Was North wrong to claim a late season win and cost themselves Harley Reid? - Footy Classified

Matthew Lloyd concedes that while he has never been an advocate for any kind of tanking, the form of Harley Reid and what he believes the young Eagle can do for the next 15 years, has changed his mind on North Melbourne's Round 24 win last year.
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[@biggi3st3v3]

Media 'West coast should trade pick 1, they need quantity not quality!' Also media 'north should have tanked for pick 1 they need quality not quantity' Rest of us 'u guys suck'

[@travisfarley]

Exactly. The overblown hyperbole from media this last 6 months (before and after the draft) has been utterly ridiculous. The Eagles got criticised for taking 'only' pick 1, now it's seen as a master stroke and this 1 player is the saviour of the club... after one win!

[@Linda-tv6fn]

West Coast has won a ton of finals in the last 20 years Essendon has won zero. West Coast has had far more Top 5 Draft picks than what Essendon have. The Draft system is encouraging teams to bottom out and be uncompetitive.

[@travisfarley]

​@@Linda-tv6fn Curious where you got that information from? In the last 20 years, West Coast have had 6 picks in the Top 5. Essendon have had 5. (And currently Essendon has a league high 12 Top 10 picks on their list. West Coast has 3)

[@Linda-tv6fn]

@@travisfarley Essendon have been middle of the table for literally 20 years. The result is they have had bugger all top 3 draft picks. West Coast went down collingwood went down loaded up on picks. The Draft rewards teams who tank.

[@travisfarley]

@@Linda-tv6fn So 6 top 5 picks in 20 years is loading up? OK. I think this is a an Essendon problem, not a draft problem.

[@GDM22]

Meanwhile West Coast had a shock win a week earlier, seemingly losing the number 1 pick, should they have thrown that game also. Totally Victorian centric analysis, what a surpise.

[@kokmuncher6702]

For once Caro was actually spot on, we all remember when Melbourne tanked to get Trengove and Scully and Richmond got dusty in the same draft. Tanking is never a good idea

[@Comatosedpeanut]

It would’ve been a good idea if Melbournes recruiters weren’t morons. They also picked up jimmy toumpas around the same period.

[@Hunty49]

You can have a good pick, but it doesn't mean the player you pick is good. Jack Watts?

[@user-cx9gq2ud6t]

@@Hunty49 would have been a star if he came to us and Nic Nat would have flopped if he went to Demons

[@normlothian8379]

What a bunch off hypocrites

[@danielvernon9952]

How about some credit to the west coast staff and Adam Simpson? I cant see harley thriving the way he is right now at north. Him being alongside experienced mids like yeo, TK and sheuy as mid coach would be fast tracking his progress. The kid's amazing but cmon, do these guys really think he alone is doing everything at west coast 🙄

[@travisfarley]

Totally agree. Harley is something special for sure but our list this year is a lot healthier than the last 2 years. I think they're underestimating the influence of a healthy Yeo, Gov, Cole, Cripps etc. Plus Petch and Waterman playing their best footy *ps. It's one win, let's not get too carried away!

[@gustaaf1892]

Finally someone who recognises that it was the senior players who made the difference for West Coast and provided room for Reid to thrive against Richmond. The senior players at North are contributing diddly squat, which is the main problem there.

[@imalwaysright]

JHF was at Nth and didn’t save them and he’s already gone. It’s typical media punditry. Nth have other issues besides getting a Reid. Kane has been bashing Simpson now he’s praising WC 🙃

[@fire_titan5735]

Sheezel is living proof roos could do great things with Harley. Harley has done the work himself not simmo

[@imalwaysright]

@@fire_titan5735 Reid has said coaches have helped his development.

[@ralphgomeze8873]

Hahahah, after Cornes, McClure and the whole Melb Media tried to con West Coasf to split the pick, they can now watch in awe Harley tear it up for the Eagles. Wouldn’t be the first time the media has had Sour Grapes with the Eagles. And don’t forget with aging stars retiring the next 2 years, we will have a war chest of $$$.

[@Comatosedpeanut]

You couldn’t keep Judd, what makes you think you’ll be able to keep Reid?

[@caineowen933]

​@Comatosedpeanut sounding a tad salty. The Judd debate is irrelevant we got Josh Kennedy out of that deal and he only retired 2 years ago.

