Opinion Commentary and media

[Twinkletoes]

On Foxtel they have been showing collections of games from club champions and so fourth.

Does anyone know if there has been one single North player highlighted and shown?

I keep looking for " spot light on Todd Goldstein" but I've not seen it
.

His was shown on e-news.

 

[toepoker]

Watched a bit of NTFL on NITV last night & Matty Campbell was running around for Buffaloes. I think it's fair to say he hasn't been meticulous in his fitness work since being delisted

 

[year of the roo]

Watched a bit of NTFL on NITV last night & Matty Campbell was running around for Buffaloes. I think it's fair to say he hasn't been meticulous in his fitness work since being delisted

So same old, same old then?

 

[Jimmy's Hot Dogs]

On Foxtel they have been showing collections of games from club champions and so fourth.

Does anyone know if there has been one single North player highlighted and shown?

I keep looking for " spot light on Todd Goldstein" but I've not seen it
.

Haven't seen any but the highlight of Tom Hawkins night was the Geelong v North final. Tomahawk dominated that last quarter but Todd's mark in the dying seconds is still awesome.

 

[marklovesbeer]

On Foxtel they have been showing collections of games from club champions and so fourth.

Does anyone know if there has been one single North player highlighted and shown?

I keep looking for " spot light on Todd Goldstein" but I've not seen it
.

I think of the current playing list & for a bit of excitement Ziebell has had a couple of ripper games.

Adelaide in Tassie & a game against Geelong at Etihad were both good (can't remember what seasons now) - both featured him having an impact when moved forward & long bombs from the boundary 50m line.

 

[Kimbo]

I think of the current playing list & for a bit of excitement Ziebell has had a couple of ripper games.

Adelaide in Tassie & a game against Geelong at Etihad were both good (can't remember what seasons now) - both featured him having an impact when moved forward & long bombs from the boundary 50m line.

Geelong was 2012 I think. Todd to Wellsy to JZ, right hand flank on 50. Bang, goal. First time we'd broken the semi-hoodoo.

 

[shintemaster]

I think of the current playing list & for a bit of excitement Ziebell has had a couple of ripper games.

Adelaide in Tassie & a game against Geelong at Etihad were both good (can't remember what seasons now) - both featured him having an impact when moved forward & long bombs from the boundary 50m line.

That Adelaide game.... 2014? Was off the charts. Should have kicked 7-8 that day.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

That Adelaide game.... 2014? Was off the charts. Should have kicked 7-8 that day.

He ended a blokes career that day.

Destroyed him so badly, he was delisted at the end of the year.

 

[giantroo]

Roos rebuild talk 'slightly disrespectful', says Higgins
Nick Bowen
December 27, 2016 10:00 AM

Shaun Higgins hasn't missed a beat in pre-season training

SUGGESTIONS North Melbourne has entered a rebuilding phase are "slightly disrespectful" to the club's core of experienced players, deputy vice-captain Shaun Higgins says.

North took the AFL's second oldest list into the 2016 season. But when the Roos failed to capitalise on a club-record 9-0 start to the year, winning just three more games for the season and copping a 62-point elimination final flogging from Adelaide, they set about rejigging their list.

First, they told League games record holder Brent Harvey and fellow veterans Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo they would not be recontracted for 2017, while Daniel Wells subsequently moved to Collingwood as a free agent.

They then acquired 23-year-old Marley Williams, Nathan Hrovat (22) and Paul Ahern (20) in the NAB AFL Trade Period, and again invested exclusively in youth at the national and rookie drafts.

At the conclusion of the rookie draft, North suddenly boasted the AFL's second youngest list, having decreased its average player age from 25 years and 45 days in 2016 (as of round one) to 23 years and 218 days.

This dramatic shift has been widely seen as irrefutable proof the Kangaroos have embarked on a rebuild.

But Higgins told AFL.com.au North remained well placed to be extremely competitive in 2017.

"There is a slightly new feel around the club. The 11 new guys have brought a sense of new energy and excitement, but the core of our list is still there. We've lost five veterans, which is probably one or two more than average, but nothing's really changed," Higgins said.

"(A rebuild) hasn't been discussed at all internally. Where we think the list is at and what's been the core of our side for the last couple of years, and even before I got here, all those guys are still here and in the prime of their footy careers.

"It's slightly disrespectful to the guys who are on the list and the boys who have been here for six to 10 years to talk about a rebuild, so we're definitely not doing that at all."

