Collingwood and North Melbourne met in an intriguing practice match on Wednesday at the AIA Centre.
In both of their first games against AFL opposition, it was North Melbourne who prevailed comfortably beating the reigning premiers 68-102.
While the Magpies looked hot to start and were in cruise control for the first quarter, the Kangaroos quickly won some ascendancy in the second to skip out to a 19-point half-time lead.
With Collingwood already resting many of their senior heads, things didn’t get any easier for the Magpies once they took off the likes of Jordan De Goey and the Daicos brothers after half-time.
That talent gap showed in the third quarter as North Melbourne continued to impressively put the foot on the throat, and they’d eventually run away 34-point winners with a strong fourth quarter.
The clash also saw the sides compete in scenario-based match simulation for the final five minutes of the second and fourth terms which were not included in the final score.
Check out the key takeaways from the practice match below.
Nick Larkey could easily go one better in 2024 and win the Coleman
North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey has picked up where he left off in 2024.
The tall dominated aerially inside 50 with the likes of Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe and Nathan Murphy sidelined as he kicked five goals and could have had more.
After kicking 71 goals in 2023, there’s no doubt Larkey can improve on that in 2024, particularly if the rest of his teammates feed him more often and the ball stays in their front half more than it did last campaign.
He could be set for a seriously huge season.
Lachie Schultz will be a valuable addition to Collingwood’s best side
Collingwood fans got their first look at trade recruit Lachie Schultz in Wednesday’s practice match, and they would have been pleased with what they saw.
While the former Docker didn’t dominate by any stretch, his defensive pressure stood out while he was neat with the footy to set up his teammates and finished well with a set shot in the third quarter.
After giving up a future first-round pick and a second-rounder for his services, Collingwood will want some immediate returns from the 26-year-old and on Wednesday’s evidence he will deliver that.
Colby McKercher looks set to thrive in free-wheeling half-back role
No. 2 draft pick Colby McKercher looks all class.
Playing in defence, McKercher was free to use his elite kicking skills and he already looked his side’s best user in the back half.
While he no doubt presents long-term as a Zach Merrett-like midfielder, McKercher will be eased into life at the top level and at half-back and like Nick Daicos and Harry Sheezel before him, could easily win Rising Star honours if his performance is a glimpse of what to expect in the season proper.
A Wardlaw-Sheezel midfield partnership will excite North fans for the next decade
North Melbourne dominated around the ball after the first quarter and that was thanks to their stars at the coal face.
While we know what to expect from the likes of Luke Davies-Uniacke and Jy Simpkin, it was the additions of George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel that really gave the side some bite from centre bounces.
Wardlaw was at his best bullocking in traffic and while Sheezel may play more half-back during the actual campaign, he caught the eye at stoppages with his class evident.
They already combine well together and that’ll only continue growing the more footy they play with each other.
Young Pies duo firm for Opening Round call ups
With some big-name players sidelined and others rested, many of the eyes on Collingwood were on their youngsters and two players entering their fourth campaigns stood out.
They were former first-round duo Fin Macrae and Reef McInnes who firmed for Opening Round selections.
Macrae looked clean around the stoppages early on while partnered with De Goey and Nick Daicos, while McInnes presented well kicking two majors and another during match simulation. He also raked in some nice overhead marks.
Both aged 21, they look ready to really cement themselves as genuine senior players in 2024.
Paul Curtis and Jaidyn Stephenson look to have taken another step
While much of North Melbourne’s scoring rested on the shoulders of Larkey last season, he could be set to get some more help from his younger small forwards in 2024.
Jaidyn Stephenson returned to form with 26 goals in 2023, and he could recapture those heights he set in his first season with Collingwood if his practice match was a sign of what’s to come as he slotted to goals and had a hand in several others.
Joining him on the scoresheet was Paul Curtis who finished with four majors including another during game simulation. The 20-year-old slotted 17 in 2023 but he could easily double that figure in 2024 as he looks to have taken another step in his development.
Collingwood begin their 2024 season proper with an Opening Round clash against GWS at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday, March 9. North Melbourne’s first official game also comes against GWS at the same venue on Saturday, March 16.
