The hardest part of ending, is starting again!

                             Ben Mckinley Season Review

Number: 26
Age: 25
Height: 185cm
Weight: 85kg
From: Northern Knights / West Coast Eagles
Nickname: Benny Mac

                                  Games - 2012: 0                Goals - 2012: 0
                                              Career: 48                       Career: 89

After a dissapointing 2011 where Ben only managed 2 AFL games, Mac put in another big pre-season to push for selection in North’s forward line to finally cement a spot after coming over from West Coast. But Brad Scott started the season with the prefered Aaron Edwards alongside Drew Petrie, but a string of big goals (including 6’s & 7’s) saw Ben’s name keep popping up in team selection meetings but he was still behind the likes of Petrie, Hansen, Edwards, Black. Named as an emergency a few times was a good sign, but he still didn’t manage a senior game in 2012. Mckinley came in the top 5 of Werribee’s best & fairest, where he kicked over 70 goals. A powerful tall/small leading forward, Ben has shown he is capable of playing quality AFL football and can kick a bag. Too good for the VFL

My prediction for 2013: Although I’m hoping North resign him onto there rookie list, Ben would be a great fit in a team looking for a big marking forward eg. Carlton or Western Bulldogs.

My season grading: C

                            Robbie Tarrant Season Review

 Number: 25
 Age: 23
 Height: 196cm
 Weight: 96kg
 From: Mildura/Bendigo U18
 Nickname: Taz

                                      Games - 2012: 16              Goals - 2012: 23
                                                  Career: 25                      Career: 24

After a big pre-season, Robbie was looking to cement a spot in North’s forward line after nab cup form was good and being injury free after only managing 9 games in 4 seasons. But an average game in round 1 playing alonside Petrie & Edwards saw Robbie dropped straight away where he found enough good form for Werribee to be recalled for round 5 where an 18 possession, 0.2 performance showed how much potential he has. Another okay game against West Coast the following week saw him dropped again, where Scott West (VFL coach) played Taz at both ends to have him gain more experience. After the bye Robbie was recalled to the senior team, where he was never dropped again after superb form that started with 9.8 in a month of football after only having 1 career goal before that month. With Brad Scott going with a 3 man tall attack with Petrie, Tarrant & Hansen this really helped North with there push to the finals, and when Hansen and Petrie weren’t firing Taz would stand up with big bags including goals of 4 x 3 times and 3 x 3 times. But from round 22 onwards, along with North’s team Robbie’s form dropped off having failed to kick any goals in the last 3 weeks, but with another pre-season under his belt and a full season without injuries giving him confidence about his body, Robert will now be able to cement a spot in North’s forward line and continue his good form alongside Drew and Lachie.

Season Stats - Disposals: 167 (10.4)
                     Tackles: 24 (1.5)
                     Marks: 57 (3.6)
                     Contested Marks: 10 (0.6)

Keep/Trade/Delist: Keep. Best 25, big part of our team structure.

Season grading: B 

                                   Levi Greenwood Season Review

 Number: 24
 Age: 23
 Height: 181cm
 Weight: 85kg
 From: South Australia
 Nickname: Pig

                               Games - 2012: 5                       Goals - 2012: 1
                                           Career: 46                              Career: 9

After an injury riddled 2011, Levi was keen to prove his fitness and show how important he was to North’s midfield. But another slight injury in the pre-season and the emergance of the likes of Harper, Ziebell etc. meant Levi didn’t make his season debut until round 5 where he started as a sub and only gained 1 possession. Dropped for the next 2 rounds, Greenwood gathered 30+ possessions for Werribee to be back in North’s 22. A 24 possession game against Brisbane in round 8 showed Levi was the in and under tough player that North needed to assist Ziebell and Swallow. But Levi only managed the next 2 games where he was dropped to VFL level for the rest of the season. Even after big possession games consistently and being named in the emergencies, Levi couldn’t crack into Norths 22 due to there good form. Rumours of Levi being traded to Port Adelaide was squashed by Donald Mcdonald stating he is a required player, so ‘Pig’ will be hoping for an injury free pre-season to gain fitness and to work on his foot skills to become another contested midfielder that North needs.

