Should we be concerned about the situation at North Melbourne?
The Kangaroos commenced the season brightly under Alastair Clarkson, winning their first two games for their new coach against West Coast and Fremantle.
But from there it has been a gradual decline with losses to Hawthorn (19 points), Carlton (23 points), Brisbane (75 points) and Gold Coast (43 points).
While the Roos themselves knew it would be a tough year and most of the football public didn’t expect much, they do appear to have some issues.
Kane Cornes believes the wins will be few and far between for Clarkson’s side judging by what he has seen over the last month.
“How concerned should we be about North Melbourne?” Cornes asked on SEN Breakfast.
“They started the year so well with wins over West Coast and Fremantle but they’ve now lost their last four including to the (at the time) 16th-ranked Suns on the weekend.
“I can’t see a win for them maybe until Round 18 when they play Hawthorn.
“Perhaps they upset someone else along the way with that, but on the surface of it, they won’t start favourites perhaps until that Round 18 game.”
Cornes questions whether the youth at the Kangaroos is coming along as well as the club would like.
He compares it to another rebuilding side in Hawthorn and what their kids are showing.
“My question is around the talent,” he added.
“When you watch Hawthorn play, they’re starting from a further way back than North Melbourne with their rebuild.
“But when you watch some of their youngsters play you go, there’s a few there that you like.
“I watch North Melbourne and (Harry) Sheezel is great, he’ll be a star, (George) Wardlaw I’ve seen clips of and he looks excellent and has high regard … but then what?
“Who are we excited about at North Melbourne regarding young players coming through?”
From a playing style sense, the Roos have conceded 135 marks to the Suns, 118 to the Lions, 117 to the Blues and 140 to the Hawks in their losses.
It is a game plan that is not quite working, says Cornes.
“They method as well, they concede so many uncontested marks,” he said further.
“Their method has to be questioned as well.”
The task gets no easier for the 15th-placed Kangaroos who next meet Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday night.