Tim Watson is unsure what game style North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw is trying to implement.
Monday night’s 30-point loss to Collingwood was the Kangaroos’ 10th in 11 games and while the effort was evident Watson has concerns over their “stagnant” ball movement.
“You’ve got to be more than just an effort team, don’t you?” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“It’s ok to have the ‘Shinboner Spirit’ and play with all the desire and that type of thing, but at some point you’ve got to be able to move the ball as well.
“When you watched them play last night so often they just take the easy sideways kick and they then become stagnant in their ball movement, because they just take that easy out.
“Their handball is indiscriminate - it doesn’t really go anywhere, a lot of their handball is just to get themselves out of trouble and then they invite pressure with their use of the ball.
“There are a lot of things that they need to fix – not only personnel wise – but the actual game style that Rhyce is trying to implement, because I couldn’t tell you what that is right now.
“Outside of effort, I couldn’t tell you what it is they’re actually trying to do right now.”
Garry Lyon says the Roos must find out whether their current crop of youngsters are good enough to take the club forward.
“I’d be suggesting that they get more comprehensively skilled kids that can kick the footy,” Lyon said.
“And what they’re going to have to find out is, yeah they’ve got some youth in that side, but just how good it is and whether that can carry you forward.
“(Cam) Zurhaar has shown a bit at times, he is always thrown up as someone that they can build around – well can you?
“Mason Wood has had plenty of opportunities, (Lachlan) Hosie shows a bit, I don’t know whether (Ed) Vickers-Willis is going to get to the standard, I’m a fan of (Luke) Davies-Uniacke, (Ben) McKay looks like he is progressing, Bailey Scott I thought was fantastic last night (Monday), (Trent) Dumont’s improved.
“I think Kangaroos supporters are probably realistic now that they're in a situation where Brad Scott told them last year, they're in for a big rebuild.”
North Melbourne sit second last with just three wins in 2020.