Club Focus North Melbourne 2025

[Ticky009]

Spreadsheet created by Lore and Taylor, using data from footywire and AFL Tables. Version above maintained by giantroo.

Spoiler: footywire version

Data from footywire. To check the draft order see the thread here.

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[The Nostradamus]

Interesting to see that several clubs that struggled on field are seeing an exodus of players (or at least an attempt at one). Carlton and Essendon have been well documented, Richmond had a bunch of guys jump ship last season.

But North don't seem to have that level of disenchantment - they look to have kept pretty much everyone they've wanted to keep, and we're not hearing noises about unhappiness or cultural issues at the club the way we see with some other struggling clubs.

Seems they must be doing something right off field.

The culture is surprising good considering how poor we’ve been as you say retention has been great and key players signed long term (even LDU and xerri this year)

Really only lost McKay and JHF in that period

And with McKay we were happy to take the compo instead anyway

 

[Wild Bill]

Interesting to see that several clubs that struggled on field are seeing an exodus of players (or at least an attempt at one). Carlton and Essendon have been well documented, Richmond had a bunch of guys jump ship last season.

But North don't seem to have that level of disenchantment - they look to have kept pretty much everyone they've wanted to keep, and we're not hearing noises about unhappiness or cultural issues at the club the way we see with some other struggling clubs.

Seems they must be doing something right off field.

Good post - hopefully it’s a sign that the players believe that things are about to turn.

 

[The Talent Scout]

This thread is wild...

Cant wait to see some of these posters once Zan Duursma is traded for a mid first round pick in a bad draft.

Can't wait to see some of "those" posters when Zane gets over his injuries and knuckles down to get his endurance to the level required for the role we think he can play and be the player we know he can be.

 

[Rich01]

The culture is surprising good considering how poor we’ve been as you say retention has been great and key players signed long term (even LDU and xerri this year)

Really only lost McKay and JHF in that period

And with McKay we were happy to take the compo instead anyway

And on cue…

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

And on cue…

Posts made seconds before disaster

 

[The Nostradamus]

And on cue…

Jy signed long term also

don’t think he’s going anywhere nor has he requested a trade yet

 

[Rich01]

Jy signed long term also

don’t think he’s going anywhere nor has he requested a trade yet

His contract would make it prohibitive for contending clubs to take him on and the return you’d get in draft collateral would be minimal.

Needs to stick to the contract he signed and was richly rewarded by the club for.

 

[Chip Scab1]

And on cue…

Funny as this would be under normal conditions, and it would no question.

We'll pay 1/2 his salary and we'll take a 2026 R1 (Crows) or we'll give em a 2026 R2 and take Bradley's 2026 R1.

There's not many tears, Xerri into skipper with Harry as his Vice or Harry just takes it now.

Next.

 

[Petrie4PM]

I would be happy to let Jy go if we got a good return for it. I don't see it happening though. Most likely club is Essendon, because, I know how brad works.

20, 21, 39, 57 DRAFT PICKS

We really do need to land a QUALITY defender. Here lies the problem - no one decent wants to come to north. It hurts but thats just where we are at. Do we bundle up some picks to make some magic happen on the quiet? Plenty of good players on the move, but again, no one wants to land at north. sigh.

 

[Chip Scab1]

I would be happy to let Jy go if we got a good return for it. I don't see it happening though. Most likely club is Essendon, because, I know how brad works.

20, 21, 39, 57 DRAFT PICKS

We really do need to land a QUALITY defender. Here lies the problem - no one decent wants to come to north. It hurts but thats just where we are at. Do we bundle up some picks to make some magic happen on the quiet? Plenty of good players on the move, but again, no one wants to land at north. sigh.

This pops up a bit, but I have to question the reasoning....

We have Wil Dawson, MWhitlock, Archer, Goater and Hardeman to bring back/who missed the gallant defeat to Crows.

I would put all our efforts into finding a Hardeman replacement (so we can play him on a wing maybe) and a #2 small forward. We don't need another Tall Defender, we actually need a CHF, a #1 key forward. Someone to aim at who can make a contest and bring our smalls into it.

 

[EconomicDecline]

This pops up a bit, but I have to question the reasoning....

