North Melbourne dual-premiership player David King believes North Melbourne will be more than capable of beating the best sides in the competition after adding some potent outside run in the off-season.
“North Melbourne has always had the cake, but now it has recruited the icing,” he said.
“Coach Brad Scott can transition the game from inside the congestion to the outside space, where the damage is done.”
King says the added fire-power comes after the acquisition of Aaron Hall, Tarryn Thomas, Jasper Pittard and Jared Polec.
“The Kangaroos have been a no-frills, contested ball team for years — they are prepared to play the game at its most brutal,” King continued.
“Last season the Roos won 15 of their 22 head-to-head contested ball battles, a major reason behind their 12-win season. They were 0-6 when they lost the contested ball battles, which raises the question of whether they can win in other ways.
“It is the first-handball-receiver-type of player who will make a big difference to how the Kangaroos play in 2019. Enter Aaron Hall, Jared Polec, Jasper Pittard and Tarryn Thomas. All line-breaking, elite kicking talents who will take this team into the finals.”
King particularly excited by Thomas.
“Kangaroos fans, wait until you see Thomas strut his stuff,” King stated.
“He is Daniel Wells Mark II. He can play deep forward, a goalkicker bursting from the centre bounce, and has sublime kicking skills and vision that will have key forwards salivating.”
While North’s outside runners are critical, King says Ben Cunnington must continue to do the dirty work on the inside and get their ball in their hands.
“Ben Cunnington remains unrecognised by the pundits, but only Sydney’s Josh Kennedy and Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield have won more clearances or contested possessions than him in the past five seasons,” King wrote in the Herald Sun.
“Cunnington’s consistency and contested ball production, combined with Jed Anderson’s first full season since his arrival, has given Scott the luxury of playing Jack Ziebell deep forward.
“Ben Jacobs plays a crucial role in this midfield, but he has missed more games than he has played in the past two seasons. Expect Jy Simpkin to play more midfield minutes as North transforms from a dour, slow midfield to a unit with an abundance of speed.”
King going on to declare North a contender.
“This is a new-look North Melbourne — a faster model, which will play an exciting brand of football that will include a finals campaign.”