Asked whether North's greatest challenge in 2017 would be replacing the outside class of Harvey, Wells and Dal Santo, Higgins said only a collective team effort could begin to cover those losses.

"I don't think you'll ever replace someone like 'Boomer', 'Wellsy' or 'Dal', so it's a matter of guys stepping up and filling those roles," Higgins said.

"I feel like there's a really good spread of guys to step up in that mid-forward role that don't necessarily need to replace Boomer. They just need to step up and play that role for the team.

"So going into this pre-season there's a sense of excitement for those guys who have been around two, three or four years, and also for the guys who have just been drafted and those who have come in from other clubs. There's real opportunity there for them."

Higgins has had a positive start to the 2017 pre-season on two fronts.

Most importantly, he is back in full training after recovering from a minor off-season operation on the right knee that sidelined him for 14 games in 2016.

He was also appointed deputy vice-captain alongside Jamie Macmillan when North revamped its leadership group in December, with Jack Ziebell replacing Andrew Swallow as captain and Robbie Tarrant assuming the vice-captaincy vacated by Ziebell.

Higgins is embracing the added responsibility of his new role.

"It's a privilege to lead these guys and hopefully we can do the right thing by them and take the club and the playing group in the right direction and get us back as quickly as possible into playing finals footy," he said.

 

[Gasometer]

Roos rebuild talk 'slightly disrespectful', says Higgins
Nick Bowen
December 27, 2016 10:00 AM

Shaun Higgins hasn't missed a beat in pre-season training

SUGGESTIONS North Melbourne has entered a rebuilding phase are "slightly disrespectful" to the club's core of experienced players, deputy vice-captain Shaun Higgins says.

North took the AFL's second oldest list into the 2016 season. But when the Roos failed to capitalise on a club-record 9-0 start to the year, winning just three more games for the season and copping a 62-point elimination final flogging from Adelaide, they set about rejigging their list.

First, they told League games record holder Brent Harvey and fellow veterans Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo they would not be recontracted for 2017, while Daniel Wells subsequently moved to Collingwood as a free agent.

They then acquired 23-year-old Marley Williams, Nathan Hrovat (22) and Paul Ahern (20) in the NAB AFL Trade Period, and again invested exclusively in youth at the national and rookie drafts.

At the conclusion of the rookie draft, North suddenly boasted the AFL's second youngest list, having decreased its average player age from 25 years and 45 days in 2016 (as of round one) to 23 years and 218 days.

This dramatic shift has been widely seen as irrefutable proof the Kangaroos have embarked on a rebuild.

But Higgins told AFL.com.au North remained well placed to be extremely competitive in 2017.

"There is a slightly new feel around the club. The 11 new guys have brought a sense of new energy and excitement, but the core of our list is still there. We've lost five veterans, which is probably one or two more than average, but nothing's really changed," Higgins said.

"(A rebuild) hasn't been discussed at all internally. Where we think the list is at and what's been the core of our side for the last couple of years, and even before I got here, all those guys are still here and in the prime of their footy careers.

"It's slightly disrespectful to the guys who are on the list and the boys who have been here for six to 10 years to talk about a rebuild, so we're definitely not doing that at all."

Asked whether North's greatest challenge in 2017 would be replacing the outside class of Harvey, Wells and Dal Santo, Higgins said only a collective team effort could begin to cover those losses.

"I don't think you'll ever replace someone like 'Boomer', 'Wellsy' or 'Dal', so it's a matter of guys stepping up and filling those roles," Higgins said.

"I feel like there's a really good spread of guys to step up in that mid-forward role that don't necessarily need to replace Boomer. They just need to step up and play that role for the team.

"So going into this pre-season there's a sense of excitement for those guys who have been around two, three or four years, and also for the guys who have just been drafted and those who have come in from other clubs. There's real opportunity there for them."

Higgins has had a positive start to the 2017 pre-season on two fronts.

Most importantly, he is back in full training after recovering from a minor off-season operation on the right knee that sidelined him for 14 games in 2016.

He was also appointed deputy vice-captain alongside Jamie Macmillan when North revamped its leadership group in December, with Jack Ziebell replacing Andrew Swallow as captain and Robbie Tarrant assuming the vice-captaincy vacated by Ziebell.

Higgins is embracing the added responsibility of his new role.

"It's a privilege to lead these guys and hopefully we can do the right thing by them and take the club and the playing group in the right direction and get us back as quickly as possible into playing finals footy," he said.

Need this bloke to play every game in 2017.

