What is a pass mark for North Melbourne in 2023? How many wins is Alastair Clarkson worth?
They are some of the questions being pondered by club great David King ahead of the new season.
The Roos were listless in 2022, claiming the wooden spoon on the back of just two wins and a paltry percentage inferior to that of 17th-placed West Coast.
In the off-season the club addressed their major shortcomings by appointing Clarkson, but what will the four-time premiership coach bring to Arden Street?
King is not expecting the world but certainly believes Clarkson will fix up the side’s system and structure issues.
“I don’t think they’re a two-win team,” King said on SEN Breakfast.
“Last year they won two games with a percentage of 55. It’s a disastrous figure when you look at it in isolation.
“The overarching question is - How many wins is Alastair Clarkson worth?
“He comes into a team that I think has systematically and structurally flown blind for three years. I don’t think they’ve had the adequate methods and standards in place to be a good football team.”
King believes the current list is on the right path given that the Roos have been able to add some experienced depth in the off-season.
“There’s enormous opportunity in the group that’s already there,” he added.
“When you’re down the bottom you get some luxuries in terms of the draft picks that come in.
“The AFL assistance for future second and third-round picks last year, to get Griffin Logue in gives you the stability down back. (Ben) McKay, who I think is an excellent key-post defender and has All-Australian capabilities, and Logue. You can build around that quite easily.
“I think it gives you a real chance to then pay a little bit with the edges.”
The two-time flag winner with North identified a small group of players who he believes will be central in taking the team forward this year and beyond.
“Their 24 and unders are really well placed. LDU (Luke Davies-Uniacke), (Jy) Simpkin, (Tom) Powell, (Will) Phillips, Jackson Archer has had a fantastic pre-season,” King said further.
“I think the biggest wildcard and the shooting star for the Kangaroos is a guy called Paul Curtis.
“He kicked 12 goals last year, showed some signs that he can do it in the air as well as at ground level.”
The Kangaroos will be judged on their competitiveness in 2023 with King expecting them to improve significantly.
“All in all, the Kangaroo fans just want the team to be competitive.”
King’s pass mark for North: “Six (wins).”
Co-host Kane Cornes is tipping improvement for the royal blue and white, marking them down for five wins in 2023.
“Some of the ins are important,” Cornes said.
“Daniel Howe, Griffin Logue, Darcy Tucker and Liam Shiels, the experience that comes in.
“That’s why I think they’re going to be a much better team than they were last year.”
The Roos take on Richmond (February 24) and Western Bulldogs (March 4) in practice matches before kicking off the new season against the Eagles at Marvel Stadium on March 18.