The season so far
After North bid farewell to veterans Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito, Nick Dal Santo and Daniel Wells at the end of last season, many tipped an extremely lean 2017 for the Kangaroos. North has proved those sceptics wrong so far this season. Even during their disappointing 0-5 start, the Roos were largely competitive, losing three of those five games by less than a kick. They then won four of their next six games – their most notable victories coming against Adelaide and Melbourne – to head into the round 12 bye two games outside the top eight. Even more encouragingly, emerging players such as Taylor Garner, Trent Dumont, Mason Wood, Braydon Preuss, Kayne Turner and Ed Vickers-Willis have taken significant strides, while first-year forward Jy Simpkin looks a classy prospect.
Quarters won: 18
Players used: 32
Yet to play: Paul Ahern, Will Fordham, Ben Jacobs, Oscar Junker, Nick Larkey, Ben McKay, Daniel Nielson, Matthew Taylor, Declan Watson, Josh Williams, Sam Wright, Cameron Zurhaar
Stats leaders
Disposals: Jack Ziebell (255)
Marks: Lachlan Hansen (69)
Goals: Ben Brown (28)
Tackles: Jack Ziebell (62)
Metres gained: Shaun Higgins (472.2m a game)
Marks inside 50: Ben Brown (equal sixth in AFL)
Best win
Round seven, versus Adelaide
North rocked the previously unbeaten Crows with a 10.4 to 0.0 opening term before cruising to a 59-point triumph at Blundstone Arena.
One that got away
Round five, versus Fremantle
North finally looked set to record its first win of the season when it led the Dockers deep into the final term at Domain Stadium, but two late Freo goals handed the Roos a heart-breaking five-point loss – the third time in four games they had lost by less than a kick.
Best and fairest leader: Robbie Tarrant
Surprise packet: Marley Williams
Who's struggling: Andrew Swallow, Lindsay Thomas
Missing in action
Sam Wright. Recurring ankle problems have kept the defender off the park this year and his pin-point foot skills and ability to switch play have been sorely missed.
The concern
North's midfield is well stocked for inside ball-winners, but its lack of elite ball-users was highlighted by the turnover-ridden loss to Richmond. Shaun Higgins' classy foot skills stand out like the gasometers that used to border Arden St, but the Kangaroos will immediately bolster their outside potency if they land Josh Kelly and/or Dustin Martin in October's player exchange period.
Pass mark
Making the finals looks beyond North, but 2017 won't be wasted if it remains competitive in the second half of the season and gets more games into youngsters such as Simpkin, Vickers-Willis, Preuss, Sam Durdin, Ryan Clarke and Declan Mountford.
The coach
Brad Scott has North playing a highly effective brand of attacking football (it is ranked sixth in the AFL average scores) but would be concerned by how easily his team has been scored against (15th for scores conceded). Scott has overseen the continued development of Dumont, Garner and Turner this season, and successfully blooded Simpkin and Vickers-Willis, but must look to continue North's youthful makeover in the second half of 2017.
How the best 22 has changed
Former skipper Andrew Swallow, Lindsay Thomas and Majak Daw are the notable omissions from our round one team, while defenders Lachlan Hansen and Aaron Mullett have earned recalls, pushing out Durdin and the injured Sam Wright respectively. Ben Cunnington (suspension), Garner (hip) and Mason Wood (hamstring) were unavailable for round one but return as automatic inclusions. Of North's six 2017 debutants, Vickers-Willis and Simpkin have best seized their opportunities.
B: Marley Williams, Robbie Tarrant, Scott Thompson
HB: Ed Vickers-Willis, Lachlan Hansen, Aaron Mullett
C: Jamie Macmillan, Jack Ziebell, Luke McDonald
HF: Taylor Garner, Jarrad Waite, Mason Wood
F: Nathan Hrovat, Ben Brown, Kayne Turner
R: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Shaun Higgins
I/C: Trent Dumont, Shaun Atley, Sam Gibson, Jy Simpkin
In from pre-season best 22: Ben Cunnington, Taylor Garner, Sam Gibson, Lachlan Hansen, Aaron Mullett, Ed Vickers-Willis, Mason Wood
Out from pre-season best 22: Ryan Clarke, Majak Daw, Sam Durdin, Declan Mountford, Andrew Swallow, Lindsay Thomas, Sam Wright
• Who did we tip for your club's best 22 in round one?
Kangaroos fans: what's your mid-season verdict?
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• State of Origin: Who'd play, who'd miss out?
