Autopsy 2025 Season in Review

[tazaa]

Nothing much needs to be said.
5.5 wins. Just short of the expectation of 6.
Percentage of 76.3. Short of the expectation of 80.

Not a deal breaker. Alerting but not alarming.
And now we expect 10 wins in 2026 in the 3rd year or 7th year of the rebuild, depending what level of insane you operate at.


I just want to fast forward to March 2026. Will we sink or swim?

 

[zoomba23]

Wasted year. Improvement was minimal at the very best.

Only significant positives were Hardeman, Curtis and Trembath late.
Some might have FOS as a positive but he was pick 2. I would have been disappointed if he showed less.

I think FOS is seen as a positive because of the type of quality he brought to the team. We sorely, sorely needed someone like him. Composed, disciplined, clever, agile, and strong overhead as a bonus. I questioned his selection because his junior footage didn't seem to suggest a top gear, and he's shown me up as a right muppet, as many others have.

He's been absolute gold in that half back area. I'm not sure many of us expected it (we likely thought he'd be in the midfield). That's probably what people are praising

 

[William Caresser]

I think FOS is seen as a positive because of the type of quality he brought to the team. We sorely, sorely needed someone like him. Composed, disciplined, clever, agile, and strong overhead as a bonus. I questioned his selection because his junior footage didn't seem to suggest a top gear, and he's shown me up as a right muppet, as many others have.

He's been absolute gold in that half back area. I'm not sure many of us expected it (we likely thought he'd be in the midfield). That's probably what people are praising

Also has an incredible tank. Led our kms travelled (16km) and sprints v Adelaide and was in the top 2 or 3 all year for both - just didn't tire in his first season despite the huge output.

Plus has a very strong will to defend - doesn't shirk any defensive gut running or marking and ground ball contests. Does a lot of team orientated things - eg body positioning, tap ons etc, that don't earn him a stat.

Finally, looks like a natural born leader - leads by example and has the temperament for it.

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

Alot of discussion about whether and how much we have improved.

Looking at 'wins' shows us with some improvement over the past couple of years.

Another way to consider this is 'how many games are we out of making finals'.

Over the past 5 years at the end of the season our record (ignoring %) is

2021 - 6 1/2 games out of the 8
2022 - 10 games out of the 8
2023 - 9 1/2 games out
2024 - 10 games out
2025 - 9 1/2 games out

 

[Ischenko]

Alot of discussion about whether and how much we have improved.

Looking at 'wins' shows us with some improvement over the past couple of years.

Another way to consider this is 'how many games are we out of making finals'.

Over the past 5 years at the end of the season our record (ignoring %) is

2021 - 6 1/2 games out of the 8
2022 - 10 games out of the 8
2023 - 9 1/2 games out
2024 - 10 games out
2025 - 9 1/2 games out

Cherry-picking stats here. It’s unprecedented for teams to miss the finals with 14 wins. By no means is all rosy but this is not a sound metric to pot us on this year.

 

[Topparoo]

We may have improved but it didn't really feel like it. I felt as pessimistic if not more so this year than during the last five. After the WA games I fell for 'this is it we're on our way now' fools gold optimism, only to cop the Geelong and Hawthorn thrashings which diminished my interest in this mob for the remainder of the season. Hopefully in the offseason we may bring in a quality defender or two to help with transition from defence. I hope so, but don't expect it really. With no first round draft selection to get excited about, I'll hang my hat on FOS, Colby's development, big X's lion heart, PC''s growth, and perhaps the little bit of optimism that Trembath gave me for three games. We finished better than last year which is something. Sorry for the negativism, but as we all know it's a hard time to support North.

