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Top North Melbourne draftee Finn O’Sullivan appears destined for an early-season AFL debut, while one of the club’s experienced recruits showed glimpses of his slick best during an intra-club hit-out.
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The Kangaroos’ senior players on Saturday went head-to-head at Arden Street Oval, with a first-choice side taking on a second-string team – which featured VFL top-ups – across four 25-minute quarters.
O’Sullivan, who was taken by North with Pick 2 in last year’s draft, has been a summer standout with his versatility and strength.
Representing North’s A-team on Saturday, the Oakleigh Chargers product had impressive moments as he consistently found space to win the footy forward of centre.
Kangaroos assistant coach Jed Adcock post-game said O’Sullivan looked like “a bit of a Rolls Royce on the wing”.
“He’s an 18-year-old kid that’s ready to play AFL footy,” Adcock told reporters. “I know ‘Clarko’ (coach Alastair Clarkson) has already talked about that.”
O’Sullivan and Colby McKercher rotated between the wing and half-forward line during Saturday’s hit-out.
North recruiting boss Will Thursfield told the club’s website during the live intra-club broadcast that O’Sullivan, like McKercher and Harry Sheezel before him, would begin his AFL career outside of the centre square, which would suit his “great natural tank” anyway.
“It’s a good way to ease him into it rather than being at the coalface,” Thursfield said.
Kangaroos winger Bailey Scott said he’d worked closely with O’Sullivan during the off-season and had been impressed by his determination to improve, as well as his natural talent.
Scott said O’Sullivan’s marking ability, which was on display on Saturday, was somewhat unheralded.
“It’s been good to see him blossom and grow,” Scott told reporters.
“One of the things Finn is really good at is learning and listening and he wants to absorb everything he can.
“But his natural game is really good – we’ve seen that today. One of his strengths that goes under the radar is his marking, he just floats through and takes a couple of grabs – and he got a set-shot from one today.
“Hopefully he’s going to be a really good player for us.”
McKercher, who played predominantly across half-back in his debut AFL season, is set to play more forward of centre in 2025, with occasional stints on the ball. He impressed on Saturday with his line-breaking run and pinpoint disposal.
The Tasmanian’s positional swift comes after the Kangaroos parted with Pick 25 to acquire Caleb Daniel from the Western Bulldogs during last year’s trade period.
Daniel, a premiership Bulldog and All-Australian, impressed on Saturday with his composure across half-back, clean disposal and link-up play through the middle of the ground.
“I think with the addition of Caleb … into that half-back role, it’s allowed us to move a couple of players up field,” Adcock said.
Scott said the experience Daniel, as well as fellow premiership recruits Luke Parker and Jack Darling, had brought to the Kangaroos had been “immense” to date.
“They’ve all been part of successful sides, so they know what it takes to win,” Scott said. “And just bringing in a bit of their knowledge and understanding, whether that’s standards or game style or what to do in different scenarios.
“They’ve all had a bit of an input from each of their clubs and we can bring it together and combine it with what Clarko wants to do – and hopefully that makes for a successful season.”
Up forward, Cam Zurhaar booted five goals in three quarters, while mid-season draftee Robert Hansen Jnr added two majors – and set up multiple others – in a bid to play against the Western Bulldogs in Round 1.
AFL. North Melbourne hold a simulation practice game at Arden St. Robert Hansen Jnr streams forward with the ball. Picture: Ian CurrieSource: News Corp Australia“He’s worked really hard in the pre-season to improve his fitness,” Scott said of Hansen, who played the final six games of last season.
“We all know he’s got that speed and can take the game on, but he’s really improved his workrate and his fitness levels so he can do it all day.
“And I think we got to see a little bit of that today, especially later as the game went on and people got tired – he still had that run.”
Skipper Jy Simpkin missed the match due to his Indigenous All-Stars commitments – he was named best on ground in the 43-point win over Fremantle – while George Wardlaw (hamstring) and Zac Fisher (hamstring) were among the players unavailable due to injury.
