL – he has averaged just 4.7 disposals, 4.3 hitouts and kicked three goals in 15 games this year. Given North has signed up most of its young talent already this year, Edwards might be moved on.
Status: Going
33. Brayden George
Age: 19 Games: 0 (2023 games: 0) Contract ends: 2024
A knee injury has meant George hasn’t stepped onto the field at any level in his first year but Brett Ratten is so high on the bustling forward, he boldly said George could be the pick of the Roos most recent draft haul, outpointing Harry Sheezel. “Brayden has some real strong AFL attributes, he is a beautiful kick,” Ratten said. “Good size, powerful, goes and wins his own footy. To think what he could do next year and he hasn’t even played, we are virtually getting a top-10 pick for nothing.” George is so fond of the goals, he has already earned the nickname ‘Sausage’ at the Roos.
Status: Staying
34. Jackson Archer
Age: 20 Games: 6 (2023 games: 3) Contract ends: 2024
The son of Glenn has shown some signs this year and won some crucial contests late against St Kilda in a heartbreaking loss. He signed a one-year extension in March and is making progress.
Status: Staying
35. Charlie Lazzaro
Age: 21 Games: 27 (2023 games: 3) Contract ends: 2024
It’s been a tough year for Lazzaro. He has found the ball at will in the twos, averaging 26.2 disposals per game as a tough inside-mid but he has only played three times at the top level. Was used in parts in a shutdown role in his last AFL game against Geelong and at 180cm he is still a little undersized for the guts at the top level. He was signed up until the end of next year back in 2021 and so next season appears to be make-or-break.
Status: Staying
36. Phoenix Spicer
Age: 21 Games: 12 (2023 games: 6) Contract ends: Out-of-contract
The Roos are crying out for some class in the forward 50 to help Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar. Spicer has shown some signs of that but unsurprisingly has battled for consistency in a tough position in a losing side, having had 10 disposals just once in six games this year and having kicked just one goal. His talent is there but the Roos have voices how deep they need to cut.
Status: Going
37. Cooper Harvey
Age: 19 Games: 3 (2023 games: 3) Contract ends: 2024
Harvey looked good on debut in round 17. The teen will have ups and downs but should be given a chance to play more AFL minutes to end this season.
Status: Staying
38. Tristan Xerri
Age: 24 Games: 29 (2023 games: 5) Contract ends: 2025
Was picked over Todd Goldstein to start in the ruck in round 1 only to injure his ankle and get sent to the sidelines. The Roos obviously rate him and if Goldstein does move on, the first ruck spot belongs to Xerri.
Status: Staying
39. Flynn Perez
Age: 21 Games: 22 (2023 games: 3) Contract ends: Out-of-contract
Injury hasn’t helped – Perez missed his first season with an ACL rupture and has had knee issues this year – but he has played in the seniors just three times this year. Perez has played some quality games in the VFL, could a fresh start as a running defender with a team like Hawthorn, Gold Coast or Geelong reinvigorate him?
Status: Likely going
40. Eddie Ford
Age: 21 Games: 18 (2023 games: 10) Contract ends: 2024
Ford has quietly put together a nice season in his nine games – ranking above average for disposals among forwards. He can find the ball and is generally a good user of it, so projects as a handy half-forward.
Status: Staying
41. Blake Drury
Age: 19 Games: 3 (2023 games: 3) Contract ends: Out-of-contract
The rookie defender played three games during the middle of the season and looked handy across half-back. He is worth another year and the Roos rate his composure with ball in hand.
Status: Staying
42. Kallan Dawson
Age: 25 Games: 4 (2023 games: 0) Contract ends: Out-of-contract
The Roos took a flyer on the mature 196cm defender from Williamstown but he has been left in the VFL all season. He might be up against it to earn a new contract but Dawson – who is most adept at playing on tall forwards – has been close to an AFL debut. “His last month has been exceptional and his name has been in match committee so he is not far from getting a game and I think his opportunity will come,” Brett Ratten said.
Status: Likely going
43. Aaron Hall
Age: 32 Games: 161 (2023 games: 6) Contract ends: Out-of-contract
Signed up late last year for one more season, it’s hard to see Hall sticking around again in 2024. The 32-year-old was sent back to the VFL after round 13 and while he still finds the ball like few others off half-back, his value in a young team is minimal. Given his age, it’s hard to see another side taking a flyer on him.
Status: Going – confirmed his retirement, effective immediately, on Wednesday.
44. Cameron Zurhaar
Age: 25 Games: 99 (2023 games: 16) Contract ends: 2024
Just 20 goals from 16 games after 34 last year, Zurhaar has likely played his last game for the season after injuring his ankle. He is contracted next year and North Melbourne will have little interest in trading him but now, a year before he is a restricted free agent, might be the time for a club to come hard at him. Every club wants a bustling forward who can run through centre bounces and teams on the verge of finals like Fremantle, Adelaide, Gold Coast, St Kilda are desperate for a Zurhaar type.
Status: Staying
45. Hamish Free
Age: 25 Games: 0 (2023 games: 0) Contract ends: Out-of-contract
Scooped up by the Roos after winning WAFL team of the year selection in 2022, Free underwent shoulder surgery in early July that ended his season after nine VFL games. A mature ruck, Free appears behind Todd Goldstein, Tristan Xerri, Callum Coleman-Jones and Charlie Comben, with Jacob Edwards also in the mix. Given he didn’t get much of a chance to show himself, the Roos might give Free one more year but his spot may be better served by a youngster.
Status: Likely going
46. Robert Hansen Jr
Age: 19 Games: 1 (2023 games: 1) Contract ends: 2024
Hansen Jr nominated an 18 month contract before this year’s mid-season draft, putting him on the books for 2024. He became the 42nd Roo to play this year when he made his debut against West Coast in round 20. He didn’t get a lot of it, but Hansen Jr has plenty of class.
Status: Staying
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