In the next few weeks until the start of the 2010 season on 25th March 2010 we will review in depth every 16 clubs. We started off with Fremantle, then the Bulldogs with their new key forward and today we look at the Kangaroos with their new coach Brad Scott.
Andrew Swallow had a steller 2009 winning their Fairest & Best and he is part of the new bread leading the midfield.
After Kick2Kick reviews each club, we will give their full season 2010 predictions like we did last year. If you would like to review a team or something else, please contact us.
What Happened Last Year
Injuries to their key players, players walking out of the club (Gibson & Smith) add to that a mid season retirement of their coach and club captain all equaled it was a year to forget. Then they had the hard luck of having two senior coaches in waiting over turn the Kangaroos offer to be their senior coach.
However there is always a silver lining to every storm cloud with the recruiting of Cunnington & Bastinic who look like 200+ gamers and their 3rd choice for coach (Bard Scott) could be the recruit of the year as he looks to over turn the battling tag to a competitive professional club.
The New Season
Every new season brings hope and Brad Scott is making all the right noise and if you look at these names who are all 25 or under (Jack Ziebell, Andrew Swallow, Liam Anthony, Ben Cunnington, Ryan Bastinic, Matt Campbell, Hamish McIntosh & Daniel Wells), the midfield, the engine room of the club starts to look ok.
The worry however is their forward line as they did not kick enough goals to be competitive last year but so far in the NAB pre season competition, Scott looks to be changing that as well.
Likely Finish: 11th – 14th
Players to Watch
Matt Campbell/ Lindsay Thomas -At their best they add excitement, run and a goal kicking ability that has had some compare them to the Krakouer brothers. Last year they only managed between them to kick 30 odd goals where both could easily kick 30 goals in a season on their own.
Ben Warren -In his fourth year he managed 9 games and 11 goals last year, yet 2010 looks to be the year when he becomes a player to watch. I have him in my Dreamteam and I could see him kick 30 odd goals a year. The only potential problem is the fight for the same spot with Corey Jones.
Todd Goldstein – A late bloomer who played Basketball before playing AFL, again like Warren last year was his breakout year and to many, he has now become the second ruckmen leap frogging Hale.
Bench Warmers
Aaron Edwards – You know what you get with Aaron Edwards but I get the feeling that 2010 could be his last chance unless he plays like he did in the 2007 season where he took the mark of the year and covered for injured Nathan Thompson in their last finals campaign.
Brady Rawlings – May seem harsh to many but he has no place in the midfield anymore with a host of younger faster players. Last year he did switch to the half back flank but will this renew his career or just extend it for a year?
Need to Improve
Daniel Wells – When fit and full of confidence like in season 2008, he is a match winner who adds that polish to the workman style of the young midfield. In other words, his outside run and bounce down the wing is needed for them to improve this year.
David Hale – A big 201cm full forward can be scary to face against, just ask Matthew Scarlett who David kicked 8 goals against one afternoon. However he went missing in 2009 and if the Roos want to improve he needs to play to his potential and salary he was signed under last year.
Your Thoughts
What do you think Brad Scotts comments about changing the clubs culture? Will the new change rooms and a non ex-Kangaroo coach be a good thing? Personally he is good for the Kangaroos, he wants to coach them and he wants to stamp success on and off field.
On field, will Wells fit be the difference between a fight for the wooden spoon or lifting and making a play for the finals?
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March 6th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I have always found that North have had a pretty solid culture so I don’t know where this off season ‘culture clean-up’ has come from. They have always had no resources and managed to win flags in the 90′s and played in a prelim only a couple of seasons ago(’07). I think they are on the right track and some of their kids are very, very good but i think they are still a long way off challenging for top 4 and will be very up and down this year.
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March 8th, 2010 at 8:50 am
In regards to the ‘culture clean up’ I’m talking about the culture of struggling financially, being the poor mans club where they can only pay 92.5% of their salary cup and never drawing the big name player to their club…
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March 10th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Somebody said it perfectly and I don’t even know who it was, but they said “North Melbourne have no excuses any more” They have a multi-million dollar facility that is said to rival the Lexus Centre. they might still not have a lot of money but as the dogs already showed and melbourne are showing, you can get out of debt.
I think the Roos are a couple of years off finals or making an impact in the finals. they will have to adapt to their new coach, and he will need to build a strong team which will take time. But they have the uncanny ability to exceed people’s expectations…good luck to them
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March 10th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Agree, im actually surprised how well there young kids look, I remember writing an article last year commenting about which squad would be the best to coach out of North, Richmond, Colingwood etc. I thought North was the weakest but so far, I think they have even more upside than Collingwood….
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