Still just 23 years of age approaching the 2022 season, Nick Larkey is beginning to look like one of the best bargain draft picks in the history of the club.

Made to bide his time at VFL level, Larkey played just the one game in 2017.

Larkey was unsighted at senior level in 2018 and played 17 games in the VFL that year, kicking 41 goals to win the Frosty Miller Medal, awarded to the competition’s leading goal-kicker.

After establishing himself as a mainstay of the side in 2019, booting 26 goals, his 2020 was hit by injury, with the young forward playing just ten games for the season.

North Melbourne debut: Round 18, 2017
Career Brownlow votes: 3

2021: With the departure of Ben Brown to Melbourne, Nick Larkey entered 2021 as the main man in North Melbourne’s forward line, brilliantly taking on the weight of expectation as the number one forward.

Playing all 22 games for the year, he finished as the club’s leading goal-kicker with 42 majors.

Forming a lethal partnership with Cam Zurhaar in the second half of the year, Larkey was kept goalless only three times all season, and kicked three or more goals in seven of his appearances.

While he kicked three goals in each of North’s victories over West Coast and Gold Coast, a career-best performance from Larkey saw him lead the charge against Carlton.

After registering 20 disposals and 7 goals against All-Australian fancy Jacob Weitering, Larkey collected all the plaudits in what was a miraculous team performance.

While expecting seven goals every week from Larkey may be unfair, should he continue his current trend of development, he could place himself amongst the Coleman Medal contenders in 2022.