 

[tazaa]

One of our most important players in 2017. Up there as one of the favs.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Higgo missing a large portion of the year certainly ****ed us forward of centre.

 

[giantroo]

Afl.com.au's top 50 moments in 2016.

We feature in a few of them.

4. Boomer makes history in game 427
Brent Harvey's exit from the game was a headline story in 2016, but his record-breaking feats are what we will remember for decades to come. In an historic night against St Kilda in round 19, Harvey broke Hawthorn great Michael Tuck's VFL/AFL games record. In a nod to the wiry rover he was overtaking, 'Boomer' completed his warm-up in the long sleeves Tuck was known for. He then slipped into a commemorative '427' jumper and got to work in a must-win game for the Kangaroos. A popular sentiment in the lead-up to the match was that Harvey's record would never be broken. Who could imagine another player with Harvey's durability, hunger and lasting talent, having reached this milestone in his 21st season? He finished his career on 432 games, and with 518 goals. The one we'll remember from his record-breaking game? A generous "cheap one" given to him by teammate Lindsay Thomas 15m from goal, capping a night of celebrations for a great of the game.

7. Brent Harvey reluctantly retires
The bombshell news that the VFL/AFL games record holder would not be offered a new contract came via a media release on Wednesday, August 24. "North Melbourne has made the difficult decision not to re-contract four of its most decorated players," it read. Michael Firrito, Drew Petrie and Nick Dal Santo were the others, but it was Harvey's forced exit that hit like a ton of bricks. The circumstances of the announcement had been dictated by Harvey, who asked for a decision before the Kangaroos' final home-and-away game so he could farewell family and friends in a home match, rather than an away final. With emotions high, supporters threatened to protest the club's decision, but eventually they came around. So too did Harvey, who considered playing on at a new club before eventually confirming his retirement in an emotional speech at the club's best and fairest. "I would like to tell everyone in this room tonight that my decision is not to pull on another team’s jumper … it has been an amazing journey," he said.

21. The rise and fall of North Melbourne
What a wild ride 2016 was for Kangaroos supporters. The club kicked things off with its first opening round win in seven seasons under Brad Scott and didn't slow down for more than two months, winning nine straight games. Despite the club's best start to a season in its 92 years sceptics remained, with just two of their nine wins coming against eventual 2016 finalists. Their first loss came against the Swans in round 10, but the slide really started in round 12 against Geelong. From there North won just two of its last 12 games, bowing out with a 62-point elimination final loss against Adelaide. Injuries played a big role in the club's downward turn, but ultimately the doubters were proved right.

30. Mason Wood's countdown to infamy
The AFL's 30-second countdown clock was introduced in 2016 to involve supporters more and bring consistency to the time players had to prepare for a set shot. In round seven it changed from being a fan 'gimmick' to a tool for players. With his team ahead by one point against St Kilda and the ball in his hands, North Melbourne forward Mason Wood refused to start his set shot routine as the clock counted down the final 20 seconds, effectively icing the match. "I'm just playing within the rules and until they (the AFL) change the rules, players will keep doing it," Wood said. The League did change the rules, taking the clock off the scoreboard in the final two minutes of quarters and instructing umpires to call play-on if they believed players were time wasting.

42. Daw and Daniher duke it out for Mark of the Year
So high did Majak Daw soar when taking his Mark of the Year winner, he had time to make a cup of tea while sitting on Jonathon Marsh's shoulders. So went the joke, anyway, from the powerful Kangaroos forward who won from a brilliant field. For some, including coach Brad Scott, it was the best mark they had ever witnessed. Just three weeks earlier, Bomber Joe Daniher had one hand on a new car for his soaring grab over Saint Luke Delaney. With his arms completely outstretched, it could have been the highest anyone had ever taken. Most other years, the crown would likely have been his, highlighting how spoiled football fans were in 2016.

43. "He's a ducker" claim lands coach in hot water
Brad Scott is one of the League's most passionate coaches, and he can struggle to hide his feelings in post-game news conferences. In round 13 he walked into the Etihad Stadium media room particularly fired up, believing an umpire had said Kangaroos forward Lindsay Thomas was not receiving free kicks because he was "a ducker". It was information shared with him by a club staffer that was later disproved. But Scott shared his suspicion of umpire bias with the media. Once the accusations were disproved, Scott was fined $50,000 and North $30,000 for failing to adequately control the situation. Both apologised unreservedly and accepted the penalties immediately.

