Could Tyrone Vickery keep North Melbourne in the premiership race?
VOTE: NORTH Melbourne’s premiership window is in danger of slamming shut but could an out of favour Tiger help keep it open?
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NORTH Melbourne’s premiership window is in danger of slamming shut.
The Kangaroos face a series of tough decisions on nine 30-year-olds which threatens to leave them short in the key forward stakes next season, if Drew Petrie and Jarrad Waite both retire.
The veterans’ departures would leave a huge reliance on Ben Brown, with a strapped-up knee, and project big man Majak Daw to spearhead their transition into a new era.
At 192cm, Mason Wood is an emerging star, but he’s more of a third banana in attack.
But one man can save the Kangas, and it’s probably not who you are thinking.
It’s Richmond’s Tyrone Vickery.
It seems almost certain that the dreadlocked forward will seek a fresh start elsewhere next season after a poor season, gathering more than 10 possessions in only three of his 15 games this year.
Yes, he’s had no impact at Tigerland, but he’s not exactly on his own at Punt Rd.
In the player movement market, you have got to see upside and 200cm forwards who can ruck are in-demand. Especially ones like Vickery who is in the prime of their career, aged 26.
Even better for North, the Tigers’ whipping boy will cost the Roos nothing in trade terms.
He is a free agent and can walk to Arden St for free, except for a salary perhaps in the vicinity of $450,000, plus incentives. We know they have the salary cap space.
But, can he play, you ask? Let’s go to the tape.
At his best, Vickery has shown he can get hot inside 50m, booting 17 goals and two behinds as part of a five-game purple patch late last season.
At the time there was talk of Richmond trading him for a first-round draft pick to a club like Brisbane, but his contract is up this year.
Against Collingwood in Round 21 Vickery was best on ground with six goals, 10 marks and 21 possessions. That’s big.
The set shot sharpshooter had the second best kick-rating in front of goal behind only Western Bulldog Tory Dickson and the second-best hit-out-to-advantage of any ruckman with more than 50 hit-outs, last season.
Clearly, the No. draft 8 pick has ability.
But does he love football?
And can he keep out of the umpire’s bad books?
What has frustrated Richmond fans and rival recruiters who have watched him closely for years is that there is huge chasm between his best and worst.
And his worst has been on show this season.
But as the experts say, buy low.
North need him because if only one of Petrie and Waite go on next season, they would have to be nursed towards the finals Brad Ottens-style, anyway.
Maybe 12 games plus finals next season, max.
It is unclear if Daw is reliable key forward material and if Brown went down injured next season Brad Scott’s men could fall in a heap.
Todd Goldstein, 28, can’t continue to do all the rucking on his own, as his sore knees this season would strongly suggest. He needs more help, from someone like Vickery.
Cameron Joyce has proven to be one of the most shrewd list managers in the AFL in recent years, nabbing free agents Shaun Higgins, Waite, Nick Dal Santo, as well as bargain draft buys Brown and Sam Gibson.
Against the odds, they’ve opened up a genuine premiership window, with consecutive preliminary finals.
Yet Joyce gets zero fanfare. He courageously let go of hard-nut Levi Greenwood after finishing third in their best and fairest in 2014, but has it cost them?
Not by the way Trent Dumont shut down Jack Steven on Saturday night.
His next project might be the most polarising one, with Vickery.
But the rewards would be significant if the AFL’s most maligned man kept the Kangas in the flag race.
CONTRACT CONUNDRUM
North Melbourne’s over 30s
Brent Harvey, 38
Jarrad Waite, 33
Drew Petrie, 33
Nick Dal Santo, 32
Michael Firrito, 32
Daniel Wells, 31
Sam Gibson, 30
Scott Thompson, 30
Farren Ray, 30 (Rookie)
(North Melbourne has the most experienced (93.9 games per player) and second-oldest (25 years and 55 days) list in the AFL in 2016)
Originally published as Could Tyrone Vickery keep North Melbourne in the premiership race?
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