Denis Pagan says North Melbourne is ready to win a flag
DUAL premiership coach Denis Pagan says North Melbourne must seize home-ground advantage in September if it is to break the club’s premiership drought.
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DUAL premiership coach Denis Pagan says North Melbourne must seize home-ground advantage in September if it is to break the club’s premiership drought.
Pagan and premiership forward Corey McKernan said they believe the Kangaroos can become the first North Melbourne team since 1999 to win the flag.
But after a pair of interstate preliminary finals losses Pagan believes it is too hard to win the title playing interstate finals.
The Roos have the chance to set up a top-two finish and a home qualifying final with upcoming clashes against St Kilda, Essendon and Carlton.
A 9-0 win-loss record would be the best start to the season in the club’s 92-season history — and the perfect premiership launching pad.
“The Kangaroos Waterloo has been going over to play in Perth and Sydney,’’ Pagan said.
“They are hostile home grounds. If you play in Melbourne you don’t get that. I think they are one of half a dozen clubs that can win the premiership.
“They have areas they need to get better in, but you can’t knock what they have done so far.
“I hope the Kangaroos win it. Will the GWS get fat heads? Will West Coast get a couple of home finals? Sydney have added some kids.
“But I have been really pleased with the way they have started this year.”
McKernan said the club’s trio of MCG finals wins in the past two seasons showed they were perfectly suited to the ground.
“The big thing is they need to finish first or second and then get that home final,’’ McKernan said.
“In all the years we were successful we never played an interstate final. If you are going to win the flag you need home finals.
“When they have got to the MCG over the last few years they have thrived. They beat Richmond in front of 92,000, they beat Essendon and Geelong in front of 80,000.
“Guys like Jack Ziebell and Ben Brown weren’t overawed by playing on the big stage.”
McKernan says the Kangas’ blend of young and determined inside midfielders and starring veterans is the perfect mix.
He believes the elder statesmen pushing for a first premiership will provide motivation for the younger players still at their peak.
“I really wanted to win a premiership medallion for guys like Ian Fairley, Craig Sholl and Darren Crocker, guys who had been around North Melbourne forever.
“You would love Drew Petrie to get a premiership medal. He deserves one if anyone at North Melbourne ever has.
“You would want someone like that who has been such a magnificent stalwart and an amazing North Melbourne person to get the cherry on top of their career.
“And ‘Boomer’ (Harvey) would be hellbent on getting a second one too. Let’s hope by the end of the year we are having this conversation again.”
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