The 'Roos You Can't Afford To Miss | Thebigtip

We are back! Finally our beloved game of Aussie Rules is back! The NAB Cup is not real footy but any footy is better than none, right? My Rooboys have been on the receiving end of numerous negative articles in 'The Age' recently. For example today, February 18th is the first time I have ever seen the first and second pages of the sports section of The Age contain every article about North Melbourne. Most of the criticism has been unfair but some of the content has some merit. It seems The Age's current whipping team is North Melbourne but that's the way footy goes. American television personality Vanna White once said "any press is good press," but all this negative press won't help us sell memberships. By the way, well done to the current North Melbourne Board incumbents on winning this year's election, but bad luck to contenders Peter de Rauch and Dave Wheaton. The Club was on its knees back in 2007 when James Brayshaw, affectionately known as JB, addressed the members on that famous night at Dallas Brooks Hall. Since that time, JB and the current administration have been fantastic, but all we hear in the media is the negatives. Who would know that North are playing footy this week?

Back in 1940, June 15 The Australasian stated: "In two aspects North Melbourne stands second to none. One is the loyalty of its supporters. The other is the determination to carry on, despite its disadvantages. In the face of adversity, which might well have broken the spirit of most men, we find that from the earliest days there were always enthusiasts to fight for North Melbourne.”

North will never die, it will always keep on fighting and this North Melbourne member has full confidence in the current board to get us to the places where we need to go.

North face up against the Dogs and Cats this week in their NAB Cup match at Geelong. It's good to have footy back isn't it? We have been pooled with a very tough group and I'm not hoping for a win, but for a solid effort and a few encouraging signs. North has had some injuries that have set them back with Hamish McIntosh, Nathan Grima and Ryan Bastinac, all in North's best 22, being injured for significant periods of time before the season has even started. North's team for the week is:

The squad
4 Liam Anthony
5 Ben Warren
6 Lachie Hansen
7 Jack Ziebell
8 Daniel Wells
9 Andrew Swallow
12 Lindsay Thomas
13 Leigh Adams
14 Gavin Urquhart
18 Shaun Atley
20 Drew Petrie
21 Cam Richardson
22 Todd Goldstein
23 Kieran Harper
24 Levi Greenwood
25 Robbie Tarrant
26 Ben McKinley
27 Aaron Edwards
29 Brent Harvey
30 Daniel Pratt
32 Cruize Garlett
33 Matt Campbell
34 Jamie MacMillan
36 Ayden Kennedy
37 Brayden Norris
38 Majak Daw
43 Marcus White
45 Luke Delaney
46 Ben Speight


Keep an eye out for the following players.

Liam Anthony
LA had a serious shoulder injury in 2010 which ruined most of his season but he is back, bigger than ever. He looks the goods and he should have a solid season if he keeps fit. It will be interesting to see how he goes after his injury and hopefully he racks up a lot of effective disposals and gets away injury free.

Jack Ziebell
Jay Z broke his leg again last year. This quality youngster has not been able to take a trick in his two years at North, having broken his leg twice. There was a scare that he had injured himself again in an intra club match but he seems to be fine. He will be wanting to continue his pre-season form and have a breakout season. We all know he is capable, now he just needs to get on the park and prove it to the footballing public.

Shaun Atley
This kid can seriously play. He slid through to North Melbourne in the draft, as his kicking has been questionable. Essendon compared him to Chris Judd and were shoe ins to pick him up but didn't. Bad luck Essendon, he is ours now. He has been excelling in the intraclub matches and is ready to take on the big stuff. He has great pace and has worked tremendously on his kicking throughout the summer. He is definitely one to watch out for.

Drew Petrie
The quality bigman had a horrible 2010 but looks the goods to regain some of his 2008 form this year. North supporters were worried that the big man had injured his foot again but thankfully it was not too be. He can play all around the ground, back, forward, ruck and even rotate in the middle if needed. He is a vital player if North want to play finals in 2011.

Cam Richardson
Pre-listed by the Gold Coast and then traded onto North, the former North Ballarat star is looking as if he will debut in round 1. He has great pace for a mature aged recruit. He will slot into North's best 22 as he can run and carry all day long.

Ben McKinley
He came to North from West Coast and has ticked all the boxes so far. Kicked a healthy bag of 6 goals in the Intra Club match and seems to be loving his football at the moment. He was a bargain at Pick 86 and can play in the midfield too. It will be interesting to see if he can have a breakout season and put his 'Weagle doubters' to bed.

Majak Daw
Everyone wants to see this guy play. His athletic ability is amazing and he has done some truly unbelievable things in both the intraclub match and at VFL level. Brad Scott has unleashed the rookie to play this week and hopefully he gets a red hot go. Majak Daw is the first Sudanese born AFL footballer, and has already been compared to the likes of Patty Ryder and Nic Naitanui. He has been comfortably holding his own against Todd Goldstein at training and in the intra club match. So it will be very interesting to see how he goes against the big boys from Geelong and the Bulldogs. All the best Majak. The Daw has officially opened!


Those listed above are just some of the players to look out for this season for North Melbourne. Likewise, Geelong and the Bulldogs have some good youngsters who will get a go in the NAB Cup. I may be heading down to the Cattery to watch the game. For those who have been to the Cattery, the spuds on sale are awesome to say the least. I hope I can have a spud in one hand and a footy record in the other watching this 'charade for real footy' and seeing the bright future that North Melbourne has ahead of them. To quote The Australian August 2005:

“If the world was consumed by a nuclear holocaust tomorrow, the North Melbourne Football Club and cockroaches would be the only two things left scurrying round the earth."

North will never die. The future is bright and we are ready to Ignite! Go the Roos!