On the eve of the season, North Melbourne was touted as a genuine premiership contender on the back of an impressive 2014 campaign that culminated with a deep finish in the second last week of September. At 6-6, it appears on the surface that the Kangaroos have underachieved in the first half of the season, but when you delve a little deeper, and look at the sides they have faced, they have made a reasonable start to 2015. Impressive wins over bona fide finals contenders Geelong, West Coast, Greater Western Sydney and Richmond highlight their class despite an inconsistent start to the year.
Brad Scott’s biggest concern during the first three months of this campaign has been North Melbourne’s inability to stem the flow once the opposition gets a run on. Momentum swings have become a major trend in the game this season, with the Kangaroos being on the receiving end of emphatic roller coaster rides at times. With Scott still recovering from back surgery that has caused him to miss the last three games, interim coach Darren Crocker will steer the ship for the final time on the weekend. Under Crocker’s reign, the Kangaroos have won two from three to keep their top four chances alive.
Whilst the return of dual Syd Barker medallist Daniel Wells still remains a mystery, star midfielder Nick Dal Santo returned prior to the bye after making a full recovery from surgery on his hamstring following round two. Against Greater Western Sydney, Dal Santo returned with all guns blazing, collecting 34 possessions, eight clearances and put the ball inside 50 on five occasions. With Wells and Dal Santo missing for large chunks of this season, North have missed their polished ball use and smart decision making.
One player who has elevated his game inside Arden Street this season is Jack Ziebell. The modern day gladiator has been earmarked as a future captain in blue and white for some time, but in the last couple of months, on the back of performances chiselled from sheer grit, Ziebell has emerged as the next captain of North Melbourne. A case that the media fervently push by the week, although there’s hardly any urgency for a changing of the guard given the leadership of Andrew Swallow. In the first-half of the season, Ziebell has lifted in the absence of Dal Santo, Wells and Swallow who have all missed chunks of football. He has been potent in his ability to break the lines as illustrated by his lofty metres gained average of 431.8 metres – ranked No. 1 at North Melbourne.
If there was a poll taken for the most improved player in the competition at the halfway point of the season, Robbie Tarrant would be right up there. After spending the duration of his career in attack, and in the medical room due to an array of injuries, the change of ends has had an enormous effect thus far. Tarrant has performed big jobs on Tom Hawkins, Travis Cloke and Jarryd Roughead – combating the biggest beasts in the game. An area of concern for North Melbourne’s defence in recent seasons, with Scott Thompson, Lachie Hansen and Michael Firrito susceptible to the monsters. After flirting with the idea of playing journeyman Joel Tippett in a key post, Scott brought Tarrant into the back six in round three and since then he has carved out a niche in defence. He has not only stopped the opposition’s most dangerous key forward, but also collected an average of 15.6 possessions per outing to help generate drive out of the back half.
When North Melbourne lured Shaun Higgins from the Western Bulldogs and Jarrad Waite from Carlton during last October’s trade period, they showed the football world their cards. After making last year’s preliminary final, and with an ageing list, they were topping up for an all out assault for a premiership. A first flag since 1999. The poaching of Higgins has been somewhat of a masterstroke with the talented utility producing a brilliant first half of 2015. Waite has been serviceable without being exceptional, but he has threatened to tear games apart at times and did so in round two with seven goals against Brisbane. The new look Roos forward line has looked dangerous at times this season, with Higgins and Lindsay Thomas leading the way with 22 goals a piece – Waite has 19, followed by Robin Nahas and Drew Petrie on 17 and Ben Brown on 16.
Key Players
If the All Australian team was named right now, there’s every chance Todd Goldstein would be named as ruckman. The North Melbourne big man has produced a stunning opening half of 2015, leading the competition in average hitouts (43.6) and score launches (183 points), as well as being ranked second in the league for hitouts to advantage with an average of 13.3 per outing. Goldstein has elevated his game this season on the back of not only an increased output around the stoppages, but also a greater contribution around the ground. He has increased his averages from last season to this in disposals (+1.8), marks (+1.7), inside 50s (+0.4) and rebound 50s (+0.7). For a player already entrenched in the upper echelon of ruckmen in the game, these incremental leaps are significant. Against the Giants prior to the bye, Goldstein put on a clinic. He registered the highest hitout tally ever recorded against Rory Lobb by an unbelievable 10 hitouts. So, it’s safe to say he’s in strong form.
Brent Harvey is a marvel. How he can continue to produce the standard he is at his age is astounding. It defies logic. At 37, he is not slowing down; the game is not going past him. With 396 games to date, Michael Tuck’s record of 426 is on the horizon and in touching distance. His season to date has been as good as anything he has produced in the last five years, with Harvey averaging a team-high 24 possessions at an elite disposal efficiency rate of 76%, and 3.1 inside 50s per game. The five-time Syd Barker medallist was at his game breaking best against GWS before the bye, gathering 28 disposals, five clearances and five inside 50s. A contract extension is looming, with another season about looking like a reality.
After tapering off in recent years, it remained unclear what Shaun Higgins would bring to Arden Street this season. But after 12 games, the Kangaroos would be absolutely thrilled with the output derived from the former Bulldog who has returned to a role across half-forward and through the midfield that he built his brand around earlier in his career. Half a season doesn’t define a season. And with Higgins you get the sense he will be judged on how he performs across the full 22 games and in September. Although, his statistics have been strong, with Higgins averaging 18.2 possessions, 3.7 tackles and 3.4 inside 50s, to go with his equal team-high 22 majors. His influence in games has been profound, particularly in the absence of smooth movers Dal Santo and Wells. From the day he walked into North Melbourne, the move appeared like a smart choice for his career. Some players need a change of environment to reinvigorate a spluttering career, and that has been the exact effect.
Recent Results
Rd. 12 North Melbourne 18.9 (117) def GWS Giants 8.13 (61) @ Spotless Stadium
Rd. 11 North Melbourne 10.15 (75) def by Sydney 14.7 (91) @ Etihad Stadium
Rd. 10 North Melbourne 13.7 (85) def West Coast Eagles 10.15 (75) @ Blundstone Arena
Rd. 9 North Melbourne 14.11 (95) def by Collingwood 17.10 (112) @ MCG