[@ralphgomeze8873]

@@Comatosedpeanut I guess you won’t talk about how many. Victorian and South Australians we got and could keep. Retention rate is high. And what you never talk about out is if we have the money and resources to keep them lol.

[@mattyey]

@@Comatosedpeanut yeh… our Eagle boys have been horrible on the field the last few years… but as much as Melbourne media dislikes us, our greatest attribute is the positivity from our fans and the isolation from the pressures of Melbourne. Perth is a release from that environment (nothing against Melburnians, but media pressure over there is brutal) What the Melbourne media put James Hird and the Essendon boys through during that supplement saga was absolutely shameful, and they never issued an apology for what they did… Hirdy developed severe mental illness and he got chewed up and spat out in his darkest hours. Do you think Harley Reid wants to go back to that? That “warm Melbourne” footy hospitality? 😂. Sorry but Harley is staying here and I think we will keep him for a long time, despite what Sam McClure says

[@mattyey]

This is my answer to all AFL fans in Melbourne who don’t understand why a lot of players stay in Perth, I’ll give a few reasons *Much lower chance of developing depression in the West compared to Melbourne teams, the isolation lessens pressure (in my opinion) *Less chance of being hounded by vulture AFL journalists at every street corner *Eagles players and Dockers players over here can actually go out in off season to restaurants, have a beer and not get harassed *Isolation from Melbourne media (worshipping you when things go well, and then destroying your life when you have a bad game, Perth isn’t like that) *Perth has a kind of warm, grassroots feel to it and we stay very positive Are there negatives? Sure… my teams new song sucks… sometimes a minority of my fellow Eagle fans can be delusional eternal optimists at times… but AFL players in Perth have much more pros than cons

[@devilwarr1or]

...would harley reid have made a difference in that game...because thats the ONLY question you can ask. Thats the ONLY difference that win made. They got Colby Mckercher instead who got INJURED in the first quarter..... West Coast played a completely depleted Richmond team at home.... North Melbourne played an undefeated geelong at geelong.... How do these flogs even have jobs....

[@John-nl2kt]

Don’t know GOOD QUESTION 🤡

[@Comatosedpeanut]

Everyone knew Reid was a better player then mckercher before the draft had even happened though.

[@josephpedley308]

Exactly... The hype about this kid over the radio here in WA is outrageous 🤡

[@mattyey]

The funny thing is that I am so grateful to South Australia every single day for Shannon Hurn, and Freo fans also very grateful with Pav (SA)… but we don’t get sand in our vag everytime a Perth boy leaves. God bless Patty Cripps (WA), I hope he stays a blue for life if he’s happy!! But whenever a VIC boy comes over here everyone gets so insecure to the point of absurdity 😂.

[@davidagiel8130]

They always blame the coach, North have no players worth a dime

[@PWD65]

Imagine being a media figure and openly encouraging and endorsing tanking lmao

[@DW-rs1pr]

Its just being honest. Thats what we want from the media

[@PWD65]

@@DW-rs1pr hahaha it's literally cheating

[@RS-qy8pk]

So Hutchy is endorsing match fixing? Got it. There goes whatever integrity he had left.

[@JM-br6vc]

So basically tank to get the first pick? Absolute stupid take. If north did that, they’d cop it left right and centre from everyone

[@daviddevenny6005]

Who cares the club didn,t need to win,,should have tanked

[@devilwarr1or]

@@daviddevenny6005 all that changed is they didnt get harley and got colby....you think harley would have made a difference in that north geelong game...seriously....

[@gustaaf1892]

@@devilwarr1or The difference would have been Reid for Duursma because North would have had picks 1 and 2.

[@imalwaysright]

And haven’t they already said North don’t deserve anymore compensation. If they tanked, they would have been crucified.

[@01Grytz]

they already cop it left right and centre from everyone

[@lappin6482]

Hypocrisy at its finest

[@mattyey]

As an Eagles fan, I want to kiss Clarko and North everyday thinking about this lol. The value of Harley to avoid tackles makes him much less likely to get injured… and he’s more of a crumbing guru as opposed to guys who prefer taking high flyers… so again, less chance of injury. Amazing young player 👍

[@HighscoreCreative]

Yeo had osteitis pubis. So harsh to say he just wasnt putting in any effort, he was a dual best and fairest and then had O.P. some players never recover from it.

