North Melbourne match sim notes: Ed Bourke’s pre-season intel from Arden St
Eyebrows were raised when North Melbourne paid a huge price to trade up for Matt Whitlock at the draft. But if his latest pre-season outing was any indication, it’s a gamble that is set to pay off. SEE FULL MATCH SIM NOTES.
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Caleb Daniel looks back to his best in his preferred role at North Melbourne as the former All-Australian defender shone in a full-length intraclub match at Arden Street.
Daniel’s clean hands and foot skills stood out in wild and windy conditions as he mopped up play across halfback in a near full-strength Kangaroos side on Saturday.
Harry Sheezel and Tom Powell also stood out in the Roos’ first-choice on-ball brigade, as a dangerous Cam Zurhaar booted five goals before sitting out the last of the four 25-minute quarters.
Daniel, Luke Parker, Jack Darling and Jacob Konstanty all turned out for the first-choice side, as assistant coach Jed Adcock said the Roos continued to marvel at how well the senior trio had integrated into the club.
“I think with the addition of Caleb … into that halfback role, it’s allowed us to move a couple of players up field,” Adcock said.
“Those guys, besides the leadership that they brought, they’ve all come in and fit in really well with the group.
“They’re all really good characters and good people, but it was really good affirmation that we’re on the right path.”
SMALL STICKS HAND UP
Konstanty and Robert Hansen Jr both started in the Kangaroos’ preferred forward line, with Eddie Ford and Zane Duursma donning pink in the second-string side.
Duursma, who kicked the first goal of the match, and Ford were both lively, but it was clear the Roos are eager to include a quick pressure forward in their attack alongside Darling, Zurhaar, Nick Larkey and Paul Curtis.
Hansen was superb and may have cemented a round 1 spot as he booted two goals, one after two running bounces in the third term, and set up several others in a show of his increased aerobic capacity.
The 2023 mid-season recruit played the final six games of last season, booting four goals, but teammate Bailey Scott said he looked a different player after a big summer.
“Robbie, he’s worked really hard in the pre-season to improve his fitness. We all know he’s got that speed and can take the game on, but he’s really improved his work rate and his fitness levels so he can do it all day,” Scott said.
“And I think we got to see a little bit of that today, especially as the game went on and people got tired – he still had that run.”
WHITLOCK IMPRESSES
Konstanty was quiet, as was No. 2 pick Finn O’Sullivan, but that was partly due to a challenging half-forward-midfield rotation he was sharing with Sheezel and Colby McKercher.
The latter duo both booted classy goals in the final term and were influential when they pushed up on to the ball, but while lively around the contest, O’Sullivan was not as prolific when he spent time in the forward half.
Fellow draftee Matt Whitlock was impressive in the first-choice backline as Aidan Corr (finger) played half a game in the reserves before spending more than an hour running on the boundary.
Whitlock looked comfortable at ground level, and pushed through the middle exchanging handballs with McKercher in a show of flair during the second term.
Taylor Goad and Finnbar Maley both switched into the better side for the final term, along with Duursma and wingman Dylan Stephens.
Maley, whose strong hands have been lauded by teammates and coaches, reeled in two big pack marks playing at full-forward, but appeared to lack confidence with his set shot kicking.
No. 57 pick Luke Urquhart was strong all game in the second-choice midfield, with Will Phillips getting the nod ahead of him in the better side in the absence of captain Jy Simpkin (Indigenous All-Stars game) and George Wardlaw (hamstring).
Adcock said Wardlaw remained on schedule for a round 4 or 5 return.
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Originally published as North Melbourne match sim notes: Ed Bourke’s pre-season intel from Arden St
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