46. Good Friday Footy revealed
North Melbourne was a pioneer for Friday night footy and now the Kangaroos have succeeded in their long-time push to play on Good Friday. There are football fans opposed to football being played on the religious holiday, but the AFL believed a majority would welcome the move and the League was right. The challenge has now been set for the Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs to make the timeslot their own, with general manager of clubs and operations Travis Auld declaring the Good Friday teams and locations could change beyond 2017. "The AFL acknowledges the requests from a number of clubs to play on Good Friday and we will consider the appropriate match-up and venue on a year-to-year basis," Auld said.

 

[Firestarter]

More bad than good. FM.

 

[DrZaius]

46. Good Friday Footy revealed
North Melbourne was a pioneer for Friday night footy and now the Kangaroos have succeeded in their long-time push to play on Good Friday. There are football fans opposed to football being played on the religious holiday, but the AFL believed a majority would welcome the move and the League was right. The challenge has now been set for the Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs to make the timeslot their own, with general manager of clubs and operations Travis Auld declaring the Good Friday teams and locations could change beyond 2017. "The AFL acknowledges the requests from a number of clubs to play on Good Friday and we will consider the appropriate match-up and venue on a year-to-year basis," Auld said.

 

[Firestarter]

Still convinced the sentiment is a lie designed to appease us before they hand the date over to their preferred matchup.

 

[DrZaius]

Still convinced the sentiment is a lie designed to appease us before they hand the date over to their preferred matchup.

Perfect timing for them too as WB will likely have a higher percentage of supporters at the game than us this year, so they have a ready made excuse all lined up.

 

[King Corey]

On Foxtel they have been showing collections of games from club champions and so fourth.

Does anyone know if there has been one single North player highlighted and shown?

I keep looking for " spot light on Todd Goldstein" but I've not seen it
.

Some of the players featured suggested clubs should consider forfeiting their b&f some years.

 

[Zondor]

Perfect timing for them too as WB will likely have a higher percentage of supporters at the game than us this year, so they have a ready made excuse all lined up.

Turn it up! The NMFC Faithful will turn up in force. :stern look

 

[giantroo]

Roos' new era opens door for unheralded tall to bolt through
Travis King
December 29, 2016 5:13 PM

Ben McKay is putting on bulk ahead of a big second season for the Roos

WIPING more than 2000 games of experience from the list has spiced up competition for spots at North Melbourne, and unheralded tall forward Ben McKay could be the Kangaroos' biggest pre-season bolter.

The Roos ushered in a new era at the end of last season by not offering veterans Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo contracts, before letting Daniel Wells walk to Collingwood as a free agent.

Opportunities abound amongst what is now the AFL's second-youngest squad ahead of the JLT Community Series, and McKay has been lighting up the training track.

The strong-marking 19-year-old, listed as 199cm and 95kg last season, is still working his way up the pecking order behind tall forwards Jarrad Waite, Ben Brown, Majak Daw and Mason Wood.

But McKay's thirst for improvement has set tongues wagging amongst the North fraternity, and fans could soon get their first look at the big man.

"He really impressed in Utah on the first-to-fourth-year camp. He's in a hurry, he wants to play, which is really good," forward line coach Leigh Tudor told AFL.com.au.

"But from our point-of-view he's just got to get an AFL body, that's the first priority for him is making sure when he does play he can stay in.

"He's first on and last off the track, so he's fantastic to work with that way."

McKay, taken with pick No.21 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, had a breakout game against Essendon's VFL side last season, hauling down six contested marks and booting three goals in a dominant performance.

He ended the year with 15 goals from as many games for Werribee, and his form warranted a spot as an emergency for the seniors' round 21 clash against Hawthorn.

"It's been good to watch him develop, he's got something about him," Tudor said.

"He likes to jump at the ball, he takes it at the highest point, he likes a contested mark.

"For a big bloke he's really good below knees; he's really clean.

"Hopefully there'll be some opportunities for him next year. But we'll never gift anyone a game, they're going to have to really earn their spot.

"If that happens in the JLT Community Series, that'd be great to get him in early and the way he's training he's giving himself every chance."

The Roos are keen to experiment with their options in attack, and Tudor hasn't ruled out playing four talls, including 192cm Wood.

But there's one non-negotiable to secure a spot.

"The first nine rounds last year when we were playing at our best, our pressure was unbelievable – and it wasn't just the smalls," Tudor said.

"'Waitey' was right up there (for applying pressure) and we really missed him when he went down, and Mason as well.

