With the first game of 2015 now in the rear view mirror, North Melbourne now has a month inside Victoria with no further travel to prepare for Round 1.
The reigning premiers are next up for the Kangaroos, with a game against the Hawks at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve on Sunday.
Squads
North Melbourne
2. Brad McKenzie, 3. Ryan Bastinac, 5. Ben Jacobs, 7. Jack Ziebell, 8. Daniel Wells, 9. Andrew Swallow, 10. Ben Cunnington, 11. Michael Firrito, 12. Lindsay Thomas, 13. Leigh Adams, 14. Trent Dumont, 16. Scott Thompson, 18. Shaun Atley, 19. Sam Wright, 20. Drew Petrie, 22. Todd Goldstein, 24. Sam Durdin, 25. Robbie Tarrant, 28. Robin Nahas, 29. Brent Harvey, 30. Jarrad Waite, 32. Mason Wood, 34. Jamie Macmillan, 35. Aaron Black, 36. Joel Tippett, 38. Majak Daw, 40. Kayne Turner, 42. Scott McMahon, 43. Sam Gibson
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Hawthorn
2. Jarryd Roughead, 3. Jordan Lewis, 4. Matt Suckling, 5. Sam Mitchell, 6. Josh Gibson, 7. Ben McEvoy, 8. Taylor Duryea, 9. Shaun Burgoyne, 10. Bradley Hill, 12. James Frawley, 13. Jono O’Rourke, 15. Luke Hodge, 16. Isaac Smith, 17. Brian Lake, 18. Jonathan Ceglar, 19. Jack Gunston, 20. David Hale, 21. James Sicily, 22. Luke Breust, 24. Ben Stratton, 26. Liam Shiels, 28. Paul Puopolo, 31. Angus Litherland, 33. Cyril Rioli, 35. Sam Grimley, 37. Jed Anderson, 39. Alex Woodward, 40. Billy Hartung, 41. Daniel Howe
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Changes & structures
With the NAB Challenge a time for experimentation, there was plenty on offer from North in Game 1 against the Crows.
Amongst other moments, the afternoon in Port Lincoln was notable for seeing Kayne Turner spending time playing alongside Rory Sloane in the middle.
Considering Hawthorn has recalled a number of its premiership players for Sunday afternoon, it allows Brad Scott and the North coaching staff the opportunity to throw some players into different positions and test themselves against the cream of the crop.
A feature of last week’s game was a loose defender for both teams, largely due to the wind favouring one end for the afternoon. With minimal wind predicted on Sunday, there’s more of a chance for man on man football at each end of the ground.
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Rucking rotations
Todd Goldstein will play his first game of the year against the Hawks, and his inclusion could provide a sneak peek of the club’s ruck combination to start 2015.
Majak Daw turned in an eye-catching performance against the Crows. His 24 hit-outs and 7 marks were more than anyone else on the ground, and his timing in contested situations was also impressive. However, that was largely while splitting time with Daniel Currie as the main ruckman for the day.
If Daw can bring the same level of performance in assisting Goldstein in limited minutes through the middle, North’s ruck combination becomes a lot more flexible and dangerous.
Game time and a week off
With both sides having a rest next weekend, there could be the temptation to let players spend more time out on the ground than they normally would for a pre-season match.
North and Hawthorn were at the lower end for total interchanges during the first weekend of NAB Challenge matches. Their combined average of 126 was well below the top four of St Kilda, Richmond, Collingwood and Geelong – each of which posted more than 150 changes.
No Kangaroo played more than 90 per cent game time against the Crows; Jarrad Waite leading the way with 95 total minutes.