[@GEB-yy3ud]

That may be factually correct but as a SuperCoach I can attest to the emotional damage that his low scores caused. These low scores are the justifiable cause of the harsh criticism Yeo received from overweight men that he did not try hard enough.

[@HighscoreCreative]

fair enough@@GEB-yy3ud

[@Comatosedpeanut]

Lmao I said it when they won, that they should’ve just tanked that game. Was insane not too. This is the same club that took will phillips at pick 3 over Logan McDonald. They haven’t got a clue 😂

[@devilwarr1or]

logan mcdonald isnt actually setting the world on fire you know.....

[@Comatosedpeanut]

Will Phillips can’t get a game for arguably the worst side in the comp, while Logan McDonald is Sydney’s top scorer in 2024. He’s currently kicked more than larkey 😂 🤷‍♂️ key position players also take longer to develop.

[@12345olipop]

If they didn’t win that game they would currently be on a 26 game losing streak, but at the same time a 1W 25L record isn’t that much better 😂 This is already after four consecutive bottom two finishes, what a basket case of a football club

[@devilwarr1or]

the irony is these flogs explaining that they cant retain the decent players they have....and then actively start promoting that the next lot of players should leave..... so they can bash north for the next 5 years.

[@mattyey]

Yeh the frustration of the media on topics like this is annoying. My eagles have been embarrassing on the football field since second half of 2021 (no excuses)… and the AFL is begging for us to get more competitive after we keep getting spanked… and then we get the young genius of Harley, and then Melbourne media takes issue with Harley leaving Melbourne lol. Media: “Get more competitive Eagles!! This is embarrassing” WC at AFL draft: “we select Harley Reid” Media: “why did the Eagles select Harley Reid?? I don’t understand this logic!!” Eagles: “we wanted to get more competitive” Jesus it’s confusing 😂. I hope Harry Sheezel stays a kangaroo for life because I want to see that club get better, I want to see some old shinboner spirit and we share their struggle as a struggling team 👍. The media has to got to stop this flip-flopping nonsense

[@ralphgomeze8873]

This bafoon has no idea, West Coast finished 9th in 2021, where is the bottom two finishes the last 4 years. He is obviously listens to Cornes and McClure who said Harley Reid doesn’t want to go to West Coast. Basket Case lol, North Melbourne get 6 extra draft picks the last few years, no money, low membership and still can’t win a game . What does that make them !!! Cromellins Bin !

[@simonknowles4267]

I would love to meet thee 4 muppets and have a genuine conversation. These are total FLOGS. No matter what North do it’s never good enough….

[@AlonsoRules]

irrelevant battlers

[@gumby7584]

Gotta love how she sticks the boots into everyone and everything. But the moment they talk about Richmond she goes proper nuffie.

[@bizkit4136]

Seriously all last year cornes was all over the eagles with allegations of tanking (despite having over half the squad on the long term injury list) and calling for Simmos head. Now after a break out game from the number 1 pick it would have been ok for a Victorian team to do so. I actually almost feel sorry for Matthew Lloyd having to work next to these 3 idiots.

[@skaixx1864]

has the media not learnt last time a club tanked? *cough * Melbourne. how terrible were they for afterwards? a decade of possible improvement wiped out. introducing tanking ruins the culture, introduces a losing culture, anyone advocating for north Melbourne to lose that game are morons, no question.

[@jackhudson2237]

They are so upset that West Coast got Harley Reid. The reality is Reid will be thanking his lucky stars that he got picked by a massive club like Eagles and not a failed, irrelevant Victorian club like North.

[@StreetsDisciple01]

4:10 "I think that's largely due to his preparation." It would be great if those in the media backed up damning claims like these with something substantial other than 'I think'. Or for Caroline - 'my understanding'

[@imalwaysright]

Right. Kane will say anything to suit his angle, and now jumps on the Yeo bandwagon

[@johnjames1401]

Nice input Kane

[@TrickShotsRMyLife]

So if our problem is inexperienced players, how is drafting reid any different than drafting duursma and mckercher? I know Reid is better than both of them, but solely based on experience, they are equally the same. Other first draft picks have been duds so it wasn't necessarily a bad decision to win that game. Old mate in-between cornes and Lloydy said no body remembers that win against GC. I sure as heck do (obv I'm a North supporter). I just think it's unfair to attack north for winning that game and not tanking it which gave up a pick that honestly could've been a dud too.

