Opinion Commentary & Media VII

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Channel 7 news leads with a story about an AFL coach in hospital, complete with live cross to empty club…..
 

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Lomas said:
Channel 7 news leads with a story about an AFL coach in hospital, complete with live cross to empty club…..
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Yes, not the way to spend your Christmas, in a New York hospital, Sam Mitchell with pneumonia.
 

North Melbourne 2024 preview: Where improvement comes from, who shines, where do they finish?​

North Melbourne fans have endured tough run at the bottom of the AFL ladder, but when will the tide turn? LAUREN WOOD previews their season and where the development starts.

Lauren Wood

It was another bottom-two finish for the crew from Arden Street but after a tumultuous year, it had its moments of light at the end of the tunnel – particularly in the form of some exciting youth. Things didn’t get off all that smoothly with the departure of former No. 1 pick Jason Horne-Francis but new coach Alastair Clarkson arrived amid plenty of fanfare – and controversy as the Hawthorn racism saga continued to swirl.

NORTH MELBOURNE​

Coach: Alastair Clarkson

Captains: Luke McDonald and Jy Simpkin

What happened in 2023?​

Clarkson was appointed in August 2022 with the Hawthorn saga revealed just weeks later. His start date was pushed back, with the board eventually approving him to start in his new role in the first week of November. And didn’t the season start with a bang, with two quick victories to kick off proceedings. Come May, Clarkson stepped away from the helm as he dealt with the mental toll of being central to the ongoing saga, with assistant coach Brett Ratten taking the reins in his absence.

There was also plenty of off-field drama surrounding midfielder Tarryn Thomas. Unfortunately for the Roos, they wouldn’t taste the sweet nectar of four points again until the final round of the season, when they defeated Gold Coast in Tasmania to drag themselves off the bottom of the ladder. The heaviest margins were inflicted in the first half of the season, with North pushing the likes of St Kilda and Essendon within 10 points to round out the year.

Harry Sheezel’s status as a rising star of the competition was franked with the end-of-season award, while counterpart George Wardlaw also impressed as the likes of Cam Zurhaar and Luke Davies-Uniacke took further steps in their development.

Where do they finish in 2024?​

There’s still a long way to go, but as Clarkson’s former lieutenant Brendon Bolton would say, the “green shoots” are there for all to see. Nick Larkey earned all-Australian honours after his breakout season and is a promising prospect for Clarkson to build around up forward, but will have to counter the loss of defender Ben McKay and injured defender Griffin Logue (ACL). It’s hard to see them breaking out of the competition’s bottom six, but progressing a few spots up the ladder would be development in itself.

NORTH MELBOURNE'S BEST 23​

B: L. McDonald, T. Pink, A. Corr
HB: Z. Fisher, B. Nyuon, H. Sheezel
C: B. Scott, G. Wardlaw, D. Stephens
HF: T. Thomas, C. Coleman-Jones, E. Ford
F: B. George, N. Larkey, C. Zurhaar
FOL: T. Xerri, L. Davies-Uniacke, J. Simpkin
I/C: P. Curtis, W. Phillips, M. Bergman, C. Comben, C. McKercher (sub)

Biggest improver in 2024?​

George Wardlaw and Will Phillips are firmly at the centre of the Roos’ rebuild and can be expected to take another step forward next season. Wardlaw was hampered by a hamstring issue last season so will be seeking continuity but is a gun prospect for the years to come. The Roos’ trade and draft haul – including Zac Fisher from Carlton and draftee Zane Duursma – will create further strength around the likes of Wardlaw, Phillips and Brayden George as they continue in their development.

X-factor​

Luke Davies-Uniacke has all the hallmarks of a premier midfielder and with Nick Larkey up forward and Harry Sheezel in defence, are the immediate future of the club. Without off-field distractions and coaching change-ups – which couldn’t be helped at the time – the likes of LDU and others will go from strength to strength as those around them, like Colby McKercher and Wil Dawson, take their early steps.

Coach status​

Clarkson signed a five-year deal, meaning he’ll be at Arden Street until at least the end of 2027. He was touted as the saviour at the time of his signing and while there has been some early off-field issues that have engulfed his early days at the club, the Roos are adamant they are in for the long haul.

Who is in last year of contract?​

Bailey Scott, Blake Drury, Brayden George, Cameron Zurhaar, Charlie Lazzaro, Cooper Harvey, Curtis Taylor, Eddie Ford, Finnbar Maley, Hamish Free, Hugh Greenwood, Jackson Archer, Kallan Dawson, Liam Shiels, Robert Hansen, Tarryn Thomas, Tom Powell, Will Phillips.