Season Stats - Disposals: 65 (13)
                     Tackles: 19 (3.8)
                     Marks: 4 (0.8)
                     Contested Possessions: 39 (7.8)

Keep/Trade/Delist: I would’ve traded him for a 2nd/3rd round pick, but if he can improve his kicking can be in the best 25.

My season grading: E- 

                            Kieran Harper Season Review

 Number: 23
 Age: 20
 Height: 187cm
 Weight: 79kg
 From: Lilydale/ Eastern Rangers
 Nickname: Keeza, Harps

                                            Games - 2012: 23                 Goals - 2012: 25
                                                        Career: 37                         Career: 37

After a good debut season in 2011 for Kieran in which he showed he has the ‘X Factor’ that North were reaching out for, Harps put another pre-season and a Utah trip under his belt to be able to run out games and play some minutes in the midfield. Playing every game in his second season is a big effort for any player, and even though he was in and out of games and also having low disposal counts Kieran was able to make an impact with his goal sense, forward pressure and silky smooth skills being able to cut through the oppositions zones and defences. A career high 4 goals in round 23 vs GWS Giants showed he can be a solid small forward, but season high disposal counts of 16 against Port & GWS shows with a few more pre-seasons he could have stints in the midfield to add the speed to a toughened midfield and help North’s game plan take action more. Kieran will need a couple more pre-seasons to get a better lung capacity and to put on more kg’s, but with his natural skill and smooth moves on his side he could prove a big X-Factor of the competition.

Season stats - Disposals: 202 (8.8)
                     Tackles: 69 (3)
                     Marks: 48 (2.1)
                     Disposal efficiency: 62.49% average per game

Trade/Keep/Delist: Keep. Future star, would sign him to a big 3 year deal.

My season grading: B  

                            Todd Goldstein Season Review

 Number: 22
 Age: 24
 Height: 201cm
 Weight: 102kg
 From: Oakley Chargers
 Nickname: Goldy

                                Games - 2012: 21                       Goals - 2012: 2
                                            Career: 79                               Career: 34

After a big 2011 where Todd was in the 40 man All Australian squad, he was expected to go one better in 2012 with his rucking partner Hamish Mcintosh back in action. Some doubted if this would work, even after a 33 hitout game in round 3 the doubts became truth because after round 4 ‘Goldy’ was dropped to the VFL due to poor form. He improved his work ethic and was recalled for the round 7 game versus Footscray, where a 27 hitout performance saw him creep towards his best but when an unfortunate injury to Hamish Mcintosh ended his season, Todd was again North’s no.1 ruckman and he took this job in his stride only going below 20 hitouts 3 times after round 8. His athleticism saw him become like a fourth midfielder and being able to run for ages saw him outrun most of his opponents. The only dissapointment being only kicking 2 goals for the season, but most of his year was spent in the middle of the ground or on the bench for limited minutes. Goldstein will again be North Melbourne’s no.1 ruckman for season 2013 but a leadership role could emerge with Todd having to develop the likes of Majak Daw and Ben Mabon into quality ruckman so the team could play 2 ruckman so Todd can rest and still do damage on the field.

Season Stats - Disposals: 257 (12.2)
                     Tackles: 53 (2.5)
                     Marks: 56 (2.7)
                     Hitouts: 663 (31.6)

Keep/Trade/Delist: Keep. Number 1 ruckman

Season grading: C+ 

                             Cameron Richardson Season Review

Number: 21
Age: 25 (in december)
Height: 189cm
Weight: 83kg
From: North Ballarat
Nickname: Richo

                              Games - Season: 0                 Goals - Season: 0
                                          Career: 8                             Career: 1

After an up and down debut season, the mature age recruit from the Roosters was looking forward to putting in a big pre-season. With another trip to Utah under his belt and North looking for a running half back, Cam was expected to slip into that position, but a couple of Nab Cup matches weren’t convincing as ‘Richo’ started the season down at his beloved North Ballarat Roosters. After starting the year off a tad slowly, Cam hit the gears with 20+ possession games out of the midfield, he was named as an emergency a couple of times but with North’s second half performances he couldn’t find a spot. 0 games in 2012 and 8 all up may not be enough to keep him on the list, hasn’t shown enough.

