AFL 2025: Ed Bourke names his North Melbourne team of the century so far

This century has been littered with attempts to relocate the Kangaroos — but these players have all contributed to keeping the club at its true home. See North’s best side since 2000 here.

Twice in the last 25 years North Melbourne has rebuilt to reach preliminary finals, and the stars of those sides form the backbone of the Roos’ best team this century.

VFL-AFL games record holder Brent Harvey, a four-time All-Australian, five-time best and fairest and the captain of this side, was a key player in both Dani Laidley’s and Brad Scott’s teams as the Kangaroos shook off persistent mid-table mediocrity to reach the final four in 2007 and 2014-15.

The Roos side which dominated the end of the ’90s was still a force at the turn of the millennium and reached the 2000 preliminary final, but only five players from that team earnt selection: Harvey, Glenn Archer, Shannon Grant, David King and Adam Simpson.

Brad Scott’s seasoned campaigners who twice upset rivals to reach prelims from outside the top eight were heavily favoured, with 16 of the 23 all regulars under the now-Essendon coach.

Defensive linchpins Scott Thompson (left) and Robbie Tarrant (right) celebrate a victory with North Melbourne team of the century (so far) coach Brad Scott in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

And while club greats in Anthony Stevens (86 games) and Corey McKernan (58) almost held on for selection, the most consistent players from the Roos’ turbulent last five years were rewarded for sticking fat.

Peter Bell (2000) and Harry Sheezel (2023) are the only Syd Barker medallists from the period to miss the cut, but only a handful more games would have led the brilliant No. 3 pick into the side.

Wayne Carey’s two seasons before the disastrous scandal which ended his tenure were also not enough to be picked, despite kicking 104 goals.

In three or four years’ time, Sheezel may well have a claim on the captaincy of the best Roos team since 2000.

Former captain Luke McDonald, a limited but courageous player who was club champion in 2020, snared a spot as well as his co-pilot of the last few years, Jy Simpkin, while Luke Davies-Uniacke’s 108 games were enough to win a spot as a midfield rotation ahead of the likes of Daniel Harris and Leigh Adams.

Picking a back six had little difficulty – David King’s 109 games after the 1999 flag were enough for him to take his place alongside Brady Rawlings and Robbie Tarrant on the halfback line.

There’s an online movement to get goalkicking great Saverio Rocca into the AFL Hall of Fame, but he narrowly misses the cut in this Kangaroos side. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Four-time North Melbourne leading goalkicker Ben Brown is named at full-forward. Picture: Brendon Thorne / AAP

Along with vice-captain Andrew Swallow, Todd Goldstein (left), Ben Cunnington (centre) and Jack Ziebell form a hard-nosed midfield unit. Picture: Getty Images

The key forward slots may raise some eyebrows, but consensus from a collection of former North players was that the goals of Ben Brown (287 in 130 games) and Nick Larkey (237 in 117 games) were more valuable than Saverio Rocca (234 in 101 games), with Larkey playing his football in a weaker side during a lower-scoring era.

Brown almost clinched the 2017 Coleman Medal, and was named in three All-Australian squads without earning a blazer – enough to give him the starting spot at full-forward.

It’s perhaps a bit one-paced, but the midfield would be among the best to watch from our series – hard nuts Ben Cunnington, Andrew Swallow and Jack Ziebell at the feet of the hitout king Todd Goldstein, with smooth operators Adam Simpson and Daniel Wells on the outside.

This century has been littered with attempts to relocate the Kangaroos – to Canberra, to the Gold Coast, to Tasmania, even Ballarat – but these players have all contributed heavily to keeping the flame flickering at Arden Street.

Originally published as AFL 2025: Ed Bourke names his North Melbourne team of the century so far