At the halfway point of North Melbourne's season, it feels like a natural time to reset and reflect on what we've learned so far.
Category: Deep Dives
6-0 for the first time since 1965, comfortable wins over last year’s premiers and runner up, a defensive setup humming in all areas and genuine belief coursing through the playing group.
Just a little bit has happened since the end of North Melbourne’s 2020 campaign. Coach change, significant list changes, essentially a whole remodel.
This dossier is a little different to the previous three. There’s next to no point detailing how Richmond plays, because everyone knows that.
Despite finishing on top of the ladder, with the second most points scored, the fewest conceded and the biggest inside 50 differential in the league, the Power sit a distant fourth in premiership favouritism.
Although the home and away ladder position – from top to fourth – and recent form – a heavy loss to Richmond and squeaking by Sydney – may not show it, Geelong is an improved team from 2019.
This week I’ll be looking at each of the top four sides and the legitimacy of their premiership contention in the 2nd Annual Finals Dossiers. First up, it’s Brisbane.
With a remarkable 11 delistings, a quarter of North’s list disappeared in one fell swoop. To cut this deep, this early appears to mean plenty more wheeling and dealing to come.
Throughout North Melbourne’s last month, the common thread – apart from four losses – has been ball movement. Or to be more accurate, the lack of.
Hawthorn brutally exposed what happens when Richmond is off its game totally, so surprising to watch given how rare it has been over the last three years.
