Almanac Footy: North Melbourne 2025 Season Preview

 

Oz Footy List Manager takes a look at North.

 

List:

Well, that looks more like a normal list!
The North Melbourne list management reforms of 2022 have certainly made a difference. Previously, if you look at their 2021 list, it was in a shambles. With the 2022 management changes – Todd Viney (Football Manager), Jon Ralph (List Manager), Will Thursfield (Head Recruiter) – the list looks much better.
They now have good numbers of key position players, elite midfield options, supporting flankers.
In response to a lack of on-field leadership, they have brought in Parker, Darling & Daniel, which reminds me very much of Sheldon, Hamill and Marcou arriving at StKilda from Carlton in the 1980s.
I’m not too worried about their surplus of junior smaller-mediums (181-185cms) as there will be a handful of these types that will go at season’s end.
In further recruiting, their focus in 2025 will be (190-194cm) mobile key postion options.
North will start winning games this season. Their challenge will be to win consecutive games consistently, which will come with experience.

 

Select 22:

For the first time in a long while, North have a list that can comfortably fill out all the positions in a team, plus extras that I couldn’t include.
Fisher is an interesting one whom I liken to Holmes of Geelong. Both are excellent medium overhead players and do more than just being good defenders. I’d play Fisher in the centre – 24 disps and 5 marks a game is too good for a defender.
The goal to goal line of Corr, Comben, Fisher, Darling and Larkey has experience. Teakle can move into CHF if required. While, the junior Duursma might probably hone his tall forward craft in the VFL this season.
The midfield of Fisher, Davies-Uniacke, Sheezel, Simpkin, Scott, McKercher, Wardlaw, Parker, Powell, and Phillips gives them a 10-cylinder engine.
My only knock is that Xerri and Teakle are a good changing ruck combination, but they need to take more marks, as both take less than 3 marks per game.
The experienced Corr and developing Comben will take the two key defending roles, while Logue and Goater will compete for the 3rd tall defending position.
Good news! North will jump this season. How far? Time will tell.

 

B: Daniel, Corr, Logue

HB: Archer, Comben, McDonald

C: Simpkin, Fisher, Scott

HF: McKercher, Darling, Zurhaar

F: Teakle, Larkey, Konstanty

R: Xerri, Davies-Uniacke, Sheezel

I: Powell, Curtis, Parker, Wardlaw

 

You can follow all the 2025 list updates here – https://www.ozfootylistmanager.com/2025-lists-new.html

 

 

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