AFL season review: North Melbourne’s struggles continue as lengthy rebuild ploughs on

North Melbourne’s rebuild is blowing out like a Victorian construction project. Is 2025 the year the rebuild finally begins to take flight? Or is there simply too much more work left to do?

Another year carried a familiar tune for North Melbourne fans – in that they rarely heard their own theme song after games.

The Roos sung their song just three times in 2024, as their rebuild begins to blow out like Victoria’s Big Build.

Finishing only above Richmond on the ladder, the Roos have now won four games or less in each of their last five seasons and finished in the bottom two in all of those years in what has been one of the ugliest runs of form by a club in the modern era.

The excuses are there for Alastair Clarkson’s team – North Melbourne ranked last for experience and last for average age heading into the season.

Those at Arden St knew they would face another slog in 2024 but hoped to win closer to 6-8 games rather than a paltry three.

And again, Roos fans shuffled to the end of the season in agony, watching on Saturday as Hawthorn belted them by 124 points, the biggest loss of Clarkson’s glittering coaching career.

That the Hawks surged into the top eight and are head, shoulders and chest above the Kangaroos must sting the club, given the two teams essentially started rebuilds at the same time.

Harry Sheezel is a bona fide star. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

There were some bright points this year, with Harry Sheezel again dominant – and surely close to winning his second best-and-fairest and his second season.

And his midfield lieutenants in George Wardlaw, Colby McKercher and Tom Powell all took steps up.

Tristan Xerri bolted into the All-Australian squad this year after a stunning year in the ruck and midfield bull Luke Davies-Uniacke continues to close in on becoming an elite ball user.

But North must lock him down next year.

CONTRACT CALLS

Davies-Uniacke pledged himself to the Roos back in June when he said: “I see myself playing for North Melbourne for the rest of my career”.

But until he signs a long extension, ‘LDU’ will remain one of the footy’s hottest commodities and rival clubs, such as St Kilda and Essendon, would surely throw everything they have at him.

He is out of contract at the end of next year.

The Roos have been excellent at keeping their top-line players – such as Cam Zurhaar and Nick Larkey – so will be expecting to ink a new deal, even though Davies-Uniacke has won just 12 of his last 75 games.

Liam Shiels has retired. Picture: Steve Bell/AFL Photos

Clarkson has been open about the fact the Roos will go after experienced heads this off-season, with the young list losing its two eldest players in Liam Shiels and Hugh Greenwood to retirement.

As the list stands now, only Aidan Corr will be over 30 when pre-season begins.

The oldest list in the league, Collingwood, had nine players start this year over the age of 30.

And before this season, the Pies had 11 players with 150 games experience on the list.

Right now, the Roos will have just three – Luke McDonald (202 games), Corr (162) and Jy Simpkin (152).

North Melbourne needs a steady head around the ball and key position support at both ends.

Nick Haynes looks likely to head to Carlton, but the Roos would be well served getting in his ear, while Clarkson himself threw up names last week like Dane Rampe, Luke Parker, Ollie Wines and Callan Ward.

Alastair Clarkson would like to speak to Giants great Callan Ward.

Jack Viney will not be moving to join his father Todd at Arden St, after signing a new deal at Melbourne.

Could the Roos get into Western Bulldogs pair Caleb Daniel or Jack Macrae after they have been on the outer in stages this year?

St Kilda’s Dougal Howard would be a strong fit down back.

Former No. 3 draft pick Will Phillips may be on the move, after being in-and-out of the line-up all year and often used as a tagger.

Clarkson and his coaches need to find a way to salvage Jaidyn Stephenson’s once bright career after he fell out of the team this season.

OFF THE FIELD

Clarkson is contracted for three more seasons at North so the pressure hasn’t intensified on the coach so far, but virtually nothing has gone right since he returned to the club.

The lingering weight of racism allegations from Clarkson’s time at Hawthorn, which he strongly denies, and the saga of now-delisted midfielder Tarryn Thomas surely haven’t helped the club grow on field.

Alastair Clarkson has had a disastrous start to his stint as North coach. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

The Roos showed some signs of life after the bye and played in a string of close losses but then lost their final two games by a combined 220 points.

Even if pressure on his actual job has not yet intensified, Clarkson needs some results next year.

The club redesigned its development team over the off-season, bringing in Michael Barlow to run a new group.

With so many young players, the Roos will hope to see results there next season.

GETTING BETTER

North Melbourne simply has to be better in 2025, and the Roos should be.

Mark Sheezel down as a Brownlow Medal contender in 2025.

Is it too early to push Sheezel into a captaincy role?

Co-captains this year Simpkin and McDonald both had only OK seasons, while Sheezel and vice-captain Nick Larkey are clearly the future of the club.

Will Nick Larkey and Harry Sheezel captain the Roos? Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Jackson Archer and Paul Curtis took steps forward at either end of the ground and Zane Duursma will be a player when he develops.

The Roos have been sky high on the potential of Brayden George but the luckless forward has copped two ACL injuries – and a nasty elbow dislocation – so he just needs to play footy.

Wil Dawson has shown promise as a raw big man.

It’s a familiar formula for North this off-season – draft near the top and pick well, and try and lure experienced players.

Surely, they can only go up, and need to win at least six games.

WAY TOO EARLY PREDICTION: 15th (6-17)

Originally published as AFL season review: North Melbourne’s struggles continue as lengthy rebuild ploughs on