Gary Buckenara analyses North Melbourne’s list after the 2019 season

There are 32 players on North Melbourne’s list who Gary Buckenara currently rates as either C or D-graders. How these players develop in 2020 will determine if the Kangaroos’ next step is finals, or the bottom four.

• Robbo’s Top 50: Have your say on every player
• Love footy? Why it’s good to subscribe to the Herald Sun

North Melbourne’s list is delicately poised and the next 2-3 years are critical — is this club going to surge into finals and premiership contention or will it go backwards?

There are 32 players on the list I’ve rated as C and D-grade (developing) players, which is a massive number. It means the rebuild is entering an important phase, with the spotlight on players who have been around for a few seasons and who should be taking the next step in their careers and establishing themselves as good AFL players.

Early in 2019 we didn’t see the improvement in the next wave, the likes of Luke Davies-Uniacke, Luke McDonald, Jy Simpkin, Paul Ahern, Nick Larkey and Sam Durdin, which was a major concern and ultimately why Brad Scott stepped down as coach.

But under new coach Rhyce Shaw, we finally saw the development of most of them as well as the emergence of Tarryn Thomas — who is a star in the making — Bailey Scott and Cameron Zurhaar, which has everyone at North Melbourne excited about the future.

The question is: Was that form a flash in the pan?

The Kangaroos need it not to be, they need those guys to keep improving over the pre-season to take further steps forward early in 2020 to help Shaun Higgins and Todd Goldstein, who have shown enormous faith in the club by re-signing despite rival interest, as well as Jack Ziebell, Robbie Tarrant, Ben Brown and Jamie Macmillan who have carried such a huge load for many years.

Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >

Jack Ziebell with Rhyce Shaw, who had a major impact after taking over the Roos. Picture: AFL Photos

The current lack of star power, however, remains a major concern in the short-term.

I do like North Melbourne’s forward set-up with Brown, Larkey and Zurhaar but Mason Wood is a player who needs to do a lot more. He’s dynamic at his best but he’s far too inconsistent and needs to bridge the gap between his best and worst performances.

Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard were slow to get going after crossing from Port Adelaide but improved as the season went on and should get better next year, which bodes well for the new coach as they’re two quality players who can add much-needed creativity to a side that has, for far too long, been one-dimensional.

Dom Tyson didn’t have much luck with injury but needs to show more next year, while Simpkin needs to make his flashes of brilliance the norm rather than just a glimpse of what he can produce. That’s his big challenge for 2020 — he’ll be a really interesting player to follow next season to track his development. The Kangaroos need him to improve exponentially.

Jared Polec improved throughout the season for the Roos. Picture: AAP Images

LIST NEEDS

The ruck stocks are thin, so adding depth in that area will be important in case Goldstein — who has been so durable throughout his career — goes down with injury, while the retirement of Scott Thompson in defence leaves the Kangaroos short on experience so I’d be looking at an experienced defender to help Tarrant and the development of the likes of Sam Durdin.

LIST BREAKDOWN

A: Shaun Higgins, Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington, Ben Brown

B+: Todd Goldstein, Robbie Tarrant

B: Nil

B-: Jed Anderson, Ben Jacobs, Jasper Pittard, Jared Polec

C+: Marley Williams, Paul Ahern, Shaun Atley, Mason Wood, Jamie Macmillan, Dom Tyson

C: Majak Daw, Taylor Garner, Luke McDonald, Trent Dumont, Ben McKay, Sam Durdin, Kayne Turner, Ed Vickers-Willis, Aaron Hall, Tom Campbell

C-: Nil

Developing*: Tarryn Thomas, Cameron Zurhaar, Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Nick Larkey

Developing: Will Walker, Kyron Hayden, Bailey Scott, Curtis Taylor, Joel Crocker, Tristan Xerri, Tom Murphy, Tom McKenzie, Lachlan Hosie

DRAFT STRATEGY

Ball use by hand and foot remains one of North Melbourne’s biggest issues all over the ground and recruiting classy distributors in the draft has to be the priority. I wouldn’t be looking at bringing in any players who will develop into just good honest role players — they need potential stars, guys you can build you team around and have the ability to change the course of a game. Invest in quick players who use the ball well and make good decisions.

CRYSTAL BALL

The Kangaroos will be a middle of the road side again in 2020 — they’ll be in the finals conversation if they have a good run with injuries as they did this year but if some key players go down they’ll find it tough.

A lot will depend on the development of their young players and whether they are good enough to take the next step and be the difference between staying in the 8-12 bracket or jumping up the ladder. If the talent North Melbourne has identified isn’t up to AFL standard and playing good regular senior football, then they will stay exactly where they are now or, drop down and be a bottom four team over the next few seasons.