North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says the Kangaroos ‘won’t die wondering’ in 2017
NORTH Melbourne started the season with five losses but there was more to like than when it was 9-0 last year. Finals are unlikely but the Kangaroos are well placed for the future.
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NORTH Melbourne started the season with five losses, but there’s more to like about the Kangaroos than when they were cruising at 9-0 last year.
Coach Brad Scott has been vindicated for the tough calls he made last August. When North decided to let go Nick Dal Santo, Michael Firrito, Drew Petrie and Brent Harvey in one fell swoop, there was a collective gasp from the footy community. What had Scott done?
While North is 14th on the ladder, it looks a much better side than last season.
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A slide was expected with none of the Herald Sun experts tipping the Kangaroos to make the final eight, but the Roos are fighting and growing.
Shaun Higgins is in ripping form, Robbie Tarrant has maintained his 2016 best-and-fairest standards and Ben Cunnington and Jack Ziebell have continued to lead by example.
Then there’s been a host of debutants with Sam Durdin, Braydon Preuss, Jy Simpkin (out with an AC joint injury), Ed Vickers-Willis, Mitch Hibberd and Declan Mountford all showing promise.
Recruits Nathan Hrovath (ex-Bulldogs) and Marley Williams (Collingwood) have fitted in nicely.
Kayne Turner and Trent Dumont have also come on with former captain Andrew Swallow the victim of the changing face of this side.
Ben Brown is a top-rate forward and teams well with Jarrad Waite (when he’s fit or not suspended) and youngster Mason Wood.
Sam Wright (ankle/foot), Ben McKay (hip/groin), Corey Wagner (ankle) and Simpkin are all expected to return at some stage in the second half of the season.
North Melbourne has been in charge but lost three games this season (a point to Geelong, three to the Bulldogs and five to Fremantle) which could prove the difference in making finals or not.
But the Kangas have also shown signs of resilience and improvement, standing firm against Carlton and pulling off a brilliant 59-point thumping of Adelaide, which included a 10.4 (64) first term.
You’re best to forget the Round 11 disaster against the Tigers when the Kangaroos butchered the ball and made shocking decisions.
For all the positive signs, the true turning point for the Kangaroos may come in the off-season if they can secure one or both of GWS gun Josh Kelly and Richmond’s Dustin Martin.
North has a well-publicised war chest and is keen to use it this year. Its midfield needs some help.
Although they’re 4-7, the Kangaroos don’t think they’re out of the running this season.
“We’re trying to play a style of footy that if we execute what we want to do then we’re going to be competitive against anyone,” Scott said.
“But like the rest of the competition, when you play poorly you can get exposed pretty quickly.
“We’ve just got to hang in, we’ve got to reassess where we’re at … and load up for a real crack at it in the second half, but we’re certainly not going to die wondering.”
MONEY MAN
BEN Brown has emerged as the Kangaroos’ main target in attack. He leads hard at the footy and has improved his contested work. Has 28 goals, 13 behinds from 11 games including bags of five (against Melbourne) and six (Gold Coast).
STOCKS RISING
KAYNE Turner is a small forward who packs a punch. Recognised for his pressure, he’s shown much more than that. He’s played all 11 games this year and kicked 14 goals.
GONE BACKWARDS
FROM captain to playing in the twos, Andrew Swallow has faced a challenging season. With the emergence of Trent Dumont, Swallow is not in the Kangaroos’ best midfield. He’s contracted for next season, too. Coach Brad Scott said he’d never seen anyone handle a demotion — it’s happened twice this year — as well as Swallow and his team-first approach has to be admired.
ROBBO SAYS
THE decision to part with the champs has seen the club respond positively on the field. The kids play and the kids take big strides forward. Garner, Turner, Dumont, Wood, less so Braydon Preuss and Vickers-Willis are paving the future without Swallow and Lindsay Thomas, for example. If North was a racehorse, we’d say disregard its last run. Before that, had won four of five, with Demons and Crows the biggest scalps. Surprised many with their spirit and game style, the coach is in good fettle and getting plenty from the players. Can you get a big tick being 14th? Yes.
