Defender Scott Thompson will have a “massive responsibility” in defence this season and is critical to North’s chances, according to two-time premiership star Corey McKernan.
The former North ruckman-forward believes the Roos’ defensive stocks will take a significant hit if Thompson is unable to play a full season down back.
“(If) you take him out of there, then you’ve got to do the whole band-aid approach that happens after that,” McKernan told NMFC.com.au in a past player survey.
“He’s always going to get that gorilla even though he’s undersized in terms of the guys he has to play on.
“I think the ripple effect if he doesn’t play is massive.”
On the opposite side of the ground, McKernan said Drew Petrie’s contribution in attack will go a long way to determining whether the Roos can secure the double chance in September.
“If Drew kicks around 60 goals, I think we would’ve finished (in the) top four,” he said.
“That will be a really good indicator for, one, we’ve had a good year and, two, I think any team that’s going to go real deep in the finals needs around that 60-goal mark from their power forwards.”
McKernan, who played 196 games for North and booted 250 goals, said repeating last season’s on-field success is no guarantee but expects the club to put itself in a position to challenge.
“I don’t know if we’re a lock to finish (in the) top four; we could scrape in and finish fourth,” he said.
“It’s just an interesting phase of where we’re at. We’re not a lay-down certainty … to finish in the top four, I think we still got to have a lot of things go right to finish in the top four.”
See McKernan’s answers and predictions below. Do you agree?
1. What are your expectations of NMFC in 2015?
To give themselves every opportunity to get back in a preliminary final and then anything can happen from there.
2. Who will be NMFC’s most improved player?
Daniel Wells
3. Will Brent Harvey play again in 2016?
Yes
4. What will the six-man forward line set-up be in round one?
Harvey, Petrie, Wood, Thomas, Brown, Higgins
5. Which NMFC player are you most excited about seeing this season?
Jack Ziebell
6. Which player(s) need to make a statement?
Scott Thompson
7. Where will NMFC finish after the home and away season?
4th
8. How many members will NMFC sign up?
42,000
9. Who is NMFC’s most important player in 2015?
Scott Thompson
10. Who will be the leading NMFC player in the following categories?
- Goals: Petrie
- Tackles: Ziebell
- Possessions: Swallow
- Marks: Petrie
- Contested possessions: Ziebell
- Clearances: Bastinac
11. Complete the following sentence: If NMFC wins the Grand Final, I will:
Be a back-up dancer for Mick Martyn while he performs Taylor Swift’s song ‘Shake It Off’ on national television.