 

[TheNorthFan]

Back to having some pride in our performance is where I believe this playing and coaching group is at the end of 2025. Hence we have seen some spirited performances (vs. Lions) ... Will be interesting to hear what club leaders say at SBM on September 13 about our 2025 season. Having finished 2025 more positively that 2024, there are some players on our list that we have either yet to see play AFL or see their best days in a North jumper, Brayden George, Josh Goater, George Wardlaw (yes, I do think he has a few more gears), Cooper Trembath (if the 3 games he has played is anything to go by, then his upside is HUGE esp. paired with Larkey), Duursma, Comben, Goad, Hardeman, FOS. The post-game presser that Clarko had after loss to Adelaide (Rd. 24) had a sense of 'Not playing finals does not sit well with me and my players should be thinking the same'. Can see Clarko and Co. driving our group hard over 2026 pre-season with a view to not have us stuck down the bottom 3 in 2026. Signs of light at the end of the dark tunnel.

 

[guapo]

Also has an incredible tank. Led our kms travelled (16km) and sprints v Adelaide and was in the top 2 or 3 all year for both - just didn't tire in his first season despite the huge output.

Plus has a very strong will to defend - doesn't shirk any defensive gut running or marking and ground ball contests. Does a lot of team orientated things - eg body positioning, tap ons etc, that don't earn him a stat.

Finally, looks like a natural born leader - leads by example and has the temperament for it.

Lots to look forward to with FOS. Extraordinary how so many other first year players were considered above him in the press. He is very, very good and so easy to see him as a leader/captain down the track.

And then there’s Kerch - incredible season given how this forum was after his skin about 6 rounds in. Again, lots of upside ahead.

Those two alone, and lots more potential on the list, hopefully an Adelaide like spike ahead soon

 

[Zondor]

Nothing much needs to be said.
5.5 wins. Just short of the expectation of 6.
Percentage of 76.3. Short of the expectation of 80.

Not a deal breaker. Alerting but not alarming.
And now we expect 10 wins in 2026 in the 3rd year or 7th year of the rebuild, depending what level of insane you operate at.


I just want to fast forward to March 2026. Will we sink or swim?

Sink or Swim yah ask? The issue is this Razzamatazz. Our side ain’t great on the outside. To be Frank, even though I’m Zondor, it is ShitHouse. We can win the clearance battle. We can win the ball on the inside. We do OK at contested possessions. But the moment we move the ball we invariably cough it up with poor skills. Conversely when we turn it over we are ordinary at defending outside ball movement. :stern look

Our best bet for improvement is that Clarkson gets his shit together and gets the side to at least defend a hell of a lot better. Make it hard for other teams to score against us. But can you honestly see that happening? :stern look

You see Jabronis like Simpkin ain’t gonna retain possession with their wayward kicking. We will still struggle to move the ball with fluency. Seriously how are we gonna improve in this space? A shit kick continues to be a shit kick. :stern look

The list has holes. A lack of quality small forwards and keys backs. A lack of quality wings. Guys with true class that run both ways. Our smalls are bloody small. Like our bottom 10 shortest guys on average would be the shortest in the league. At least that is how it appears to the eye. But don’t yah worry. Spargo will fix things.

Anyways the modern game is a game won on Turnover. Do we truly have the list to play the modern game? Force Turnover and deal with the pressure from the opposition when we have it? The truth is staring you in the face. :stern look

 

[Chip Scab1]

We did not beat anyone of note. And missed finals by 10 games. Long way to go

Fact. But, we didn't lose to Brisbane (Draw), lost by a kick to Freo in Perth and none of our best players had uninterrupted years. And most importantly, we found a few players, that's all we have to do. We'll eventually get to a critical mass where frankly, we just have too many weapons.

18 months away, Scotty.

 

[Flawed Genius]

Fact. But, we didn't lose to Brisbane (Draw), lost by a kick to Freo in Perth and none of our best players had uninterrupted years. And most importantly, we found a few players, that's all we have to do. We'll eventually get to a critical mass where frankly, we just have too many weapons.

18 months away, Scotty.

Talk to these devils

 

[Gasometer]

Nothing much needs to be said.
5.5 wins. Just short of the expectation of 6.
Percentage of 76.3. Short of the expectation of 80.

