Mick Malthouse: Mabior Chol should top the list of North’s targets this free agency

Mabior Chol is thriving at the top level. The opportunity of consistent senior footy under Goldstein’s guidance is exactly what the Roos should be selling to the young Tiger.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – JULY 16: Mabior Chol marks the ball during the 2021 AFL Round 18 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium on July 16, 2021 in the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

People gave up on North Melbourne pretty early this season.

Free agents had rejected them. Draftees reluctantly went to Arden Street. Without a standout star it wasn’t even clear who the club identified with. And it all seemed like a thankless job for new coach David Noble.

After eight straight losses, some of them thrashings, a seven-point win over Hawthorn in Round 9 was the start of a resurrection.

I admire Noble for the subtle changes he made after those losses.

Initially, as former football general manager at Brisbane, Noble appeared to be trying to replicate Chris Fagan’s successful Lions’ structure of last year. But that was a trap because that game style didn’t automatically work for North.

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David Noble and his young side has made considerable progress in the back half of the season.

A Round 1, 52-point loss to Port Adelaide, Round 2, 59-point loss to Gold Coast, and a 128-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in Round 3 served as a reminder that each team must be coached according to its strengths.

North is now securing the ball and being proactive while not trying to chew off more than its skill level allows.

The win in Perth last Monday against a highly-talented West Coast side showed the maturity North has developed in its past eight games.

This mini-revival does not get North out of the woods, but its senior players have stepped up, its younger players have grown, and its overall game structure has given it a soundness and confidence that it can enter its remaining six games as a winning chance every week.

And it has all been inspired by the new coach who has held his nerve and done a terrific job.

But still, some facts remain.

North is led by lion-hearted, former mid now backman, Jack Ziebell, who always does a sterling job.

The team is glued together by Ziebell and Todd Goldstein — an elite ruckman who can run all day and kick goals, Robbie Tarrant as a key back, and Ben Cunnington who has been magnificent in the clinches this year.

Noble’s subtle changes after heavy season-opening defeats have worked well.

The big worry is that these players aren’t young anymore, so who replaces them when they retire?

There’ll be free agents every year and bottom clubs will continue to chase those big names. In the Kangaroos’ case, this is not a negative, but I can’t see them finishing in the final eight for the next couple of years at least, and as free agents come at a high cost and have minimal career years left, quite frankly, I think it is a waste of time for them.

Jaidyn Stephenson and his teammates celebrate their surprise win over the West Coast in Perth.

They have constantly been rejected by big-name free agents in recent years, electing to take Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard from Port Adelaide in 2018 as a fall back, maybe to prove they could secure established players. But neither player improved the team dramatically, instead taking positions that could have been given to younger players. Pittard was delisted at the end of last year and Polec has been injured for most of this season.

Looking at the free agent list — restricted and unrestricted — there would only be two players that North should contemplate.

One would be the Western Bulldogs’ Mitch Wallis, not that he’s a champion, but he has great leadership qualities and would be an extremely professional player who could assist North’s youngsters.

The other is Mabior Chol from Richmond, because he could play senior football immediately as a solid secondary ruck for 33-year-old Goldstein.

Most of the top free agents have already been signed up. If you go to free agency and pay big money you need to secure a constant match winner. Josh Kelly was reportedly offered a multimillion-dollar eight-year-deal with the Giants, which is craziness.

Mabior Chol would make a good fit at North as a secondary ruckman.

North shouldn’t even entertain that type of player or that type of money.

If they want to supplement their list, at a pinch they could look at St Kilda’s Jack Billings or Tom Lynch from Adelaide, taking into consideration fitness, injuries, and the pay packet.

North should focus entirely on the national draft as it will serve the Roos well if they pick solidly for the future, not for quick fixes.

They were fortunate to fall upon Jaidyn Stephenson cheaply from Collingwood, but that situation isn’t likely to be replicated. He played his best game for the season against the Eagles.

Tom Powell, taken at No. 13 in the 2020 draft, is the sort of player North should invest in.

Will Phillips, selected at No. 3 last year, is a great investment, even if his figures aren’t grand at the moment.

Ben McKay, taken with the 21st pick in 2015, is a certainty to become one of the top echelon key backs of the competition. At 201cm he can handle most key forwards and will only get better. So it does take time, patience, and a good deal of work.

Western Bulldogs’ Mitch Wallis has great leadership qualities and could help in the development of the young Kangas.

Nick Larkey (pick 73 in 2017), Charlie Lazzaro (pick 36 in 2020), Tristan Xerri (pick 72 in 2017), Jack Mahoney (pick 34 in 2017) — give them time and they will all come through together, and North will be better for it.

Already there’s clear signs of improvement.

Larkey needs support on the forward line but he is potentially a 50-goal plus full-forward. Medium-forward Cameron Zurhaar is starting to realise his potential.

Tarryn Thomas is going to be an outstanding player. With all the attributes of an exciting, beautifully skilled and balanced player who can kick the clutch goals, he has a really bright future.

Jy Simpkin, an excellent midfielder who has snuck under the radar, just gets on with the job.

With similar traits to Ziebell, Luke McDonald could be North’s next captain. Steady, hard at it and committed, you always know what you’re going to get from him.

Saturday’s game against Essendon will be another test for North, but if slow and steady wins the race then the signs are looking good, and North supporters have every reason to be optimistic.

Originally published as Mick Malthouse: Mabior Chol should top the list of North’s targets this free agency