North Melbourne 2023 AFL Preview & Predictions

<p>Last season’s cellar dweller’s the North Melbourne Kangaroos have signed some fresh recruits and installed a new head coach in an attempt to haul themselves off the foot of the ladder.</p> <p>Four-time premiership winning coach Alastair Clarkson is the man North Melbourne have chosen to lead them forward, with the former Hawthorn mentor signing a five-year contract with the club.</p> <p>There will be extra incentive for Clarkson to do well, as North Melbourne is already very close to his heart. The 54-year-old played 93 games for the club between 1987-1995 and it’s where he made his debut as a professional AFL player.</p> <p>Can Clarkson turn around the Kangaroos fortunes? Or will they be collecting another wooden kitchen utensil at season’s end?</p> <p>Looking for all the latest and greatest North Melbourne tips and predictions for the upcoming AFL season? Our preview below has got you covered.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Gains</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Blake Drury (Rookie Draft)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Hamish Free (Rookie Draft)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Brayden George (No.26 draft pick)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Cooper Harvey (No.56 draft pick, father-son)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Daniel Howe (Rookie Draft)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Griffin Logue (Fremantle Dockers)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Harry Sheezel (No.3 draft pick)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Liam Shiels (Supplemental selection period)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Darcy Tucker (Fremantle Dockers)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>George Wardlaw (No.4 draft pick)</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A pair of Dockers have been brought in by North Melbourne to try and help turn things around.</p> <p>Both Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker have signed on the dotted line ahead of the new season and will fill two key positions for the Kangaroos.</p> <p>Logue appears to have been promised the role of being a permanent key defender and should slot in nicely alongside Luke McDonald and Tarryn Thomas and help sure up North Melbourne’s notoriously leaky defence.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Darcy Tucker has been earmarked for a starting berth out wide for the team.&nbsp;</p> <p>Entering his physical prime with a good deal of first grade experience under his belt, Tucker should prove to be an astute piece of business for the club.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Losses</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Jed Anderson (Delisted)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Atu Bosenavulagi (Delisted)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Kyron Hayden (Delisted)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Jason Horne-Francis (Port Adelaide)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Tom Lynch (Retired)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Matt McGuinness (Delisted)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Jared Polec (Delisted)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Josh Walker (Delisted)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Patrick Walker (Delisted)</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The North Melbourne cleanout is well underway with a host of players being delisted by the club.</p> <p>In addition to the six odd players who have been delisted, former No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis has been traded to Port Adelaide.</p> <p>Finally, Tom Lynch has retired, freeing up a spot on the Kangaroos list, after having never played a game for the club.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Player To Watch</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Luke Davis-Uniacke</em></strong></p> <p>Emerging midfield gun Luke Davies-Uniacke was one of the bright spots for the struggling Kangaroos last season.</p> <p>With Ben Cunnington missing most of the 2022 season, Davis-Uniacke seized his opportunity and took his game to new heights, establishing himself as one of North Melbourne’s most important players.</p> <p>The 23-year-old averaged 24.9 disposals and 5.3 clearance across 21 games last term as he finished runner-up in the club’s best and fairest award.</p> <p>Ahead of this season, the rising star has signed a new two-year contract extension committing his immediate future to the club.</p> <p>Fully committed to the Kangaroos’ cause and getting better with every passing game, Luke Davis-Uniacke is certainly one to watch this season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>North Melbourne Season Prediction</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Predicted finish: 18th</em></p> <p>After finishing the 2022 season dead last, the good news for North Melbourne is the only way is up, or is it?</p> <p>The stark reality of collecting back-to-back wooden spoons is still a very real possibility for the struggling Kangaroos.</p> <p>It normally takes years for a club down in the doldrums to turn their fortunes around.</p> <p>Remember North Melbourne recorded only two wins during the entirety of last season. So, it’s most likely going to be a long road to redemption.</p> <p>Signing Alastair Clarkson is definitely a step in the right direction, as there is no disputing his pedigree as a head coach.</p> <p>His record speaks for itself, after all, he guided the Hawks to four flags, including three in a row.</p> <p>He will need to call on every ounce of his tactical acumen if he wants any chance of lifting his side off the foot of the ladder, but sometimes, there’s only so much a coach can do.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>North Melbourne’s Best 22</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>B:</strong> Aidan Corr, Ben McKay, Flynn Perez</p> <p><strong>HB:</strong> Luke McDonald, Griffin Logue, Tarryn Thomas</p> <p><strong>C:</strong> Bailey Scott, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Darcy Tucker</p> <p><strong>HF:</strong> Jaidyn Stephenson, Nick Larkey, Curtis Taylor</p> <p><strong>F:</strong> Paul Curtis, Callum Coleman-Jones, Cam Zurhaar</p> <p><strong>Foll:</strong> Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Jy Simpkin</p> <p><strong>I/C:</strong> Jack Ziebell, Tom Powell, Will Phillips, Aaron Hall</p>