Not a deal breaker. Alerting but not alarming.
And now we expect 10 wins in 2026 in the 3rd year or 7th year of the rebuild, depending what level of insane you operate at.


I just want to fast forward to March 2026. Will we sink or swim?

If we play Eagles at Docklands Rd 1 and then the Brions at the Gabba…

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

If we play Eagles at Docklands Rd 1 and then the Brions at the Gabba…

We'll be playing our home game against the Eagles in WA for the foreseeable future....but we could get Richmond or Essendon first up to help us on our way.

 

[Gasometer]

We'll be playing our home game against the Eagles in WA for the foreseeable future....but we could get Richmond or Essendon first up to help us on our way.

Yeh ok but the point is what does an easy win in Round 1 against minnow and then belting in Round 2 from a top 2 Team have anything to do with much at all?

We get so hung up on early round performances

 

[KiwiRoo]

Im a bit more glass half full this season. I think we are a fair bit more competitive than previous years. Most of this is being driven by kids. Wasnt too many games were we weren't in it. Got burnt in last quarters.. but you get that with young sides
Also think we have the makings of some real star power in some of our players too. Which i didnt see 2-3 years ago

My reasons for optimism
Paul Curtis. Got so much going for him. Could be our Toby Greene

4

Toby Greene

Age

32

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.2

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

2.3

5star

D

26.6

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

14.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.0

1star

. Just needs to tidy up his discipline and get a bit fitter.
Can mark, crumb, plus big physical presence. Getting more and more consistent
Xerri. Still just a baby in ruck terms. Was just about the best ruckman in the league and he can get better. Like to see a few more marks and a few more goals. No reason why he cant drift fwd and be dangerous
Sheezel...he's 20 and he's just that good. What's he going to be like with some more experience
FOS..Had a hell of a first year. Mature ,ran his guts out and has got the ability to take the right option.
Wardlaw..no hamstring issues this year. We are a better team when he plays.
Trembath....athletic, good hands. Looks to have some tools
Hardemann..was the big bonus this year. Looks to be a good solid 10 year player who defends well with a big booming kick
Chom..had a down year. But hes shown he can be a serious player. At least he got a solid year of football under his belt
McKercher...another kid but with some serious talent. Liked the way he didnt drop his head when he made a clanger. The young un's have to learn this stuff. They will **** up
Finished up the year well. That helps the kick into a pre-season. I just get the feeling that the players know they can play at this level now. Not sure that was the case in previous years

so obviously not everything is rosey..but bit over the constant negativity. Hawks and Crows have shown that things can change fast. Bit of luck with injury and judiciary and you never know

 

[DunderHead]

Im a bit more glass half full this season. I think we are a fair bit more competitive than previous years. Most of this is being driven by kids. Wasnt too many games were we weren't in it. Got burnt in last quarters.. but you get that with young sides
Also think we have the makings of some real star power in some of our players too. Which i didnt see 2-3 years ago

My reasons for optimism
Paul Curtis. Got so much going for him. Could be our Toby Greene. Just needs to tidy up his discipline and get a bit fitter.
Can mark, crumb, plus big physical presence. Getting more and more consistent
Xerri. Still just a baby in ruck terms. Was just about the best ruckman in the league and he can get better. Like to see a few more marks and a few more goals. No reason why he cant drift fwd and be dangerous
Sheezel...he's 20 and he's just that good. What's he going to be like with some more experience
FOS..Had a hell of a first year. Mature ,ran his guts out and has got the ability to take the right option.
Wardlaw..no hamstring issues this year. We are a better team when he plays.
Trembath....athletic, good hands. Looks to have some tools
Hardemann..was the big bonus this year. Looks to be a good solid 10 year player who defends well with a big booming kick
Chom..had a down year. But hes shown he can be a serious player. At least he got a solid year of football under his belt
McKercher...another kid but with some serious talent. Liked the way he didnt drop his head when he made a clanger. The young un's have to learn this stuff. They will **** up
Finished up the year well. That helps the kick into a pre-season. I just get the feeling that the players know they can play at this level now. Not sure that was the case in previous years

so obviously not everything is rosey..but bit over the constant negativity. Hawks and Crows have shown that things can change fast. Bit of luck with injury and judiciary and you never know

