North Melbourne v West Coast.. who will be better in 2025?

[Havoc]

Bottom four sides in recent years.. but who will be better in 2025?

 

[kane249]

North should be ahead as they started their rebuild before us. They have also accumulated more top end draft picks who should be starting to flourish.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

West Coast. By quite some margin (even if only 1 or 2 more wins). North are still in the "well shit" category for another year, pushing Richmond for the spoon.

Richmond 2-4 wins, North 2-5, West Coast 4-6.

 

[stallon]

Hard to pick.
North have the better top end picks, but west coast have better senior players and therefore better development opportunities for the kids in recent years.
North also started rebuilding sooner, but that doesn't mean much when they've had no/very few senior players for most of their careers.

If estimate both clubs win 6ish games this year.

If I had to pick im going west coast cos I'm not biased at all

 

[TheUnicorn]

North

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

The game today will be interesting

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

North dominating the stoppages Xerri so impressive

 

[Mr5000]

North are a skeaky chance for the 8

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

North are a skeaky chance for the 8

A team that’s won 2, 3 and 2 games over the last 3 seasons is going to win 13 in 2025?

 

[Freomaniac]

North has a semi decent forward structure with Larkey and Zuhaar.

North Melbourne have some talented young mids aged 23 or under too. Once those mids are in their prime age of 24-27 years old, they will be good.

North Melbourne back 6 doesn't make me confident.

Eagles have a solid forward line.

Midfield had some good young kids.

Backline isn't great but McGoverns being an experienced tall defender is important in that back 6

 

[hutchy31]

North should be winning 6-10 games this year, and WC won’t be in that bracket imo. North have a top tier ruck and a decent midfield now, barring any injury disasters that should get them out of the bottom 2-3.

Although this chip kicking shit in the second quarter from North won’t get it done against any team with a decent forward half defense. Conserving energy in the heat is one thing, playing ineffective footy in a game where you’re meant to be shaking off the preseason dust is another.

 

[Truetiger]

To close to call.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

If preseason is any indication, it looks like north have massive issues defensively, but are going to be an offensive juggernaut.

Could be very interesting games where they lose giving up 20 goals from 30 entries, whilst scoring 10.10 from 50 entries (happened a few times to the hawks during clarkos days)

 

[Mr5000]

A team that’s won 2, 3 and 2 games over the last 3 seasons is going to win 13 in 2025?

Going from bottom 4 to top 8 has happened many times before, they have the making of a good side.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Going from bottom 4 to top 8 has happened many times before, they have the making of a good side.

Guess again, teams that go from bottom 4 to top 8 don’t have a 7 victory record over 3 seasons.

 

[Off Tap]

Going from bottom 4 to top 8 has happened many times before, they have the making of a good side.

The majority of the time it's a side that was in the 8, dropped out, and then got back in again.

 

[Mr5000]

Guess again, teams that go from bottom 4 to top 8 don’t have a 7 victory record over 3 seasons.

4 3 5 5 16

Brisbane in the late 2010's

 

[Mr Meow]

I think NM need that 8-10 win sort of season (perhaps this year) before they can look to contending for finals. 2026, or probably 2027 more likely.

West Coast it's really hard to put a timeline on them.

This year not much will split them. West Coast have the bigger home ground advantage, NM the better list.

 

[Mr5000]

I think NM need that 8-10 win sort of season (perhaps this year) before they can look to contending for finals. 2026, or probably 2027 more likely.

West Coast it's really hard to put a timeline on them.

This year not much will split them. West Coast have the bigger home ground advantage, NM the better list.

I think that is more likely, around 8 wins but if a few teams get destroyed by injuries, North get a full season from Logue and they find another KPD I wouldn't completely rule them out like everyone has Richmond understandably.

Eagles 6 wins would be a good season for them imo.

 

[Freomaniac]

I think NM need that 8-10 win sort of season (perhaps this year) before they can look to contending for finals. 2026, or probably 2027 more likely.

West Coast it's really hard to put a timeline on them.

This year not much will split them. West Coast have the bigger home ground advantage, NM the better list.

You are asking a lot for North Melbourne to get 8-10 wins.

North Melbourne needs another 5 or 6 win season in 2025.

Again.... Not sold on their back 6.

Midfield and forward line has some talent.

 

[Jeremias]

I think North will be better, but I have both finishing in the bottom 4.

Suspect they finish 16th and 17th.

 

[Mr Meow]

You are asking a lot for North Melbourne to get 8-10 wins.

North Melbourne needs another 5 or 6 win season in 2025.

Again.... Not sold on their back 6.

Midfield and forward line has some talent.

8 wins is a 50/50 prospect for me for NM this year. I didn't predict it (but stated it could happen). I said they needed it before they can contend for a finals spot.

6 to 8 wins is what I expect from NM this season. It may seem like a high bar given their recent tallies, but they've lost a lot of close games. Maybe the experienced players they've brought in will help with that, as will the lessons learned from the youngsters.

 

[TY24]

I think we will surprise people.

Whether that’s by being better than expected or worse than expected, I’m not sure yet. But boy will we be surprised.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

4 3 5 5 16

Brisbane in the late 2010's

Thanks for proving my point.

 

[Obeanie1]

West Coast. By quite some margin (even if only 1 or 2 more wins). North are still in the "well shit" category for another year, pushing Richmond for the spoon.

Richmond 2-4 wins, North 2-5, West Coast 4-6.

Eagles with a better home ground advantage likely snag a win or two more.

If both teams were based in Melbourne then neck and neck.

How much confidence players get from a clubs history and success is an intangible that exists but very difficult to assess. North havent tasted success for a very long time.