Season Stats - 0 games

Trade/Keep/Delist: Delist. Hasn’t shown enough at AFL level

Season Grading: E-

                             Drew Petrie Season Review

 Number: 20
 Age: 30
 Height: 197cm
 Weight: 102kg
 From: Ballarat
 Nickname: Dish

                      Games - Season: 23                    Goals - Season: 57
                                  Career: 222                              Career: 261

After a big 2011 season where Drew was rewarded with his first All-Australian selection, so he was expected to back up this performance with another big year and he backed that up with 4 goals in the first couple of weeks, and with the ruck combination of Goldy/Hamish, Drew was cemented in the forward line with 2 bags of 3 with the ruck combination. When Hamish went down with a knee injury ‘Dish’ continued his part time ruck role but less time because he is now North’s no.1 forward. After 21 goals in his first 10 weeks, Drew like the rest of the team came back from the break in higher spirits and playing as the elite players that they are. 8 goals in 3 weeks propelled North to big wins over Adelaide & St.Kilda, but a low impact game against West Coast saw them go down by 5 points but after that big Dish hit a big purple patch kicking 23 goals in a month to move him to the top of the Coleman Medal tally and on the way to his first Coleman. But a sluggish end to the season like his teammates saw him drop to 6 goals in 5 weeks. At 30 years of age beginning next season, Drew is in the late stages of his career and the more Lachie/Robbie/Edwards etc. help out with there marking, Drew will be able to stay in the 50 and continue his high flying for marks and his goal sense.

Season Stats - Disposals: 296 (12.9)
                     Tackles: 56 (2.4)
                     Marks: 147 (6.4)
                     Contested Marks: 47 (2)

Keep/Trade/Delist: Keep. Top 3 best players at the club, Vice-Captain.

My season grading: A 

                             Sam Wright Season Review

 Number: 19
 Age: 22
 Height: 188cm
 Weight: 82kg
 From: Murray Bushrangers
 Nickname: Wrighty

                                     Games - 2012: 21               Goals - 2012: 11
                                                 Career: 53                       Career: 45

After a solid 2011, Sam put in a big pre-season to try and cement his spot in North’s best 22 with this being his 4th season. He was moved around in the pre-season comp as a utility but started the home and away season as a defender, and proved a hit with a sensational shut down job on Steve Johnson in round 3 proving a key part in the teams win. His determination to win the contested ball and evasive skills to move around opponents saw him play a key part in North’s wins and the ability to move forward was vital, kicking 7 goals in a 2 week period. Didn’t have a big game against St.Kilda in round 14 but he was blanketing Brendon Goddard all night which was vital, this leading to the saint getting suspended with the annoyance of the close attention from Sam. This boosted Wrighty’s confidence and showed he had cemented his spot in the team, with a career best 32 possessions in round 20. After missing round 23 with the flu, his return to the squad in the elimination final was quiet much like the rest of the team, after the match Brad Scott said they need to ‘develop a player who can annoy and shut down a player like Luke Shuey etc.’ so I believe with a big pre-season for an aerobic capacity, Sam can become that tagging type having done the job succesfully on Stevie J and BJ Goddard.

Season stats - Disposals: 352 (16.8)
                     Tackles: 41 (1.9)
                     Marks: 91 (4.3)
                     One percenters: 44 (2.1)

Keep/Trade/Delist: Keep, best 25 could become a tagger.

My season grading: B- 

                                   Waiting for the End

 Trying to figure out, what it’s like moving on

  The lyrics above are tattooed on my right bicep. It reminds me of everyone i’ve lost and remembering how I got out of my dark days. Whenever I was in my darkest periods I would hear this song and the lyrics like ‘I wanna trade this life for something new’ and it made me realise, hold on a minute I can change my life in a positive way!

My 4th LP story :) 

Tumblr stuffed up and didn’t post my season review.
So here’s the pic of the great youngster, Shaun Atley!!