[@Ben.216]

When Clarkson was a coach of Hawthorn with all the star players they said his a genius coach and he used to look down on coaches at the bottom of the ladder … you only as good as your players allow you to be .. you wasn’t that great of a coach after all …just a good coach with great players ..!

[@termintor1]

Ill chip in $10 to for them to redo this segmant with that mcclure chump

[@arthurwilliamson2144]

They fail to mention the fact that north have played three of the four preliminary finalists from last year, plus two teams that look like they’ll be top eight. Norths draw to start the year has been one of the hardest and yet they’re piling on them like this, wait until they’ve played weaker teams and then we’ll get a better idea of where they’re at.

[@lukepoland2645]

North's draw is no different or harder I should say, than the Eagles. That's a cop out excuse. Not an Eagles supporter but they are just a better club overall. They struggled last year with mass injuries and a very young side of players compared to North and North are the ones who got hand outs.

[@Geromi87]

But then how do you expect NM to get any better if all their good players leave them

[@devilwarr1or]

because these flogs dont actually want north to get better. They plant these ideas into the head of players to cut and run and its no wonder the team cant build.

[@Comatosedpeanut]

All their good players are gonna leave them anyway, who tf wants to lose every week and play in front of an awful crowd. I hope LDU ends up at Collingwood.

[@chocolatebear333]

​@@devilwarr1or this. This is why. Kane cornes caro and fat jabba and the mr reed richards lloyd doenst want north to get better. They hate north. They want allllllllll their players to leave . Pathetic

[@thomas.i.mcgill]

I doubt the AFL gives them a priority pick if they have pick one.

[@gustaaf1892]

North won't get a 2024 priority pick no matter what. The AFL has already said so by giving two future first round picks last year that they weren't guaranteed to keep unless they traded them before the 2023 draft. People talk about how great the assistance was that they got from the AFL, but it was the worst in history of the AFL and netted North Logue (average), Tucker, Stephens and Fisher (all trash). Picks that fall into the mid 20s are never going to land you a high quality player, particularly when the other clubs know you HAVE to trade them. North would have been better off if they had been granted priority access to Sanders as their academy product. Instead the Northern clubs are allowed make out like bandits with their academy players even when you've already existed for 42 years.

[@Comatosedpeanut]

@@gustaaf1892the northern clubs get everything

[@joshhowie7657]

​@@gustaaf1892 But north could have traded for a mature player of two and kept pics 2&3 they could have gotten a very good player for pick 15 and a future and could have gotten a good player for pick 19& future. Still ended up with picks 2&3 would have helped develop the list. The assistance package was very generous 3 first round pick over 2 years. Honestly I don't think it's doom and gloom and I'm a west coast fan and I would definitely have taken your draft hand last year over Harley. It's not a quarter of the way through the season and non of the players are old enough to know what they can become. I bet before the end of the season the commentators will be saying the eagles should have traded. Tanking will never make you a stronger side. Would Harley Reid stay if he knows that for the next few years his team will tank. I don't think so

[@gustaaf1892]

@@joshhowie7657 Three first round picks sounds grandiose, but being end of first round picks they fell into the mid 20s and are therefore more like 2nd round picks. That is a rubbish package when you consider what everyone else has received in the past and hardly helps North at all. If North had done what you suggested they would have had to retain even more list cloggers than they still have. They picked up Goad (Adelaide wanted him with the next pick), Dawson and Hardeman with their last three first round picks. Dawson is a very young (snuck into the 2023 draft by 1 week) tall key defender who they desperately need. He is already tracking very well in the VFL. Hardeman is likely to make his debut soon and looks a quality prospect. He was the WA under 18 captain last year. Goad is a very athletic and fast ruck prospect, who I actually think should also be developed as a tall key defender. All three look very promising and are part of North's future. I'm glad North went that way. You also have to consider which high quality players would have wanted to come to North to add quality and experience. I think that cupboard is pretty bare.

[@joshhowie7657]

@@gustaaf1892 I would have definitely gone to the draft table with the draft hand north had. However it can't be both we are inexperienced like clarko said in the video and we used our assistance package to draft kids when it could have been both. The sun's got a better assistance package then you guys. But as far as the worst I think the blues and lions would disagre. with here your package is 2 mature players from the state comps. I think West coast got Judd on an assistance package and the hawks got Hodge. I might be wrong on which gun players got picked but they got gun's. But after the demons tanking the AFL said not only is it incentive to tank but it's a way to big of an advantage to give the very high end picks. And I understand complaining that pick 19 turns into a pick in the 20s but the generous compensation for the free agent put that pick back. If north matched the offer they keep him and lose pick 3. North could have kept him. But that compensation plus the assistant package pushed the eagles back in the order even after finishing below north. Not just last year but this year as well. But how much can anyone do if north can't entice a quality 24-25 year old to play under the most successful coach of this generation with two pick 2s and 2 pick 3s in the squad then no assistance package will help nothing could.