We have Wil Dawson, MWhitlock, Archer, Goater and Hardeman to bring back/who missed the gallant defeat to Crows.

I would put all our efforts into finding a Hardeman replacement (so we can play him on a wing maybe) and a #2 small forward. We don't need another Tall Defender, we actually need a CHF, a #1 key forward. Someone to aim at who can make a contest and bring our smalls into it.

2nd most points against this year. Leaky backline. Needs an upgrade.

 

[Ura]

2nd most points against this year. Leaky backline. Needs an upgrade.

Definitely needs an upgrade.
Long term we are relying heavily on Dawson and Whitlock to come through.
In 3 years a backline with Chom, Dawson and Whitlock or Logue if he pulls his thumb out could look very good.

I actually think our defensive problems are up the field even though individuals could improve our transition defence is abysmal

 

[LegendLewis]

Definitely needs an upgrade.
Long term we are relying heavily on Dawson and Whitlock to come through.
In 3 years a backline with Chom, Dawson and Whitlock or Logue if he pulls his thumb out could look very good.

I actually think our defensive problems are up the field even though individuals could improve our transition defence is abysmal

Rumours that Clarko wants to coach Scrimshaw again...

Would he help your backline?

 

[Makeshift Park]

Rumours that Clarko wants to coach Scrimshaw again...

Would he help your backline?

Absolutely.

Tho tbh I find the whispers by Hawks supporters that Scrimmers might be on his way to North a bit perplexing.

Why would he want to leave Hawthorn right now?

Surely Jai Serong is a more plausible trade?

 

[LegendLewis]

Absolutely.

Tho tbh I find the whispers by Hawks supporters that Scrimmers might be on his way to North a bit perplexing.

Why would he want to leave Hawthorn right now?

Surely Jai Serong is a more plausible trade?

Yeah I agree it is perplexing if you were Scrimmers.
The thoughts being the backline is where we have an excess of players, rumours Day may be played back there more next year and that Noah Mraz is showing great signs. I don't think we'd be talking about it at all if we didn't need more buying power to get the rumoured Merrett, Petracca and whatever other deals done.
I suppose it will all come out in the next week.
Jai Serong is an interesting one, I like him a lot and think he will definitely be a player so whoever gets him for what will be unders will be really lucky.

 

[Ura]

Yeah I agree it is perplexing if you were Scrimmers.
The thoughts being the backline is where we have an excess of players, rumours Day may be played back there more next year and that Noah Mraz is showing great signs. I don't think we'd be talking about it at all if we didn't need more buying power to get the rumoured Merrett, Petracca and whatever other deals done.
I suppose it will all come out in the next week.
Jai Serong is an interesting one, I like him a lot and think he will definitely be a player so whoever gets him for what will be unders will be really lucky.

I like the idea of a serong but has he made a jump the past 12 months in ability?
I haven’t watched a lot of Box Hill VFL but he isn’t breaking into the seniors and if his behind Shaw and I loved what I saw from Mraz this year he feels abit like a list clogger…
Am I far off?

 

[Shinboner1]

cooked

 

[Bagger72]

Need to ask the question on Eric Hipwood

30

Eric Hipwood

Age

28

Ht

204cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.6

2star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.3

3star

G

1.5

5star

D

11.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.1

2star

G

1.1

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

8.4

4star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.4

5star

and Charlie Ballard

10

Charlie Ballard

Age

26

Ht

196cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.9

3star

K

8.8

3star

HB

3.1

3star

M

4.7

4star

T

1.2

3star

MG

185.6

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

3.6

2star

M

4.9

5star

T

1.3

2star

MG

158.9

3star

D

9.4

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

4star

MG

156.0

3star

and try to get them at your club before Tasmania comes in.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Yeah I agree it is perplexing if you were Scrimmers.
The thoughts being the backline is where we have an excess of players, rumours Day may be played back there more next year and that Noah Mraz is showing great signs. I don't think we'd be talking about it at all if we didn't need more buying power to get the rumoured Merrett, Petracca and whatever other deals done.
I suppose it will all come out in the next week.
Jai Serong is an interesting one, I like him a lot and think he will definitely be a player so whoever gets him for what will be unders will be really lucky.

Scrimshaw would only be a second rounder tho

Do you need that for any of your deals?