North Melbourne will take a no-risk approach with Tom Powell, keeping an eye firmly on the future of the emerging midfielder.
Powell will miss a second game in succession due to soreness, but David Noble said there’s no reason for concern.
“If we wanted to we could probably push on with him (Powell), but there’s probably no need at this point in time,” the North Melbourne coach said on Friday.
“We’ve been able to do a little bit more research in regards to his ongoing soreness, so we’ll probably just continue to manage him going forward.
“We’ll just take the next two or three weeks to see how things settle down for him and maybe he’s back in the team in a month’s time.”
Powell has been a standout among the Roos’ youngsters in his first season at the club, averaging close to 17 disposals a game.
His game time dropped significantly in Rounds 13 and 14 as North looked to manage his workload.
“I think he’s pushed pretty hard (this year),” Noble said.
“All those young guys are keen to play, so what we need to understand is that those guys do a pre-season at about 60 or 65 per cent, so their preparation period to play a full season is automatically compromised.
“You need to manage them carefully, because you don’t want long-term issues.”
“We could probably push him on, but at the end of the year he might need two or three months’ rest and recuperation, so that probably doesn’t make sense in regards to the level he’s played at.”
Noble said he couldn’t have been happier with Powell’s first year as a Kangaroo.
“He’s (Powell) obviously been close to a Rising Star (nomination) and his form’s been great,” he added.
“When that starts to just fall off a little bit, you need to ask the appropriate questions and then manage accordingly.
“We’ve been rapt with where ‘Powelly’s’ got to, the level he’s been able to contribute in the midfield and his decision-making is elite … we’ve been really rapt with him and I guess it’s just a no-risk policy with him.”
North continues to blood youngsters in its developing team, with Eddie Ford the latest draftee to earn a debut, against the Bulldogs on Sunday.
He follows in the footsteps of Powell, Will Phillips and Charlie Lazzaro as first-year debutants at the club.