[@paulduggan7183]

2 very good players for the future or 1 potential champion for the future , hard choice! Reid is surrounded by premiership players from 6 years ago way ahead of North and Hawthorn who dont have that. Nobody does it better than Geelong and thats the model West Coast are taking and Richmond will do the same

[@nitrobreed]

As a melbourne fan take from our tanking saga a losing culture does not work tom scully left and trengove due to injury couldnt keep playing at the level not to mention all the other high picks from the bailey/neeld era

[@TrueSaintly]

I'm sorry, don't they have Sheezel who got 54 out of 55 Rising Star votes last year? They have their "generational talent" to build around already.

[@user-cx9gq2ud6t]

Getting cheap kicks off half back doesn’t win games lol

[@TrueSaintly]

@@user-cx9gq2ud6t Apparently not but the media thought so at one stage at least.

[@mattyey]

@@user-cx9gq2ud6tdisrespectful comment mate… Sheezel is a gun, 38 touches last week so show respect

[@mattyey]

@@user-cx9gq2ud6tI checked AFL stats… at the moment he averages a lifetime 28.36 disposals a game… this is 5th highest in AFL history so far, and he’s only 19. I’m not a Roos fan but give respect where is it due. He’s been brilliant

[@YoutubeCO713]

​@@mattyey all off the halfback and how many of them impactful

[@elham_ha08]

West Coast have way more experience which is why he's so good. He can still be good in North but he wouldn't be anywhere near as good. North have no experience, and you need players with a lot of it around you (especially in your first year). Harley Reid has had a massive influence already and will continue to do so. West Coast aren't irrelevant anymore. North couldn't have tanked in round 24 because it would've been obvious, and they would've been stripped of the pick.

[@hotkeyafl]

Stop encouraging teams to drop games deliberately you losers. It's cheating.

[@jamesbowman4201]

Can't talk like this. It's always on everyone''s mind the prize for finishing last but it should against the mission statement and motto of anything competitive anywhere. Well done to North for going for that win, one player isn't going to fix that team.

[@matthewlay9221]

Let me rephrase that "were north wrong to not deliberately lose a match so they could game the system to get a higher draft pick?" .... absolutely ridiculous that people are even talking about it. Its actual match fixing.

[@lukemckean6155]

The integrity of the AFL is compromised in so many ways. Giving team’s incentive to lose in order to get draft picks is one of many issues that are laughable about that competition!

[@HisTuness]

Shouldn’t they say, WCE was justified in taking pick 1… in Reid.

[@mitchholt3862]

All the more reason top 10 picks should go into a lottery. NO PRIORITY PICKS EVER AGAIN!!!!! Only change to order is compensation for free agency

[@conormorrissey2001]

Really disrespectful to McKercher who has been great. If the roos finished last, no way would they have got the compo. The optics of giving north picks one and two, and gold coast taken walter with three - the AFL would not have let west coast slide to pick four after two deplorable seasons. So yeah they didn't get harley, who may be as good as judd one day, but they're not that far behind because if they got harley they wouldn't have either duursma or mckercher

[@bryanchin856]

Poor Clarkson, is he regretting the move to North Melbourne? I mean someone's gotta ask instead of speculating based on facts and predictions.

[@titsmcgee8771]

Reid will be more talked about at the end of his career for doing the hard yards opposed to the weak Horne-Francis.

[@DaRoy71]

Exactly right everyone loves Harley reid no one likes JHF

[@Ben.216]

Weak Horne Francis … lol there’s not facts or evidence nor intelligence in your statement .. seen him play for the power he’s a great player !

[@AtTheDriveBy]

Eagles shouldve split 1 will be back on the menu after the flogging by Freo. Not every week you get to play a team with a VFL level backline.

