It's fair to suggest that Alastair Clarkson's tenure at North Melbourne has fallen short of expectations thus far. Since his inception as senior coach in late 2022, the Kangaroos have won just six games and finished 17th in both years.
However, going into 2025, Kangaroo members should be willing to take a more optimistic stance on their future.
2005 was Alastair Clarkson's first year at the helm of Hawthorn, brought in to lead them out of their rebuilding phase. That plan is similar to the vision North Melbourne held when they hired him to the club in 2022. As things stand, heading into his third year at Arden Street, there are a handful of stats that eerily lineup with the 2006 Hawks - a year where a Clarkson-led team took a leap out of the AFL's basement towards the eight, improving to a record of 9-13 and 11th on the ladder.
The average playing age for Hawthorn in 2006 was 22.8 years; North Melbourne enter this season with an average playing age of 23.8. These both rank last in the AFL in their respective years. While both teams also rank in the bottom quarter of the league for playing experience, the Hawks brought six players into 2006 with at least 150 games played. North Melbourne will follow this trend with six of their own in 2025, plus Darcy Tucker who has featured in 149 games in his career thus far.
The key takeaway from these similarities is Clarkson's desire to have veteran presences available in the locker room for a young side. The Brisbane Lions are proof that acquiring past premiership players at the end of their career can be beneficial to a rebuilding team, with Luke Hodge and Grant Birchall's leadership skills and premiership experience rapidly developing the Lions into top four sides in 2019 and 2020.
The Roos' heavy targeting and eventual acquisition of ageing talents Jack Darling, Luke Parker and Caleb Daniel highlight their aim to bring a winning presence to this era of North Melbourne football and, ultimately, fast-track the development of their young stars.
The career-win percentages of Darling (53%), Parker (62%) and Daniel (55%) demonstrate the club's commitment in attempting to build a winning culture that has been instilled in Clarkson teams of the past.
The statistical similarities of the '06 Hawks and '25 Kangaroos playing lists are certainly an interesting theme to keep an eye on, considering Clarkson's role at both clubs. However, the numbers aren't the only factor suggesting North Melbourne could imitate the 2006 Hawks' leap.
It is early, but the off-season veteran recruits have impressed immensely in match simulations. Daniel was a standout in the Kangaroos' match simulation against the Melbourne Demons on the weekend, dominating in his half-back role and kicking a goal. Darling also impressed in his debut in the Roos kit, working well to create space alongside Larkey as another tall threat for opposition defences to think about.
Recently named as the sole captain of the club, Jy Simpkin also demonstrated his valuable leadership and skill in the spectacular Indigenous All Stars game, awarded best on ground with his 30 disposals and a goal. Entering his eighth season at Arden Street, and being one of the longest-tenured players for North Melbourne, his play will be crucial to elevating the Kangaroos back into relevancy.
The young talent looks fantastic too, with Harry Sheezel unsurprisingly being at his punishing best in both intra-club and competitive match simulations, often deployed as a permanent midfielder. The Kangaroos' top draftee selection Finn O'Sullivan also found a lot of the football on Saturday, and Colby McKercher and Paul Curtis will continue to excite as they play more senior football.
Not everything can be guaranteed of course. AFL coaches aren't always successful in stints at new clubs, evident with Mick Malthouse's struggles at the Blues in his final coaching tenure, and Clarkson's record hasn't been anywhere near excellent to date.
There's a lot riding on the incoming stars to make an instant impact too, in both an on-field and off-field sense.
However, with some dazzling pre-season performances from their nucleus of stars and a squad that resembles emerging Clarkson teams of the past, there's a lot to like about the Kangaroos this season. Now might be the perfect time to invest in North Melbourne stock.
