Mark Robinson questions North Melbourne rebuild and why Alastair Clarkson isn’t playing the kids

The buzz of the first two rounds is a distant memory as Alastair Clarkson confronts the huge job ahead at North Melbourne. Are these players really helping the rebuild, asks Mark Robinson.

Alastair Clarkson is facing big challenges early in his North Melbourne tenure.

“If you’re going to lose by 90 points, you might as well lose with kids.’’ – Alastair Clarkson post-match last week.

A massive injury list could save a bunch of older players being dumped this week, as North Melbourne ponders why the sugar hit from Alastair Clarkson has turned to sour lemons.

After its two opening wins, North Melbourne’s past five weeks resemble the worst of its awful 2022 season.

The numbers are stark, if not embarrassing, because 15-goal defeats weren’t expected under the tutelage of the four-time premiership coach.

The ability to compete, to apply pressure and to offensively flourish under Clarkson’s new system, has collapsed.

Daniel Howe.

Aaron Hall.

Remember that manic pressure in the round 2 win over Fremantle? It is long gone, replaced by a lethargy which can’t be tolerated.

Like, Cameron Zurhaar’s pathetic chase in the opening minutes of last week’s match. Does Clarkson set standards and dump Zurhaar, or was Zurhaar dealt with during the week in review and leadership meetings?

Clarkson clearly has decisions to make at selection.

You can ask why are Aaron Hall, 32, Daniel Howe, 27, and Kayne Turner, 27, getting a game when there’s a group of 21-year-olds in the VFL itching to gain selection.

They might not all be the future of the club, but surely the 21-year-olds have to be given the opportunity to try to stake their claims.

To be brutal, what’s the point of Hall having 30 disposals against Melbourne when the team loses by 90 points?

Kayne Turner.

Why not get 20 disposals from Flynn Perez, who is 21, and who played 16 games in 2022 but has been overlooked this season?

Turner has played all seven games this year and gathered a collective 55 disposals. He’s known for his pressure and tackling, yet he’s laid just 17 tackles, and nine of them came in round 1. He also averages one goal and is rated an average pressure player. He can’t be persevered with.

Phoenix Spicer, 20, is trying to establish himself as a small forward and although goals have been scarce in his VFL games, he has real speed, which the senior team is lacking.

Jack Mahony.

Flynn Perez.

Another option is Jack Mahony, 21, who has played 42 games and hasn’t added to his tally this year. He’s kicked three goals in five VFL games and his ball-winning numbers have improved in recent weeks.

Howe was brought in by Clarkson as a delisted free agent from Hawthorn. He’s played 102 games in nine seasons, including six games this season, predominantly on the wing and across the backline. He was solid against Carlton (round 4) and Brisbane (round 5), was the sub in round 2, and his other three games have only been average.

Charlie Lazzaro.

Charlie Lazzaro, 21, has played 24 game but has not been given an opportunity this year. He averages five clearances and seven tackles playing midfield in the VFL. Is he a better bet than Howe?

Tom Powell, Josh Goater and George Wardlaw can’t be considered for selection because of injury, while it’s expected Luke Davies-Uniacke will play.

Clarkson has lamented about the lack of depth at the club, and he’d also be frustrated by the lack of continuity from the club’s first-round picks.

In order:

2017: Davies-Uniacke is a legitimate star.

2018: Tarryn Thomas is a muck-up who has let himself and his team down.

2019: The Kangaroos traded out their first-round pick.

2020: Will Phillips is a chance to play this week after being axed the week before, while Powell hurt himself against the Demons.

2021: Jason Horne-Francis left the club.

2022: Harry Sheezel is a mighty young player, while Wardlaw hasn’t played because of injury.

Alastair Clarkson is North Melbourne’s fourth coach in four years.

North Melbourne players trudge off after their heavy loss to Melbourne.

Add the fact the players are learning a fourth system in four years — from Brad Scott, through Rhyce Shaw and David Noble, and now Clarkson — and as noted by Fox Footy’s Jonathan Brown, the players can be doing too much thinking instead of simply playing.

Selection at the Kangaroos this week will be the most intriguing of their season, because Clarkson put on the agenda that youth over experience might be best policy.

“We’ve probably gone with a little bit of an older group in the early part of the year and not exposed as many as the young kids because we’ve fully of the view brining the young kids en masse is not all that beneficial for them,’’ Clarkson said after the Demons loss.

“We’ll look to blood a few more kids over the next few weeks … because if you’re going to lose by 90 points, you might as well lose with kids. But we don’t want to throw them to the wolves either.’’

The truth is the wolves are already devouring his older players, so going with more youth is a no-brainer.

Originally published as Mark Robinson questions North Melbourne rebuild and why Alastair Clarkson isn’t playing the kids