[@andrewrosser8909]

Adelaide crows for some reason beat north Melbourne in the last game of the season 2 years ago to lose Horne Francis

[@laurens4561]

Can someone explain why tanking isn't done at the start or middle of the season? Every time tanking is brought up it is the last games played, always by teams which are known to be finishing near the bottom of the ladder from the start of the season. Wouldn't it be smarter to 'rest' players and 'experiment' in the first several rounds and then play as hard from there? Also is it a bit overdone how the media have made a lot of Harley "grabbing his jumper" it seems like that has ensured that he is going to be playing for West Coast for the next 15 years.

[@hotkeyafl]

Obviously because teams are optimistic at the start that they will play finals. Tanking is pathetic and teams like Geelong never do it and wouldn't you know they are competing for finals regularly. North Melbourne have a loser mentality now which will take years to shake.

[@AlonsoRules]

@@hotkeyafl North have been irrelevant battlers for their whole existence apart from when they had Blight, Carey and Harvey. Without those players they have done nothing.

[@justcleaningupmesses7563]

As if McKercher and Duursma combine not a great pick. 😂 wow!

[@steventribe4953]

Yes they have done this last win of the season to miss pick one twice in the past few years

[@davidagiel8130]

No coach can save a club with no good players

[@PeterM1-qx1tz]

The Kruezer cup? Tanking has never worked. As for Yeo, I cant see him leaving unless a club can come up with a top ten pick, he is back in All Australian form and one of the few ''aging stars'' who hasnt played much footy the last couple of years, so his body still has a few good years left in it.

[@AlonsoRules]

Kruezer shouldn't have gone at Pick 1 after the draft results have played out - Cotchin and Dangerfield far better players

[@PeterM1-qx1tz]

@@AlonsoRules Hindsight is a wonderful thing right? ; ]

[@GEB-yy3ud]

Top ten pick! Bro, he's an unrestricted free agent who's looking for one last dance. He might have a few good years for all I know but damn. When's the last time your old injuries improved over the years?

[@PeterM1-qx1tz]

@@GEB-yy3ud Well he hasnt played much footy in that time so his body isnt as banged up as it otherwise would be. I wouldnt be trading Yeo unless it was for something special and that would have to be a top ten pick. Gold Coast might need an experienced bull in the midfield next year, so if they offered up a good pick (top ten) then we'd have to consider it.

[@johno9761]

Harley Reid will be a Geelong player in 4yrs 😂

[@Burningthunder90]

Hornefrancis and reid huge misses for North

[@mickzed6393]

HF always wanted PA and made sure it happened.

[@Comatosedpeanut]

Horne Francis is a weak rat.🐀 and I don’t even support norf

[@Burningthunder90]

Can you blame him. North not exactly professional club

[@chrispetritsch1291]

Was North wrong to not tank for someone who isn't a key back?!

[@Fiasco3]

No player no matter how good would help North Melbourne at the moment. They'd just be another cog in a dysfunctional machine, and quickly get frustrated.

[@LOHT369]

Kane wants Yeo to play 1-2 years with Collingwood 🤦‍♂️ The man is brain broken.

[@ralphgomeze8873]

Make me laugh the Melbourne Media is crying that Harley Reid has gone to West Coast when they spent months and months conning the public they would and should trade pick 1 for multiple picks. And it’s laughable they have not even admitted it on the back of what Harley Reid has done for the Club. They also don’t say anything about Eagles winning against the Bulldogs lol

[@GDM22]

Agreed and in the end no one really offered up anything special for the pick including North Melbourne.

[@benjaminparkinson5255]

No they did get that tassie kid who is realy good

[@Linda-tv6fn]

The Draft system is clealry wrong. WCE won a Grand Final only 5 yaers ago now they get a Number 1 draft pick. North should have rested more players and lost that dead rubber.

[@ruzzy8883]

West coast had won 5 out of 45 games going into that draft.... i think they deserved the first round pick.

[@bibsp3556]

I knew these guys were full of it hahaha

[@mickzed6393]

So you guys have to go down the tanking road again? How predictable. If they tanked, you guys make a big bah hoo. Clarko being away last year, Losing Thomas/Mackay and some tall's through injuries, has set them back for sure.

[@devilwarr1or]

Lost Thomas, Ben mckay .... their second ruck done his Achilles, their starting small defender goater did his Achilles this year, griffin logue their remaining key defender still out from last year with am acl..... But they expect guys with literally less than 10 afl games to compete with in the first 5 rounds north have played a grand finalist, 2 prelim finalists and undefeated Geelong in Geelong..... Someone explain how any club could compete and win under those specific conditions.... seriously. .

