The glaring discrepancy between Richmond and North MelbourneAndrew Slevison
SEN
10 Aug 2024There is a glaring discrepancy between North Melbourne and Richmond.
It centres around the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year voting for season 2024 and the age demographic of both sides.
So far this season the Kangaroos have had 13 different players poll coaches votes while the bottom-of-the-ladder Tigers have had 12.
Of North’s 13 vote getters, the eldest is Aidan Corr at 30 and youngest is Harry Sheezel and Colby McKercher at 19. The average age is 23.5.
Of Richmond’s 12 vote getters, the eldest is Dustin Martin (now retired) at 33 and youngest are Ben Miller and Noah Balta (24 going on 25). The average age is 27.8.
Footy great Malcolm Blight believes these numbers are damning for Adem Yze’s Tigers who are well and truly in rebuild mode.
“North Melbourne have had 13 players who have received votes so far this year,” Blight said on SEN’s Sportsday SA.
“Richmond have had 12, but I can guarantee you now that the age of the Richmond list would be twice the age of the North Melbourne list.
His co-host David Wildy: “There’s 10 premiership players that have got votes, there’s not one kid.
“Harry Sheezel has got 44 votes and he’s only 19 still. Then there’s George Wardlaw, Colby McKercher, Charlie Comben, Tom Powell.
“Zane Duursma and Will Phillips haven’t figured but they’ve all been good kids.”
Blight added: “Jackson Archer has won the Rising Star. So he’s another one.
“I’ve counted up about seven of them and none for Richmond.
“Like most teams who have that great run, like the great Brisbane teams… we’ve seen it all happen before.
“I can’t see Richmond getting out of this between for five and seven years, a bit like North Melbourne and Adelaide are doing right now.”
The coaches votes are clearly not the be-all and end-all but it is a decent guide as to where each list might be at.
The 22under22 squad named by the AFLPA this week also tells a tale.
North had five players included in the 40-player squad - Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw, Tom Powell, Paul Curtis and Colby McKercher - which was the most of any team.
The Tigers had none. Damning for a side at the start of their rebuild.
When the two clubs met last weekend, North ran out 13-point winners despite having an average age of 24 to Richmond’s 26 years and one month. The Roos’ side averaged 72.5 games, while the Tigers averaged 114.5.
North had 10 players with less than 50 games of experience. Richmond had just seven.
Yes, only one spot separates these two clubs on the ladder but it feels like the Roos are more advanced than and tracking ahead of the Tigers.
It is understandable to a point considering North’s rebuild has been going for longer and the kids have had more experience than those at the Tigers who waited in the wings during the premiership era.
Should Richmond load up in the next couple of drafts to stockpile a group of youngsters? It might be the way to go given the Tasmanian team is entering the league in 2028.
For North fans, there is definitely enough to be excited about with a talented group of youngsters all playing together frequently and building a strong foundation for the future.
North Melbourne’s 2024 coaches votes pollers(In descending age order)Aidan Corr (30)
Nick Larkey (26)
Cam Zurhaar (26)
Jy Simpkin (26)
Luke Davies-Uniacke (25)
Tristan Xerri (25)
Bailey Scott (24)
Charlie Comben (23)
Tom Powell (22)
Jackson Archer (21)
George Wardlaw (20)
Harry Sheezel (19)
Colby McKercher (19)
Average age: 23.5
Richmond’s 2024 coaches votes pollersDustin Martin (33)
Dion Prestia (31)
Nathan Broad (31)
Nick Vlastuin (30)
Toby Nankervis (29)
Jayden Short (28)
Daniel Rioli (27)
Liam Baker (26)
Tim Taranto (26)
Shai Bolton (25)
Ben Miller (24)
Noah Balta (24)
Average age: 27.8
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/08/09/the-glaring-discrepancy-between-richmond-and-north-melbourne/
