Melbourne the carrot as Kangaroos endure AFL rebuild

By: Roger Vaughan Time published 2023-04-30 at 04:22 AM (GMT +10:00)

Not so long ago, Melbourne were the AFL easybeats - and now North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson says the Demons give them hope.

ALASTAIR CLARKSON, Senior Coach of the Hawks looks on during the 2017 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Hawthorn Hawks at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia.
ALASTAIR CLARKSON, Senior Coach of the Hawks looks on during the 2017 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Hawthorn Hawks at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images

Melbourne have come from where North Melbourne are now in the AFL.

That's a key point for Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson as his side deal with the brutal realities of rebuilding.

The Demons overwhelmed the Kangaroos by 90 points - 22.7 (139) to 7.7 (49) -on Saturday night, with North forward Charlie Comben hospitalised after he broke his leg.

Callum Coleman-Jones (concussion) and Tom Powell (rolled ankle) were also casualties, plus star onballer Luke Davies-Uniacke, who had to pull out of the match on Friday because of a foot injury.

But Clarkson notes that not long before Melbourne won the 2021 premiership, they were the AFL's easybeats.

"I reckon they have, if not eight, maybe as many as 10 blokes who are All-Australian quality," Clarkson said.

"What we saw is the gap between one of the better sides in the competition and one of the not-so good sides.

"They've been in the same position as what we are right now ... the dangling carrot for us is because we know what their path has been, there's hope and prospect for us as a footy club as well."

Injuries are hitting North hard and Clarkson said their core 10 players collectively had been sidelined for probably half their games so far this season.

"It's tough yards, but we'll roll up the sleeves, get to work," Clarkson said.

"They're a highly credentialed side and I'd be very surprised if they're not top-four and challenging seriously for the flag."

Clarkson added that, overall, they played better than in their previous two losses, but Melbourne were just too talented for them.

"It didn't help us much in terms of scoreboard difference, but it helps in giving us some relief that we can control the ball for longer periods," he said.

For all their free scoring, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said they also emphasised a stronger defensive effort against North.

"At times, earlier in the year we were probably scoring quite freely, but our defensive side of the game wasn't quite to the level that we're used to - we've really focussed on that," he said.

Melbourne are likely to regain Harrison Petty and Charlie Spargo for next week's away match against Gold Coast.