"We haven't really got a set theory on how many talls we play, but as long as you can bring the pressure as well, then it doesn't really matter.

"Mason is a different one too, he can play key but he can also play high half-forward because he won the 2km time trial.

"Having lost Boomer and Drew, it's good that we have got some different options and it's really competitive out here at the moment."

 

[Harris 10]

"the first priority for him is making sure when he does play he can stay in."

I don't understand this comment, and it's used regularly.

 

[Firestarter]

Hopefully the selection policy gets a shake up.

 

[GarnerSmash]

"the first priority for him is making sure when he does play he can stay in."

I don't understand this comment, and it's used regularly.

That he is ready to adapt to the intensity both physically and mentally so that he can compete against his opponent, play according to team structures and maintain defensive pressure. Young blokes coming in can become over awed and drop off in one or all of those areas, costing the team in the process. It's commonly referred to as playing your role.

 

[Harris 10]

Hopefully the selection policy gets a shake up.

Yeah, I know what it means I just don't agree with it.

It's the reason so many of our kids have been held back over the years and it stalls/delays their development.

So much can be learnt from getting a game or two and then going back to the twos and working on the areas you come up short in.

 

[Only Forwards]

Roos rebuild talk 'slightly disrespectful', says Higgins
Nick Bowen
December 27, 2016 10:00 AM

Shaun Higgins hasn't missed a beat in pre-season training

SUGGESTIONS North Melbourne has entered a rebuilding phase are "slightly disrespectful" to the club's core of experienced players, deputy vice-captain Shaun Higgins says.

North took the AFL's second oldest list into the 2016 season. But when the Roos failed to capitalise on a club-record 9-0 start to the year, winning just three more games for the season and copping a 62-point elimination final flogging from Adelaide, they set about rejigging their list.

First, they told League games record holder Brent Harvey and fellow veterans Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo they would not be recontracted for 2017, while Daniel Wells subsequently moved to Collingwood as a free agent.

They then acquired 23-year-old Marley Williams, Nathan Hrovat (22) and Paul Ahern (20) in the NAB AFL Trade Period, and again invested exclusively in youth at the national and rookie drafts.

At the conclusion of the rookie draft, North suddenly boasted the AFL's second youngest list, having decreased its average player age from 25 years and 45 days in 2016 (as of round one) to 23 years and 218 days.

This dramatic shift has been widely seen as irrefutable proof the Kangaroos have embarked on a rebuild.

But Higgins told AFL.com.au North remained well placed to be extremely competitive in 2017.

"There is a slightly new feel around the club. The 11 new guys have brought a sense of new energy and excitement, but the core of our list is still there. We've lost five veterans, which is probably one or two more than average, but nothing's really changed," Higgins said.

"(A rebuild) hasn't been discussed at all internally. Where we think the list is at and what's been the core of our side for the last couple of years, and even before I got here, all those guys are still here and in the prime of their footy careers.

"It's slightly disrespectful to the guys who are on the list and the boys who have been here for six to 10 years to talk about a rebuild, so we're definitely not doing that at all."

Asked whether North's greatest challenge in 2017 would be replacing the outside class of Harvey, Wells and Dal Santo, Higgins said only a collective team effort could begin to cover those losses.

"I don't think you'll ever replace someone like 'Boomer', 'Wellsy' or 'Dal', so it's a matter of guys stepping up and filling those roles," Higgins said.

"I feel like there's a really good spread of guys to step up in that mid-forward role that don't necessarily need to replace Boomer. They just need to step up and play that role for the team.

"So going into this pre-season there's a sense of excitement for those guys who have been around two, three or four years, and also for the guys who have just been drafted and those who have come in from other clubs. There's real opportunity there for them."

Higgins has had a positive start to the 2017 pre-season on two fronts.

Most importantly, he is back in full training after recovering from a minor off-season operation on the right knee that sidelined him for 14 games in 2016.

He was also appointed deputy vice-captain alongside Jamie Macmillan when North revamped its leadership group in December, with Jack Ziebell replacing Andrew Swallow as captain and Robbie Tarrant assuming the vice-captaincy vacated by Ziebell.

Higgins is embracing the added responsibility of his new role.

"It's a privilege to lead these guys and hopefully we can do the right thing by them and take the club and the playing group in the right direction and get us back as quickly as possible into playing finals footy," he said.

I am liking the language the club is using this off season.

We have no reason for any player not to bring it in 2017.