Honeyball takes a look at the likely best 23 for North Melbourne ahead of the 2026 AFL season, noting ins and outs, key injuries, plus a look at relevant AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach players.
We’ve used quotes from Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson’s chat on afl.com.au’s Your Coach podcast to offer additional insight on relevant players.
Ins: Lachy Dovaston (No.16 draft pick), Hugo Mikunda (No.48 draft pick), Charlie Spargo (free agent, Melbourne), Blake Thredgold (No.26 draft pick)
Outs: Miller Bergman (delisted), Kallan Dawson (delisted), Eddie Ford (delisted), Finnbar Maley (trade, Adelaide), Geordie Payne (delisted), Will Phillips (delisted), Brynn Teakle (delisted), Darcy Tucker (delisted)
Key injuries: Colby McKercher (finger), George Wardlaw (hamstring), Aidan Corr (calf), Charlie Spargo (shoulder), Jackson Archer (ACL)
Predicted Round One 23
B: Luke McDonald, Griffin Logue, Caleb Daniel
HB: Finn O’Sullivan, Charlie Comben, Colby McKercher*
C: Jy Simpkin, Harry Sheezel, Dylan Stephens
HF: Luke Parker, Cam Zurhaar, Tom Powell
F: Jack Darling, Nick Larkey, Paul Curtis
Foll: Tristan Xerri, George Wardlaw*, Luke Davies-Uniacke
I/C: Riley Hardeman, Lachy Dovaston, Cooper Harvey, Zane Duursma, Cooper Trembath
*Injury cloud
Relevant players
Harry Sheezel
Colby McKercher
Tristan Xerri
Lachy Dovaston, Matt Whitlock, Zane Duursma
