AFL 2024: How North Melbourne breakout midfielder Tom Powell made the leap

An unheralded North Melbourne youngster has taken a huge leap so far this season – and there is clear reason why. JOSH BARNES speaks to Tom Powell about his breakout season.

Tom Powell fires a handball. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Breakout North Melbourne youngster Tom Powell’s strong form as a pure midfielder is no surprise to anybody inside Arden Street, even if Powell himself is happy if others don’t take notice.

After being used primarily as a forward last season, Powell has been locked in to the centre during North Melbourne’s opening two games and has delivered likely the best two outings of his career thus far to mark himself as a vital cog in the club’s rebuild.

Tom Powell fires a handball. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

The 22-year-old, who inked a new two-year contract extension this week, gathered 28 touches in round 1 and 26 a week later, his best two marks across 47 matches.

Powell was close to the best player on the field in the first half of Saturday’s game against Fremantle and his breakout effort has been a long time coming according to young star George Wardlaw.

“I think all of Tom’s teammates are barely surprised, I am not very surprised,” he said.

“The work he puts in off the field and the pre-season he has had, we are not really surprised he has showing it at AFL level.

“He is a superstar and a great teammate and he will be a talent for North for hopefully as long as he can be.”

Powell may be finally seeing the spotlight after Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel and new faces Colby McKercher and Zane Duursma have soaked up the external praise.

But the South Australian would rather let the others do the talking.

“I am fine with that, they play better footy than me so they deserve it,” he said.

“I am more than happy to take the back seat and let them take the credit.”

According to Champion Data, Powell has played 100 per cent of his time as a midfielder this year, a huge boost on the 33 per cent he spent there last season.

In those first two matches of the season he not only set career highs in disposals but also contested possessions, uncontested possessions, clearances and score involvements.

The humble Roo put his leap down to a big summer.

“Having a good pre-season helped, I came back fitter than I ever have been,” he said.

“I know everyone does say that but it certainly helps to run out games. As I said before, George and LDU (Luke Davies-Uniacke) and X (Tristan Xerri) getting to work on the inside makes my job easier.”

The Roos will host Carlton on Good Friday sitting 0-2, the reverse of last season when they enjoyed a perfect start to the season.

But Powell said the build at North Melbourne is still rolling forward.

Powell celebrates a goal with Jy Simpkin. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

“It’s funny, this time last year we were 2-0 and now we are 0-2 but the feeling is just as good,” he said.

“We have a heap more positives, we are playing a brand of footy that is going to hold up longer term, which is good for starters.

“Sometimes you just have to look at the positives because that is how you learn I guess.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: How North Melbourne breakout midfielder Tom Powell made the leap