[@mickzed6393]

@@devilwarr1or It's a hard watch atm and for longer now, given those set backs. But on the bright side, if North can keep them together/believing + keep collecting high picks, with Tassie starting, clubs collecting high picks now...........look out in 3 or 4 years.

[@Comatosedpeanut]

Who is Thomas?

[@OPTIMUS6LTR]

Yeo not going anywhere

[@StuTheDon17]

Exactly. Imagine how much worse West Coast will be without him. They'd be lucky to get a first round pick in return, so what's the point in West Coast allowing him to go? Have an elite midfielder for 2 more years, a guy that can lead the midfield whilst the youngsters are growing. Or, let him go. Get essentially nothing in return and throw your young guns in the deep end and hope they can swim. Which is exactly what North and Hawthorn did, and look how the media have slated them for doing so.... These talking heads in the media are so inconsistent, they're actually consistent at doing so.

[@gustaaf1892]

I hope Yeo stays and I'm not an Eagles supporter. I truly hate this talk about why the best players should leave the struggling clubs. How are the struggling clubs ever going to compete if that happens? These muppets will be the first to criticise the clubs for not being able to hold on to their players after they encourage them to leave.

[@Comatosedpeanut]

He’s 31 this year, west coast would have to pay some of his wage for someone to take him anyway, despite him being a good player.

[@andrewkerr5296]

Send North to Tasmania

[@joshhowie7657]

why? what has tassie done wrong

[@davidagiel8130]

Send North Melbourne to NT

[@rod7139]

Nth Melb is going no where and there are too many teams in Victoria. Merge North with someone and that is the solution to the bye with the new Tasmanian team coming in.

[@SpicyJ81]

North should’ve tanked deliberately in 2023

[@jasongaffy]

reid is a great player not doubting, but to purposely lose for a pick is the biggest loser mentality ever, winning success over anything.

[@Burningthunder90]

North tankers

[@tb7667]

North need to worry less about draft picks, and more about winning games.

[@DesyncGaming.]

NORF 🤣

[@jamesmunn867]

Dusty still has plenty of good footy left in him get off the retirement agenda Kane

[@bdawg3942]

Small sport! No wonder no other country wants anything to do with it. Imagine a sport that rewards a team that’s not trying to win 🌈🙁👎

[@Zed137]

Matty Lloyd just advocated for a an elite professional AFL side to deliberately lose as game.. he needs to be taken off the air.. he is unfit to opine on a professional endeavour.. foolish

[@isaaccorreia5218]

North Melbourne haven't been relevant for 20 years

[@matrilhamilton1568]

Booorrrring!!

[@daviddevenny6005]

No brainer,,draft is a joke,,should've tanked but NM no brains

[@australianmade2659]

North deliberately picked two inexperienced women to run the club so Clarkson effectively does what he likes. They should have picked Simon Lloyd because he’d be strong against Clarkson

[@gustaaf1892]

How is Clarkson doing as he pleases? Can you provide some examples?

[@australianmade2659]

@@gustaaf1892 they appointed Jennifer Watt. This was deliberate as she has a weak resume and no football skill. This is not a sexist comment just a fact. They spoke to Lloyd who was at the time running Geelong. Lloyd is no fool and would have critiqued the football department which she can’t.

[@gustaaf1892]

@@australianmade2659 I take what you say, but my initial question still remains. A CEO has far wider responsibility than just overseeing the football department and I presume she has skills to fulfil those tasks. Does Lloyd? Viney is effectively overseeing what Clarko does and presumably he reports to Watt.

[@johnkudyba1655]

Correct me if I am wrong,but I thought Simon Lloyd declined the role and then Jennifer Watt was appointed after that?

[@australianmade2659]

@@johnkudyba1655 not correct

[@owendavies7452]

The old shoulda, coulda, woulda, Buy North a Lucky Buddha

[@AlonsoRules]

North have been irrelevant battlers since they got rid of all the champions (Harvey et al). But hey at least they have the Grand Final Breakfast. Perhaps the AFL should stop endorsing it and let another relevant team host it?

[@PC-hj4wg]

Horne-Francis represents everything wrong with my beloved North. I hate to say it but it is time to shut down the club. It really is. I say it with true sadness but we are a joke. Take a look at our facilities.