North Melbourne has been stuck down the bottom of the ladder since 2020 – could this be the year they begin to rise off the canvas?
Kane Cornes believes so, saying they will win eight to nine games, and provide their fans with a similar experience to what Hawthorn achieved last season.
The Hawks came into 2023 as the wooden spoon favourites, but managed to knock off Collingwood and Brisbane en route to seven wins.
“North Melbourne will finish higher than a lot of people are expecting them to,” Cornes told SEN’s Sportsday.
“It’d be almost impossible for them to get worse. I expect them to triple their win count. I think they get to eight or nine (wins).
“If you look at what Hawthorn did last year, there’s no reason why North can’t replicate that.”
Gerard Healy believes a lot of their success will come down to their makeshift backline and whether it holds up.
The Roos lost Ben McKay in free agency, compounding Griffin Logue’s torn ACL, leaving them lacking in terms of key defenders.
“It’s just the backline. If the people floating through the backline can solidify that area, they’ve got the midfield, they’ve got the ball-use and they’ve got the forward line to cause some dramas,” Healy said.
The Kangaroos will test themselves against St Kilda on Sunday at RSEA Park, before facing GWS in Round 1.
It will be Alastair Clarkson's second year at the helm and his first full pre-season in charge.
