Season Preview: North Melbourne

2020 Recap It was a disaster for the Kangaroos in 2020. They were poor throughout the season and relied purely on glimpses to see them through to the end of a dour 2020. They lost their coach and then cleaned house, no fewer than 13 players bid farewell to Arden Street after a year that clearly exposed some deep problems with the club's trajectory. [caption id="attachment_67674" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 17: The Kangaroos huddle during the 2020 AFL Round 18 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the West Coast Eagles at Metricon Stadium on September 17, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] A big win over Adelaide was a rare highlight as the Kangaroos limped to the finish line and bowed out with a lowly 17th-placed finish. Off-season moves Ins Aiden Corr (GWS), Lachie Young (Western Bulldogs). Jaidyn Stephenson (Collingwood), Atu Bosenavulagi (Collingwood), Will Phillips (Draft), Tom Powell (Draft), Charlie Lazzaro (Draft), Pheonix Spicer (Draft), Eddie Ford (Draft), Patrick Walker (Rookie Draft), Connor Menadue (Rookie Draft). Outs Jamie Macmillan (Retired), Majak Daw (Delisted), Jasper Pittard (Delisted), Ben Jacobs (Retired), Paul Ahern (Delisted), Mason Wood (St Kilda), Sam Durdin (Delisted), Marley Williams (Delisted), Joel Crocker (Delisted), Lachie Hosie (Delisted), Tom Murphy (Delisted), Shaun Higgins (Geelong), Ben Brown (Melbourne). Off-season Grade: B A real tricky one to judge, they have done well at the draft and traded out some players who had currency in the market (Higgins and Brown). But when you lose so many ready-made players you may see it negatively impact the scoreboard come the weekend. [caption id="attachment_70338" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 16: Jaidyn Stephenson poses for a photo during a North Melbourne Kangaroos AFL media opportunity at Arden Street Ground on November 16, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)[/caption] The long term future of the club looks solid if these picks develop as North will be hoping, but you can't help but fear for the short-term pain fans may have to go through. Some of the players on the out list seem unlucky to be there but none of them desperately so. The experienced players they brought through the door aren't superstars, but will likely play a key role for the Roos in 2021. Defining Period Rounds 22 and 23 will define North Melbourne's season. It's fair to assume they won't be in the top-eight and it's fair to assume they'll be closer to the bottom four than 9-14 on the ladder. They finish their season with matches against Sydney and Adelaide. These games could define the season because it's possible these teams will be around the same ladder position as the Kangaroos. [caption id="attachment_23029" align="alignnone" width="696"] ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Kayne Turner of the Kangaroos tackles Paul Seedsman of the Crows during the 2018 AFL round 22 match between the Adelaide Crows and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Adelaide Oval on August 19, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] These games will dictate where on the ladder these three teams finish and more importantly perhaps, how strong their draft hand is going into the 2021 draft. Best 22 B: Kyron Hayden, Ben McKay, Aidan Corr HB: Luke McDonald, Robbie Tarrant, Jack Ziebell C: Jared Polec, Ben Cunnington, Bailey Scott HF: Curtis Taylor, Josh Walker, Tarryn Thomas F:Jaidyn Stephenson, Nick Larkey, Cam Zurhaar FOLL: Todd Goldstein, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jy Simpkin I/C: Jed Anderson, Will Phillips, Trent Dumont, Tom Powell. [caption id="attachment_27933" align="alignnone" width="696"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 24: Bailey Scott of the Kangaroos keeps the ball in play during the round one AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Optus Stadium on March 24, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)[/caption] Strengths and Weaknesses The Kangaroos' strength lies in their young forward line. Nick Larkey looks a lively-type and gets his chance to lead this forward line as his own. Cam Zurhaar is another who has shown glimpses but needs to be far more consistent. Add in Tarryn Thomas and new recruit Jaidyn Stephenson and it looks a dangerous forward line when it all comes together. [caption id="attachment_33707" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 29: Tarryn Thomas of the Kangaroos marks the ball during the Round 15 AFL match between Collingwood v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on June 29, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)[/caption] A clear area they struggle in is midfield. They have little to no leg speed and they look very vulnerable on the outside. Across the board there isn't a player that stounds out as a genuine line-breaker or someone who can gain meters on-mass. Prediction 17th It may very well come down to round 23 when the Kangaroos meet Adelaide to decide the wooden-spoon. It's not a year to measure the Roos on wins and losses but a year to enjoy the glimpses and tolerate the heavy defeats. [caption id="attachment_43845" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 18: Jack Ziebell of the Kangaroos leave the field after losing the round 7 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Metricon Stadium on July 18, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)[/caption] It'll get better, but just not in 2021. Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	HAW	4	4	0	16	127.4
2	BL	4	4	0	16	119.5
3	GC	3	3	0	12	172.6
4	GWS	4	3	1	12	149
5	ADEL	4	3	1	12	146.6
6	COLL	4	3	1	12	123.4
7	STK	4	3	1	12	112.3
8	GEEL	4	2	2	8	135.7

Season Preview: North Melbourne

David Noble has a big job on his hands. How will the Kangaroos fair in 2021?

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