Brad Johnson believes there hasn’t been enough talk about Nick Larkey since his Round 1 performance.
The key forward kicked six goals as North Melbourne started the 2023 season with a five-point win over West Coast at Marvel Stadium last Saturday.
In the aftermath, all the chat has centred around debutant Harry Sheezel and midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke who racked up 66 touches between them.
However, Johnson feels Larkey has been left out of most discussions despite his half a dozen majors and eight coaches votes.
“Davies-Uniacke and Sheezel have got all the praise for North Melbourne’s win and it was a strong win against the West Coast Eagles,” he said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“Nick Larkey kicked six out of 12 goals. He was the match-winner, he was the one that should have had his name in lights, yet we haven’t heard one thing about Nick Larkey.
“Why? Yes, I understand the passion around the first-gamer (Sheezel) and he was unbelievable with his 34, but as he even admitted it’s good playing half-back, you don’t have to pick anyone up.
“Then you’ve got Davies-Uniacke who continues to improve, he’s a consistent player in North Melbourne’s midfield.
“But no love for Larkey. I don’t know what he’s got to do. If this was Charlie Curnow who kicked six, we’d be like, ‘Oh my god, how good is this guy?’.
“All of a sudden you’ve got North Melbourne’s key forward kick six in his first game of ‘23.
“Seriously.”
Kane Cornes acknowledged the six-goal haul from Larkey but lay down a challenge for the 24-year-old who mixed bags of 5, 6 and 7 in 2022 with a handful of goalless showings.
“I’ve got a challenge for Nick Larkey this year - to mark more footy that he gets his hands on,” Cornes said.
“He kicks the bags, but far too often he’s quiet. 12 times last year he kicked one or zero out of 20 (games).
“Compare that to Charlie Curnow, and it’s a big comparison because he won the Coleman Medal. Curnow in 22 games only five times kicked one or zero.
“Larkey has got to bridge the gap between a bag and nothing. Give us your threes and twos. If you’re having a bad day, you’ve got to kick your twos and threes as that big key forward.”
Johnson agreed, also suggesting that this Saturday night’s clash with Fremantle and their in-form defence presents as a great opportunity for Larkey to stand up.
“This week is a big test and that’s why I’ve put him on the radar,” Johnson added.
“They play Fremantle and he’ll have (Brennan) Cox, (Luke) Ryan and (Alex) Pearce as opponents. It’s going to be difficult for him.
“This is what you’re talking about, it can’t go from six to zero with no impact on the game. He might kick his three and it might be an important three against three quality defenders who are in reasonable form.
“It’s a big test for Larkey this week, he’s worth putting on the radar after his Round 1 performance.”
The Kangaroos, fresh off their first win under Alastair Clarkson, travel to Perth to meet the Dockers, who lost to St Kilda, at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
Larkey has kicked two goals in two career games against Freo.