North Melbourne will offer a lot of relevance in Fantasy and SuperCoach in 2025, with the recruitment of under-priced Luke Parker and Caleb Daniel plus a long list of kids and improvers.
Fixture
North don’t have an early bye and their mid-season bye is Round 12, the first of the bye rounds.
Squad Changes
Ins
Caleb Daniel (trade, Western Bulldogs), Jack Darling (trade, West Coast), Jacob Konstanty (trade, Sydney), Finn O’Sullivan (No.2 draft pick), Luke Parker (trade, Sydney), River Stevens (No.67 draft pick, father-son), Luke Urquhart (No.57 draft pick), Matt Whitlock (No.27 draft pick)
Outs
Blake Drury (delisted), Hamish Free (delisted), Hugh Greenwood (retired), Charlie Lazzaro (delisted), Bigoa Nyuon (delisted), Tyler Sellers (delisted), Liam Shiels (retired), Jaidyn Stephenson (retired), Curtis Taylor (delisted), Tarryn Thomas
Snapshot
North have added a lot of experience to their young squad, with Caleb Daniel and Luke Parker bolstering their midfield while Jack Darling adds a seasoned tall target up forward.
The Roos took Victorian midfielder Finn O’Sullivan with pick 2 in last year’s AFL Draft, and he’s reportedly ready to go having played for Richmond in the VFL in 2024. His addition along with Daniel’s and Parker’s, is intriguing given George Wardlaw’s hamstring injury which will keep him out for 10-12 weeks. O’Sullivan has been played on the wing in pre-season match sims.
They’ve let go a lot of fringe players who got opportunities but never quite stamped their authority on a regular spot.
Injury returns
Book-ends Griffin Logue and Callum Coleman-Jones missed a lot of footy last year, so their availability may impact their mix. CCJ’s availability and role may impact Tristan Xerri.
Mainstays
Tristan Xerri has emerged as one of the elite ruckmen in Fantasy and SuperCoach over the past 12 formats, dispelling durability doubts with 23 games in 2024, averaging 114.5/119.9 (AF/SC).
Harry Sheezel has firmed as a top 6 defender, averaging 110+ in both formats. Watch his role, as that changed a bit last year as Alastair Clarkson experimented.
Room for improvement
The obvious ones are recruits Caleb Daniel and Luke Parker who were under-utilized last year at their previous clubs, meaning they’ve arrived at North under-priced and with significant upside if their roles are good.
Parker seems set to be injected into North’s midfield CBA rotation, so he’ll be high owned. Daniel could play a variety of roles, but a half-back flank slot is probable which could see him return to decent averages of the past.
Jy Simpkin struggled for continuity last year, so there’s upside on his price as a result. Given he’s got forward status, you’d have to consider him if he’s getting high CBAs.
Rookies
North will provide plenty of opportunities for kids and the obvious one is no.2 draft pick Finn O’Sullivan, who could start on a wing in Round 1. He may not be a prolific ball-winner but should still score OK. Note injuries impacted his 2024 numbers.
