AFL pre-season games North Melbourne v Richmond: Standouts, stats, SuperCoach intel

Watch out Carlton. New Tiger Tim Taranto sounded a round 1 warning with a forward-half blitz against North Melbourne. Recap every talking point from the practice match hitout.

Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images

Hello Harry.

North Melbourne fans were rightly losing their minds in the first quarter when No.3 draft pick Harry Sheezel made an immediate impact.

The prized selection kicked the opening goal of the game after winning a free-kick for holding the ball.

But that was only the entree’ with Sheezel, who played half-forward, pushing up the ground to kick-start another scoring chain with a classy handball in traffic.

Harry Sheezel has North Melbourne fans excited. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos

Then late in the first term he combined with Jaidyn Stephenson, who started on the bench, for another impressive goal.

Two goals in the first quarter of his Kangaroos career had the long-suffering fans who packed into Arden St giddy with excitement.

Another quick-thinking snap in the last quarter got his third goal for the day and surely booked his spot in the side for Round 1.

Make that two for Sheezel, he's showing some great signs early!

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FORWARD TRENT

As expected the Tigers started with former captain Trent Cotchin at half-forward alongside Dustin Martin.

After a quiet opening term, Cotchin found his rhythm getting to the front of the pack like a true goal sneak early in the second quarter and snapping truly.

He then set up new recruit Tim Taranto with a quick handball for his first goal in Tigers colours – a stylish banana-kick from the boundary line.

With Cotchin anchored forward – he was matched against former North skipper Jack Ziebell for a period – the Tigers midfield was based around ex Giants, Taranto and Jacob Hopper, and a fit-looking Dion Prestia.

Taranto was the standout over the four quarters with his ability to hit the scoreboard, something which will excite Tigers fans. He finished with two goals which could have easily been five given the opportunities he created.

Trent Cotchin played forward on Friday morning. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/Getty Images

Star recruit Tim Taranto in action. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/Getty Images

DUSTY DAZZLES

The word out of Punt Rd over the summer was that there was a different Dusty in town.

This certainly looks the case with the three-time Norm Smith Medallist looking ominous in his first hit-out for 2023.

Parked almost exclusively in the forward line, Martin roamed around dangerously for the first half before exploding with two kick goals in the third quarter.

He got behind the Roos defence on a fast break with Rhyan Mansell delivering an impressive long ball to the superstar who didn’t break stride before kicking a delightful 30 metre dribble goal.

A couple of minutes later the trademark fend-off was used to break free for a 40 metre around the corner kick which sailed through the middle.

Yes, it was only a practice match but don’t worry it was enough for the rest of the competition to know that Dusty is back.

Dustin Martin looked ominous. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos

LIKELY TYPES

With Tom Lynch missing, youngster Samson Ryan played in the key forward post and showed some promising signs with two first-half goals.

Ryan was the push-up tall option with Jack Riewoldt coming out of the goal square.

North’s promising tall forward Charlie Comben also moved well kicking two goals and looks a viable option to partner Nick Larkey.

Small forward Eddie Ford was another to show some good moves as did Josh Goater who made his debut in the final game last year.

BULL IN GUTS

A key move by Alistair Clarkson was to introduce forward Cam Zurhaar into the midfield to play the Jake Stringer-type extractor role.

With his bigger body, Zurhaar had an impact particularly at centre bounces where the Roos held their own thanks to the class of Luke Davies-Uniacke and some nice touches from highly rated Will Phillips.

For Brownlow Medal punters, Davies-Uniacke wouldn’t be a silly each way bet. If the Roos win more games as expected, you can be guaranteed he will be grabbing all their votes.

Cameron Zurhaar featured through the midfield against the Tigers. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/Getty Images

HARD TO PLAY AGAINST

Clarko’s mantra when he took over the wooden spooners was he wanted them to be harder to play against.

That was certainly the case in his first outing with the final score just a two-point victory to the Tigers, 11.9 (75) to 10.13. (73)

The blustery conditions probably helped North’s cause but there was definitely more steel about them with former Docker Griffin Logue’s leadership in defence an early standout.

And they have some key players missing including co-captain Jy Simpkin, ruckman Todd Goldstein and midfield star Ben Cunnington. The Tigers outs were Shai Bolton, who was absent to attend a funeral, Liam Baker, Nathan Broad, Jack Graham and Marlion Pickett.

Originally published as AFL pre-season games North Melbourne v Richmond: Standouts, stats, SuperCoach intel