AFL 2025: Nick Larkey ‘admires’ North Melbourne’s bold draft strategy

A North Melbourne star says the Kangaroos are “sick of losing” as he weighed in on a contentious trade decision made by the club.

Nick Larkey says North Melbourne’s aggressive strategy on draft night reflects its urgency to climb the ladder as losing “wears super thin” on players and staff.

The Kangaroos vice-captain applauded the bold decision to give away the club’s 2025 first-round selection to gain pick 27 in last month’s draft and take tall defender Matt Whitlock.

He said with experienced trio Luke Parker, Caleb Daniel and Jack Darling topping up the Roos’ list and already a large core of high draft picks, it was “time” for the Roos to make their move.

While their women’s side lifted spirits at Arden Street last week with a breakthrough AFLW premiership, the Kangaroos have been moored to the bottom two on the AFL ladder since 2020 and haven’t played finals since 2016.

“Absolutely, it wears super thin. Everyone is sick (of losing) here, but everyone’s been working so hard,” Larkey said.

North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey says he ‘admires’ the club’s bold draft strategy to give up its 2025 first-round pick. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

“That’s why I admire the club for what they did to trade up to get big Matty Whitlock.

“They had him quite high in the draft and he kept sliding back. We just want to get all the talent in now because we’ve got enough talent here.

“We don’t need to be waiting next year or the year after for high picks … we’ve got enough here, and then from there, that’s all we need to build.”

Larkey, who along with Harry Sheezel could enter captaincy calculations ahead of the 2025 season, felt the Kangaroos had a “more streamlined” pre-season training program under way than 12 months ago.

“Definitely not shorter sessions, but the intensity is higher. It’s also been good having some of the older guys come in (Parker, Daniel and Darling) and get a bit of affirmation from them that what we’re doing actually stacks up with some of the great teams they’ve been a part of,” he said.

New Kangaroos Caleb Daniel (left), Luke Parker (centre) and Jack Darling have given important ‘affirmation’ that the club’s pre-season program is on track, says Nick Larkey. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

“The transition between drills is literally just quicker, and the way we’re running in the session rather than just putting a big block at the end, I think the players appreciate.”

Larkey, who was trying to improve his contested marking, said Darling was already having a notable impact on the Roos’ forward-half dynamics with his running power and tactical nous.

The 32-year-old West Coast champion lost his spot late in the 2024 season after Eagles coach Adam Simpson was sacked but was poised to start the season at centre half-forward for his new club.

“Our forward line has been super young in the past few years, so it’s nice to have another leader there to direct,” Larkey said.

“I don’t have all the answers, especially sometimes on the field. You can come in after quarter-time, halftime or whatever, and the ball hasn’t come down there for a while and you’re sort of looking around.

“(Darling) just knows where to run … it’s not all really new stuff, a lot of the stuff he’s doing is similar to what we’ve been trying to implement, but he’s been doing it for years and years.”