North Melbourne: Ben Cunnington and Jaidyn Stephenson a sight for sore eyes at Kangaroos
It’s been a turbulent 12 months for the Kangaroos, culminating with losing their coach, but here’s five reasons why North fans can look to 2021 with genuine belief.
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North Melbourne’s new era was there for all to see on Wednesday as training resumed after Christmas.
Critics are writing off the Kangaroos — not for the first time — after a major post-season clean-out that included stars Shaun Higgins and Ben Brown joining new clubs.
North, as usual, is preparing to prove the doomsayers wrong with a list brimming with young talent.
If that’s to happen, they’ll need a few things to go their way. Here are five Kangaroos talking points out of their first 2021 training session.
SUPERSIZED SIMPKIN
However cautious you have to be with anything at this time of year, Jy Simpkin was hard to miss. Simpkin’s fresh from finishing runner-up in North’s best-and-fairest award and presented at Arden St on Wednesday with barely an ounce of fat on him — but possibly looking even stronger.
The 22-year-old’s training intensity led the way as he burrowed into packs to win hard balls in competitive drills.
With Ben Cunnington’s looming return and further improvement from Luke Davies-Uniacke, Simpkin might be even more dangerous in 2021.
CUNNINGTON A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES
Dual Syd Barker medallist Ben Cunnington endured a horror campaign last year, appearing only three times.
The 29-year-old didn’t play after a failed return in round five, when the Roos pulled the pin on him early in the game.
Complications with a nerve problem in Cunnington’s back resulted in a lack of strength in his quadriceps.
He hadn’t played fewer than 20 matches in a season since 2011 before that and was in career-best form, so his absence was felt in a struggling side.
North was confident Cunnington had got on top of the issue late last year and he was on the track on Wednesday. With Shaun Higgins and Ben Brown gone, Cunnington’s importance has only increased.
DANCIN’ DAVIES-UNIACKE
Luke Davies-Uniacke’s glimpses late last season were seriously promising and North Melbourne will hope he goes to another level in his fourth year.
The No. 4 selection in the 2017 draft took a while to get going last year because of a nagging groin problem that delayed his season debut until round eight.
The kid known as ‘LDU’ ended up winning 22 or more possessions in four of his last seven matches and the way he moves and takes the game on is reminiscent of the sport’s best.
Like Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke returned post-Christmas in great nick.
WHAT CAN THE RECRUITS DELIVER?
North Melbourne moved on 15 players post-season, between trades and delistings, so this is very much a new-look Roos under first-year coach David Noble.
The newcomers were all out there on Wednesday, from ex-Giant Aidan Corr to former Magpie Jaidyn Stephenson and Bulldogs addition Lachie Young.
Top-five draftee Will Phillips will also be one to watch.
Stephenson was the highest-profile addition and Corr is the most established, but it’s Young who’s quietly turning heads internally.
His skills have caught the eye — and he’s zippy, too.
CONCERN FOR COMBEN BUT ROOS ARE MOSTLY FIT
There must be some concern that key forward prospect Charlie Comben isn’t ready to train yet, because of a back stress fracture that ruined his first season as an AFL footballer.
That will be a situation to watch, as Comben has an opportunity — sans Ben Brown — to support Nick Larkey in attack, if he can get himself right.
Outside of Comben, the rest of North’s squad trained to varying degrees.
Kayne Turner (sesamoid/toe) and Taylor Garner (hamstring) trained together off to the side after injuries hampered their 2020 season.
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