We’re definitely building. Some of the talented potentials are actually showing up week in week out with some high class performances. Just need to continue to find a few more guys, develop a few more who are already there, get a bit of luck in certain positions on the ground - and I think we will become a pretty dangerous side to play against and exciting team to watch.

Wins will probably be determined by our willingness to play better defensively as a group. Playing better team defence, I believe, will make all aspects of playing and winning easier.

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

I'm with Arjen on the positivity. Feels good to go into a season with optimism rather than blind hope! Really looking forward to next year, as others have pointed out we were very close to getting an extra couple of wins this season which would have put a whole different complexion on the year. But regardless, you can see that core of talent that will take us somewhere if we can just get the right role players.

 

[King Corey]

Now what do we do?
Talk to the wife until cricket season starts?

That's what I'll be doing now.

Ps you have a lovely house

Boom boom

 

[ferball]

I'm with Arjen on the positivity. Feels good to go into a season with optimism rather than blind hope! Really looking forward to next year, as others have pointed out we were very close to getting an extra couple of wins this season which would have put a whole different complexion on the year. But regardless, you can see that core of talent that will take us somewhere if we can just get the right role players.

pointatbelievesign.gif

 

[Arthur Cloke]

I'm with Arjen on the positivity. Feels good to go into a season with optimism rather than blind hope! Really looking forward to next year, as others have pointed out we were very close to getting an extra couple of wins this season which would have put a whole different complexion on the year. But regardless, you can see that core of talent that will take us somewhere if we can just get the right role players.

Disagree

 

[Arthur Cloke]

Fact. But, we didn't lose to Brisbane (Draw), lost by a kick to Freo in Perth and none of our best players had uninterrupted years. And most importantly, we found a few players, that's all we have to do. We'll eventually get to a critical mass where frankly, we just have too many weapons.

18 months away, Scotty.

Sounds like the US will need to keep a close eye on Arden St as we accumulate this weapon stockpile.

 

[Arthur Cloke]

Alot of discussion about whether and how much we have improved.

Looking at 'wins' shows us with some improvement over the past couple of years.

Another way to consider this is 'how many games are we out of making finals'.

Over the past 5 years at the end of the season our record (ignoring %) is

2021 - 6 1/2 games out of the 8
2022 - 10 games out of the 8
2023 - 9 1/2 games out
2024 - 10 games out
2025 - 9 1/2 games out

Only 9.5 games out. If you guys won all those games where we were competitive for a couple of quarters, you'd be firmly entrenched in the 8 & we'd be drinking from full glasses.

 

[Psychic Roo]

Its got to keep shifting to building belief and not just accumulating high picks.
That the young guns believe that they can be elite.
Some things happened this year to haphazardly to build that - even in draws/losses. Thats what clarkson is saying.
The unknown is the level
of belief in the gameplan and each other. Some of its natural growth but the problem is that we have older players who may never get this and the others may not trust - corr, lmac, jy, etc. thats why they brought in darling, parker and even daniel. To teach and build belief but with mixed results.

 

[r_boy]

Why is this club calling me about anything? It's insulting

 

[Freomaniac]

Nothing much needs to be said.
5.5 wins. Just short of the expectation of 6.
Percentage of 76.3. Short of the expectation of 80.

Not a deal breaker. Alerting but not alarming.
And now we expect 10 wins in 2026 in the 3rd year or 7th year of the rebuild, depending what level of insane you operate at.


I just want to fast forward to March 2026. Will we sink or swim?

I think there are some good signs... Depending on fixture. 10 wins would be a tough ask. 7 or 8 is possible