Ironic then, that so many columns and so much airspace has been dedicated to debating the merits of Majak Daw to the North Melbourne Football Club.
After being exposed to more than a million viewers under the bright lights of Friday night football, many facts have been overlooked when judging Daw’s 2014.
It’s clear by watching him that his ability to run out games has improved significantly even after a minimal pre-season.
This is backed up by the numbers. In his six 2013 AFL games, Daw was substituted in five of his six games (one due to concussion). Even in his one full game, he registered just 80 per cent game time. This was after a full pre-season in 2012-2013.
So far in 2014, he has played four full games from four appearances. In every match his game time percentage has been 87 or more – a far cry from 2013. Again, this has been following a pre-season in which he didn’t join in full training until well after Christmas.
In conjunction with Daw’s improved ability to see out games, he has also been able to hit the scoreboard with more regularity. Flashing back to 2013 once more, once the 6.4 against the Bulldogs is removed, there were just seven scoring shots in his remaining five games.
Daw was goalless in two of those five games, and scoreless against Adelaide. So far in 2014, he has hit the scoreboard in each of his four games – if it weren’t for inaccuracy he’d be averaging approximately two goals a game, and any external criticism would be far more tame.
“I don’t think he knows what he’s doing out there at the moment. Maybe, the ball just fell for him in that game where he kicked six goals.” – Leigh Matthews
There’s also an increased confidence throughout the Kangaroos’ side in Daw’s abilities, reflected in in the fact he’s being used as a forward 50 target much more this year. Again the numbers back this up. In 2013 he was the inside 50 target on 4.5 occasions per game, a number which has risen to 5.8 so far in 2014.
There seems to be a haste to compare Daw to the great full-forwards and centre-half forwards of yesteryear. Even allowing for this brief indulgence, criticism of his numbers – 14 goals after 10 games, is largely unfounded. Even the best of the best didn’t burst out of the blocks.
Gary Ablett – 12 goals in first 10 games
Matthew Lloyd – 18 goals in first 10 games
Matthew Richardson – 15 goals in first 10 games
Wayne Carey – 10 goals in first 10 games
In this same rush to compare, many have overlooked someone who Daw could be compared to, who he could attempt to emulate.
When it comes down to it, he is not being played as a permanent full-forward or centre-half forward. He is a tall forward and relief ruckman for Todd Goldstein - one that just happens to have incredible athleticism.
There was another player at North in the 1990’s who fulfilled a similar role – not the first key-forward, not the first-choice ruckman, but still an absolutely critical part of the 1996 and 1999 teams.
While Daw has a long way to go to match Corey McKernan, there are similar traits in his game to the two-time premiership star.
From the explosive bursts out of packs to the leaping for pack marks, there are undoubted glimpses of what McKernan made his name for in Daw.
A raw statistical comparison paints the picture that McKernan too had a slow start to his career. Or, perhaps, a normal start for a key-position player is how we should judge it given the evidence before us.
| First 10 games | Average disposals | Total goals | Total hit-outs |
| Corey McKernan | 12.1 | 11 | 88 |
| Majak Daw | 7.5 | 14 | 56 |
Bear in mind the reduced game time Daw has had in his first 10 games when comparing the two.
Never fated as much as Carey, many forget what McKernan was capable of. In the 1996 Grand Final, it was he who played a large part in changing the game, all while carrying a knee injury. He kick started the most important passage of play of the afternoon, belting the ball forward for Glenn Freeborn’s third goal – a knock-on that isn’t even reflected in the stat sheet.
It speaks to a presence beyond the statistics. More so than the stats, both McKernan and Daw possess the same presence capable of turning a match with their sheer presence. Defenders were always aware of McKernan’s location at all stages, in much the same way Daw has developed something similar in his early stages. The low hum of the crowd whenever Daw approaches the ball is evidence of this.
While McKernan did suffer from confidence issues and had to endure form slumps, in many ways it speaks to the further similarities with Daw. At some stage during his zero possession game against Richmond in 2001, there probably would have been a few remarks about how he ‘didn’t know what he was doing’ as well.
Daw will no doubt spend more time in the VFL during his career, perhaps even as soon as this week. Even when this ends up to be the case patience must be displayed from the footballing public. Brad Scott summed up Daw’s trajectory well following the loss to Geelong;
“Long-term, Majak will be fine.”
