Kangaroos not banking on another draft handout from AFL despite continued struggles
The Roos have loaded up on top-end talent in the draft for two years thanks to the AFL, but with their on-field struggles continuing, will they be able to rely on the league again?
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North Melbourne will not bank on another draft handout from the AFL at season’s end after two-straight special assistance packages to help fast-track the Roos’ rebuild.
The Kangas have lost their first four games of the season by an average 48 points and will have to pull off the upset of the season to topple the undefeated Cats at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.
North Melbourne has lost its past 11 matches to Geelong dating back to the Kangas’ last win over the Cats in 2016 at Marvel Stadium.
The Roos have in recent years loaded up on prime early draft picks with the help of the AFL including young stars Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw, Colby McKercher and Zane Duursma.
The controversial special assistance included three extra end-of-first-round picks last year as well as a future second-rounder and future third-rounder at the end of 2022.
There is a strong view the back-to-back hand-outs were the end of the bonus picks for North considering the club also received pick three for Ben McKay’s departure as a free agent last year.
It means the Kangaroos won’t count on another early priority draft pick from the league this year even if the club remains anchored to the bottom part of the ladder in 2024.
Rival clubs are heavily opposed to North receiving any more free kicks from the league although there has been some sympathy in the past due to North’s inability to land top-end free agents.
The club will aggressively target key position players in this year’s trade period, in particular to help bolster the club’s stocks in defence following the loss of McKay.
The Roos have an extra fourth-round pick in this year’s draft tied to Essendon and could receive another compensation pick if dangerous forward Cameron Zurhaar departs as a free agent.
The Roos could notch their first win of the season in a softer part of the fixture from Rounds 6-10 when Alastair Clarkson’s men take on Hawthorn (Marvel), Adelaide (Blundstone Arena), St Kilda (Marvel), Gold Coast (TIO Stadium) and Essendon (Marvel Stadium).
The Roos take on West Coast in Perth in Round 13 which could determine this year’s wooden spoon after unsuccessfully trying to strike a deal with the Eagles for the No. 1 pick and young superstar Harley Reid.
Clarkson said after the 70-point loss to Brisbane in Gather Round on Friday the club had worn the brunt of a difficult start to the season.
“There probably couldn’t be a tougher draw in the competition than what we’ve copped,” Clarkson said.
“We have had three of the top four sides in the comp and Fremantle who are also an accomplished side and played finals the year before.
“And it doesn’t get any easier next week, we have got the Cats in Geelong.
“We know where we are at as a footy club and when we are playing against these really good sides … to be able to do it for four sustainable quarters is really tough for us.”
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Originally published as Kangaroos not banking on another draft handout from AFL despite continued struggles
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