Outs for 2024​

Aiden Bonar (delisted), Ben Cunnington (retired), Jacob Edwards (delisted), Todd Goldstein (free agent, Essendon), Aaron Hall (retired), Daniel Howe (retired), Jack Mahony (delisted), Ben McKay (free agent, Essendon), Flynn Perez (delisted), Phoenix Spicer (delisted), Kayne Turner (delisted), Lachie Young (delisted), Jack Ziebell (retired).

Ins for 2024​

Wil Dawson (No. 22 draft pick), Zane Duursma (No. 4 draft pick), Zac Fisher (trade, Carlton), Taylor Goad (No. 20 draft pick), Riley Hardeman (No. 23 draft pick), Finnbar Maley (Rookie Draft), Colby McKercher (No. 2 draft pick), Bigoa Nyuon (trade, Richmond), Toby Pink (delisted free agent), Dylan Stephens (trade, Sydney)

NORTH MELBOURNE FIRST SIX​

Rd 1 GWS Giants @ GS (L)
Rd 2 Fremantle @ Marvel (W)
Rd 3 Carlton @ Marvel (L)
Rd 4 Brisbane @ Norwood Oval (L)
Rd 5 Geelong @ GMHBA (L)
Rd 6 Hawthorn @ Marvel (L)
 
zoomba23 said:
Fine line between irrelevance and likeability. You'd expect the North data in this survey to have been inverted at the end of the 90s, and I certainly hope that some semblance of that rage returns when we salute again. It'd mean others care, and prove once and for all that all the irrelevance insults that they like to hurl at us right now are just a facade
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I’m 50 and these figures feel about right my entire life.

A good amount have us as a second team. Many used to say that in the 90’s.

And not many hate us. I wouldn’t confuse that with irrelevance or being weak. I don’t recall a huge number ever hating us tbh. Twitter allows complete fools to crap on but ultimately it’s not a huge group of haters.


Time will tell but I don’t expect them to change much in the future. The Twitter fools will spout their hate that we got draft picks but if we play well - most will just be happy to watch good football
 
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The Y Factor said:
I’m 50 and these figures feel about right my entire life.

A good amount have us as a second team. Many used to say that in the 90’s.

And not many hate us. I wouldn’t confuse that with irrelevance or being weak. I don’t recall a huge number ever hating us tbh. Twitter allows complete fools to crap on but ultimately it’s not a huge group of haters.


Time will tell but I don’t expect them to change much in the future. The Twitter fools will spout their hate that we got draft picks but if we play well - most will just be happy to watch good football
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There were a number of instances going into the 99 Finals where people were telling me I hope North lose because I’m sick of seeing them there so often

The biggest hate we copped was towards W.Carey. The chanting he copped later in the 90’s was the most public display of loathing.

“Carey’s a w***er” it used to go from most cheer squads

I would get offended

Not so much post 2002 because inevitably they weren’t far off the mark
 
Lomas said:
Channel 7 news leads with a story about an AFL coach in hospital, complete with live cross to empty club…..
Click to expand...

Hope he has Health Insurance

My stay in out patients and a sleep on a trolley for 5 hours this exact day 1 year ago for Kidney Stones cost $4000.

I had to give up every piece of personal information before I left so I could be found in Australia

And when the Insurance hadn’t gone through 3 weeks later, a typed letter arrived with a first warning of non payment

All the way from NYC…and yes it was like the ward on E.R full of every misfortune to the non eating teen boy back for his third admission to the handcuffed criminal with two Cops.

(Different hospital to Sammy)
 
Gasometer said:
There were a number of instances going into the 99 Finals where people were telling me I hope North lose because I’m sick of seeing them there so often

The biggest hate we copped was towards W.Carey. The chanting he copped later in the 90’s was the most public display of loathing.

“Carey’s a w***er” it used to go from most cheer squads

I would get offended

Not so much post 2002 because inevitably they weren’t far off the mark
Click to expand...

All true! But to my feeling that is all the best type of football banter. Tall poppy and all that.

But it’s not getting us 25% of people having us as their most disliked team etc.

Good memories
 
Gasometer said:
There were a number of instances going into the 99 Finals where people were telling me I hope North lose because I’m sick of seeing them there so often

The biggest hate we copped was towards W.Carey. The chanting he copped later in the 90’s was the most public display of loathing.

