Media Watch
Why North Melbourne should give Ben Brown a pay rise
The Age, Wayne Carey
August 3
Amid the departure of so many senior players at North Melbourne, Ben Brown has emerged as the type of
There's no doubt he's enjoyed a breakout year in the absence of Drew Petrie, ensuring the Roos' decision to move on all of those veterans has been vindicated. Alongside skipper Jack Ziebell and defender Robbie Tarrant, he's comfortably one of the most important men at Arden Street.
With 51 goals for the season, Brown is matching Buddy Franklin and is just two majors behind Joe Daniher in the Coleman Medal race.
While he mightn't be spoken about in the same category, finishing as the AFL's leading goalkicker would be some achievement in a side that is sitting 17th on the ladder. You won't find any clubs admitting it, but for those out of the finals race chasing the Coleman Medal for one of your teammates can be something to strive for.
Scott hot
The Australian, Greg Denham
August 16
Money generally speaks and it has been loud and clear this week on who will be Gold Coast’s next coach after Rodney Eade was axed last week.
If you follow the money, then contracted North Melbourne coach Brad Scott is a shoo-in.
He’s been backed off the boards with corporate bookmakers from $41 on Tuesday last week to $1.50, with punters today still keen to snap up the long odds-on.
On August 8, Scott opened at $41. By Monday he was $4.25. Yesterday he was smashed in betting to $1.65 and firmed further today.
John Barker, currently a Carlton assistant coach. Photo: AFL Media
It must be pointed out that it does not take a lot of cash to
Ziebell could return
afl.com.au, Stu Warren
August 14
North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell requires surgery on his left foot at the end of the home-and-away
The hard-nosed midfielder was a late withdrawal from Saturday's 27-point loss to Hawthorn in Launceston.
Ziebell first injured the foot against Port Adelaide in round 17 and has been in and out of the side since as the club looks to manage his fitness to the end of the year.
"It's likely that he'll need surgery, but it's something we're hoping we can manage him through," Scott said.
"We'll keep listening to the surgeons and medical advice and make sure we're not putting him at risk.”
Medical Report
Jarrad Waite (calf) – test
Oscar Junker (tibia) – test
Jack Ziebell (foot) - TBC
Mason Wood (calf) – TBC
Corey Wagner (ankle) – TBC
Majak Daw (foot) - season
Marley Williams (back/shoulder) – season
Sam Wright (foot/ankle) - season
Jamie Macmillan (finger) – season
Ben Jacobs (lower leg) – season
Ed Vickers-Willis (PCL) – season
Mitchell Hibberd (shoulder) - season
Declan Watson (knee) - season
Paul Ahern (knee) – season*
Fresh Faces
The winds of change have swept through Arden Street this season, with Brad Scott unveiling an array of new faces in 2017. Two high draft picks, Sam Durdin (No. 16, 2014) and Jy Simpkin (No. 12, 2016), have spent time in the senior team lately, along with man mountain ruckman Braydon Preuss, who has worked in tandem with Todd Goldstein. North have also played small forward Cameron Zurhaar and tagger Declan Mountford, who sat on Jack Steven the last time the two sides met. After being drafted at pick No. 21 in 2015, tall key position prospect Ben McKay is set to make his debut on Sunday.
Star
For a player that’s coming 4th in the Coleman Medal race and firmly in All-Australian contention, there is little fanfare around Ben Brown. But there should be. The tall Tasmanian key forward has booted 54.26, behind only Josh Kennedy (60 goals), Joe Daniher (59) and Lance Franklin (56). After being overlooked in three drafts and then coming via Werribee to Arden Street, Brown has emerged as one of the best young
Stats that matter
North Melbourne might possess one of the best key defenders in the AFL in Robbie Tarrant, but the Kangaroos have still struggled to contain opponents in 2017. Brad Scott’s side is ranked No. 16 in the AFL for points against, conceding 102.9 per game in 2017.
Team
B: S.
HB: S. Atley, S. Thompson, R. Clarke
C: D. Mountford, T. Dumont, S. Gibson
HF: L. McDonald, B. Preuss, K. Turner
F: S. Higgins, B. Brown, J. Simpkin
R: T. Goldstein, A. Swallow, B. Cunnington
Interchange from: J. Anderson, J. Ziebell, N. Hrovat, A. Mullett, B. McKay, T. Garner, C. Zurhaar
IN: J. Anderson, J. Ziebell, B. McKay
