North Melbourne was unable to replicate last year’s drought-breaking finals appearance, with the Roos managing two fewer wins despite a 3-0 start.
BY THE NUMBERS
Position: 15th
W-L-D (%): 8-10 (87.9%)
Players used: 50
Played every match: 4 – Connor Downie, Taylor Goad, Finnbar Maley, Jack Watkins
AFL players used: 30 (253 matches)
Ex-AFL players: 6 (70 matches)
Debutants: 15 – Wil Dawson, Kade De La Rue, Brayden George, Taylor Goad, Riley Hardeman, Charlie Harrop, Sam Hayes, Koby James, Will Lambert, Griffin Logue, Cooper Lord, Colby McKercher, Geordie Payne, Toby Pink, Brynn Teakle
STAR PERFORMERS
Best and Fairest: 1st: Jack Watkins (134 votes), 2nd: Hugh Greenwood (111), 3rd: Finnbar Maley (85), 4th: Louis Butler (78), 5th: Jarrod Lienert (76)
J.J. Liston Trophy: Jack Watkins (10 votes), Hugh Greenwood 7, Charlie Lazzaro 7, Colby McKercher 5, Finnbar Maley 3
Coaches MVP Award: Jack Watkins (47 votes), Charlie Lazzaro (36), Hugh Greenwood (35), Tyler Sellers (13), Robert Hansen (12), Sam Lowson (12), Finnbar Maley (12)
Leading Goalkickers: Tyler Sellers (30), Finnbar Maley (18), Robert Hansen (15), Sam Lowson (13), Cooper Harvey (12)
Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year: Jack Watkins (half forward flank)
STAT LEADERS
(Averages – minimum 6 matches)
Disposals: Charlie Lazzaro 26.8, Jack Watkins 24.9, Will Phillips 23.3, Dylan Stephens 22.3, Hugh Greenwood 21.3
Contested possessions: Hugh Greenwood 14.8, Charlie Lazzaro 10.8, Will Phillips 10.8, Jack Watkins 9.8, Finnbar Maley 8.3
Kicks: Charlie Lazzaro 16.0, Jarrod Lienert 14.5, Dylan Stephens 14.2, Jack Watkins 13.8, Jaidyn Stephenson 13.1
Handballs: Will Phillips 15.7, Hugh Greenwood 11.7, Jack Watkins 11.1, Charlie Lazzaro 10.8, Dylan Stephens 8.2
Marks: Jarrod Lienert 6.2, Jaidyn Stephenson 6.1, Curtis Taylor 5.9, Miller Bergman 5.0, Finnbar Maley 4.9
Tackles: Hugh Greenwood 10.5, Will Phillips 6.2, Charlie Lazzaro 6.0, Cooper Lord 5.1, Jack Watkins 4.4
Hitouts: Hamish Free 12.2, Finnbar Maley 6.0, Wil Dawson 5.0, Taylor Goad 4.8, Hugh Greenwood 1.2
Clearances: Hugh Greenwood 8.2, Charlie Lazzaro 5.9, Will Phillips 5.8, Jack Watkins 4.8, Hamish Free 3.3
Inside-50s: Charlie Lazzaro 5.8, Jack Watkins 5.6, Dylan Stephens 3.5, Will Phillips 3.4, Sam Lowson 3.2, Blake Drury 3.2
Rebound-50s: Jarrod Lienert 6.9, Riley Hardeman 3.8, Louis Butler 3.1, Jaidyn Stephenson 3.1, Dylan Stephens 2.8, Miller Bergman 2.8
What went right: The Kangaroos started in good order as they aimed to back up last year’s first VFA/VFL finals appearance in 99 years. They won their first three games, including an efficient upset of the Brisbane Lions at Arden Street Oval. They were very good in close games, winning five of seven decided by single-figure margins. Skipper Jack Watkins continued his brilliant form to win a second straight John Law Medal and make the VFL Team of the Year and the younger players will have learned a lot from the leadership of Hugh Greenwood and Jarrod Lienert. Tyler Sellers had another solid year, booting 30 goals, but has lost his place on the AFL list. VFL clubs should be clamouring for him.
What went wrong: After those first three wins, the Roos were blown away in the second half by Box Hill Hawks in Round 4 and it derailed their season, dropping six games in a row to fall from second spot to virtually out of finals contention in such an even competition. Losing young gun Brayden George to a second ACL just as he was finding his feet was a hammer blow, Ben Davis missed half the season with a knee, Sam Lowson never got going with injury and star recruit Mitch Hannan did not manage to recover from his achilles tear in time to play a game.
Summary: The Kangaroos would be disappointed to fall out of the top 10, winning two less games but more tellingly dropping 14.4 per cent. Their experienced players were their best, with none of the younger VFL brigade able to string full seasons together, with Bode Stevens played the most games with 10. An AFL reserves team’s premiership chances are only as strong as their VFL list and North’s was unfortunately not able to keep up – the gutsy, never-say-die skipper Watkins and former AFL players Lienert, Connor Downie and Louis Butler aside.
Grade: 5/10
2024 SMITHY'S VFL SEASON REVIEWS
Port Melbourne
Casey Demons
Coburg
Carlton
Collingwood
Northern Bullants