TRADE FORECAST
GOING, GOING?
It’s been a tough year for Swallow who was dropped to the VFL early in the season. Swallow is only 29 years old and if he continues to battle to find a spot in North Melbourne’s senior side, both parties may be keen for a fresh start. Former Roo Nick Dal Santo has suggested the Roos could look to move on ruckman Todd Goldstein.
COMING?
There is no doubt about it, the Kangaroos are on the hunt for a big fish. They have been reported to have made a mega offer to Greater Western Sydney star Josh Kelly and Richmond’s Dustin Martin. Neither Kelly nor Martin have committed to their current clubs beyond this season.
FINALS ANALYSIS
Odds for eight: $7
Odds for flag: $101
NORTH is 4-7 and you’d think out of finals running. But gee, in what is an even season with teams that were nigh on unbeatable, beaten, maybe they could sneak in. Could win eight of their last 11, which they’d need to do. It’d be a mighty effort.
NORTH MELBOURNE
14th
WINS 4
LOSSES 7
93.8%
LAST YEAR: 8TH
NORTH MELBOURNE
STORY SO FAR
Rd1 L43 West Coast
Rd2 L1 Geelong
Rd3 L42 GWS
Rd4 L3 Western Bulldogs
Rd5 L5 Fremantle
Rd6 W13 Gold Coast
Rd7 W59 Adelaide
Rd8 L42 Sydney
Rd9 W14 Melbourne
Rd10 W17 Carlton
Rd11 L35 Richmond
THE RUN HOME
Rd13 St Kilda ES
Rd14 W BULLDOGS ES
Rd15 Gold Coast MS
Rd16 FREMANTLE ES
Rd17 PORT ADELAIDE AO
Rd18 Essendon ES
Rd19 Melbourne BA
Rd20 Collingwood ES
Rd21 Hawthorn Launceston
Rd22 St Kilda ES
Rd23 Brisbane Lions Gabba
*CAPITALS: Teams in eight
LEADERS OF THE PACK
SUPERCOACH POINTS
— Avg
Todd Goldstein 96
Jack Ziebell 93
Shaun Higgins 92
Jarrad Waite 88
Ben Cunnington 83
DISPOSALS
Ben Cunnington 24.3
Jack Ziebell 23.2
Shaun Higgins 22.3
Sam Gibson 21.8
Trent Dumont 20.9
KICK RATING
Mason Wood +3.6%
Ben Brown +3%
Shaun Higgins +1.8%
Shaun Atley +1.7%
Marley Williams +0.9%
CONT. POSSESSIONS
Ben Cunnington 14.1
Jack Ziebell 11.5
Trent Dumont 9.5
Shaun Higgins 9
Andrew Swallow 8.7
UNCONT. POSSESSIONS
Sam Gibson 15.4
Jamie Macmillan 14.4
Shaun Higgins 13.3
Luke McDonald 13.2
Shaun Atley 12.6
METRES GAINED
Shaun Higgins 472
Jamie Macmillan 448
Jack Ziebell 426
Luke McDonald 397
Shaun Atley 345
INTERCEPT POSSESSIONS
Scott Thompson 8.1
Robbie Tarrant 7.6
Jamie Macmillan 5.4
Ed Vickers-Willis 4.9
Marley Williams 4.5
SCORE INVOLVEMENTS
Jarrad Waite 8.6
Shaun Higgins 7.7
Ben Brown 5.9
Jack Ziebell 5.7
Mason Wood 5.6
PRESSURE POINTS
Andrew Swallow 50.3
Jed Anderson 47.8
Shaun Higgins 46.9
Jack Ziebell 46.7
Trent Dumont 46.7
GOALS
Ben Brown 28
Kayne Turner 14
Shaun Higgins 11
Mason Wood 10
Jarrad Waite 9
Originally published as North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says the Kangaroos ‘won’t die wondering’ in 2017
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