“Carey’s a w***er” it used to go from most cheer squads

I would get offended

Not so much post 2002 because inevitably they weren’t far off the mark
Click to expand...
Carey must have enjoyed playing against Geelong when we had Colbert in the side. Even Beelzebub himself would have had an ounce of sympathy for the despicable abuse Colby copped from the vile hateful cretins from the Corio bay projects.
 
The Y Factor said:
All true! But to my feeling that is all the best type of football banter. Tall poppy and all that.

But it’s not getting us 25% of people having us as their most disliked team etc.

Good memories
Click to expand...

It wasn’t

He was generally loathed by most opposition supporters because of the arrogance that went with the tall poppy.
 
SonofSamsquanch said:
Carey must have enjoyed playing against Geelong when we had Colbert in the side. Even Beelzebub himself would have had an ounce of sympathy for the despicable abuse Colby copped from the vile hateful cretins from the Corio bay projects.
Click to expand...

It was more his own teammates at Geelong that would have bothered Colby than the Terraces
 

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Gasometer said:
It wasn’t

He was generally loathed by most opposition supporters because of the arrogance that went with the tall poppy.
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Was that after grabbing the bird on the hooter?
 
The Y Factor said:
Was that after grabbing the bird on the hooter?
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I’m sure that was a part of it, but as a generalisation he knew he was too good and let them know it, so I think that annoyed opposing fans

But look, why don’t we start a thread on the Main Board and go down that slippery slope for the 1000th time and see wat other fans thought

Not
 
zoomba23 said:
Our picture remains bleak with Sheezel, Wardlaw, McKercher and Duursma, whilst theirs becomes exciting with the addition of one player. Is he a deity or something?
Click to expand...
Gee the only way Zithead could get more negative on the prospects would be if this guy was driving the bus.

1703831121029.png

1703831166375.png
 
Gasometer said:
There were a number of instances going into the 99 Finals where people were telling me I hope North lose because I’m sick of seeing them there so often

The biggest hate we copped was towards W.Carey. The chanting he copped later in the 90’s was the most public display of loathing.

“Carey’s a w***er” it used to go from most cheer squads

I would get offended

Not so much post 2002 because inevitably they weren’t far off the mark
Click to expand...
I used to love that one.....and I'd respond, "yeah but he's our w***er, and you'd love to have a w***er like him, now fk off you w***er"....... never really a lot (dare I say mass) debate about that!
 
The Dingrel said:
I used to love that one.....and I'd respond, "yeah but he's our w***er, and you'd love to have a w***er like him, now fk off you w***er"....... never really a lot (dare I say mass) debate about that!
Click to expand...

Was that you smacking on with Blues fans 4th quarter Punt Rd end lower deck 1995 Prelim?
 
Gasometer said:
Was that you smacking on with Blues fans 4th quarter Punt Rd end lower deck 1995 Prelim?
Click to expand...
That might have been the woman from work that I went with (Ros). She's a mad North supporter and for some reason I went with her using some company supplied tickets instead of sitting with the other half (who always goes crook at me for yelling too loud).

We were amongst blooz supporters and Ros took them on from the instant the game began. She was relentless.
 
SonofSamsquanch said:
That might have been the woman from work that I went with (Ros). She's a mad North supporter and for some reason I went with her using some company supplied tickets instead of sitting with the other half (who always goes crook at me for yelling too loud).

We were amongst blooz supporters and Ros took them on from the instant the game began. She was relentless.
Click to expand...

Nar these were blokes swinging haymakers

Then again it may have been the Danitilchenko Meltdown Final in 1997

Idk
 
Gasometer said:
There were a number of instances going into the 99 Finals where people were telling me I hope North lose because I’m sick of seeing them there so often

The biggest hate we copped was towards W.Carey. The chanting he copped later in the 90’s was the most public display of loathing.

“Carey’s a w***er” it used to go from most cheer squads

I would get offended

Not so much post 2002 because inevitably they weren’t far off the mark
Click to expand...
Carey was a w***er. But he was our w***er. Strutted, delivered, and stuck it up 'em. Excellent. Expected.

Ian Fairley's 200th at Subi Oval vs the WCE: was there a more inconspicuous, non-w***er footballer than Flossy?

Eagles fans all round booed Fairley's every touch like he'd king-hit Dean Kemp in the first minute, and then face-farged his corpse in the goal square.

That's some non-righteous booing.
 
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