North Melbourne secure practice match win – but questions remain

A one-point North Melbourne win over Collingwood at Mars Stadium, Ballarat, provided a reason to smile for North Melbourne fans, but would not have inspired great confidence.

The Kangaroos will be glad to have escaped with the win to give them a semblance of momentum entering Round 1, needing to respond from an 80-point demolition against Melbourne last week.

But how much confidence can be gained from a narrow win over a significantly understrength Collingwood team expected to slide in 2026?

The Magpies were missing Nick Daicos, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom Jack Crisp, Jamie Elliott and Jordan De Goey, as well as injured backline pair Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe. Take out that core, some would peg them as a bottom-four chance.

The result gave them the opportunity to execute scenario-based late game play against the competition's benchmark at closing out contests and provided some cause for optimism. 

Tom Blamires looks a smart Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) pickup and could play Round 1, likewise Lachy Dovaston who again added forward 50 spark and Finn O'Sullivan looks set to take a big step forward in 2026.

Usual suspects Harry Sheezel and Luke Davies-Uniacke were also at their classy best, but on paper, there is no way Collingwood should have got close to winning this - notwithstanding the futility of results in the AAMI Community Series.

North Melbourne has 19 players taken in the first round of the AFL National Draft on its list in 2026 and has not made finals for a decade.

The club enters the year with more playing experience among its squad than 12 months ago and has had years to cherry pick its preferred talent.

Individually, the talent is unquestionable, yet Kangaroos fans will enter the season nervous it will be another long year. 

Charlie Comben slapping a ball through for a rushed behind 30 metres from goal, subsequently giving away a free kick and goal is symbolic of their disorganisation and lack of confidence in the backline.

The lack of A-Grade - or even B-Grade - talent in defence is alarming. 

The capability of the midfield was underlined by the Roos winning clearances, contested possessions and inside 50s.

Yet for all their territory and opportunity to capitalise, the delivery inside 50 didn't help a forward group overly reliant on Nick Larkey.

The continued non-selection of young forward Cooper Trembath is now beyond justification: he must play Round 1. 

After sitting out the first half as the Roos instead again initially selected Cal Coleman-Jones - despite Trembath's exciting practice match form and excellent pre-season - Trembath kicked two third quarter goals to go with a goal assist.

Alastair Clarkson is a four-time premiership coach but has won just 11 of his 69 games at the helm of North Melbourne.

With Port Adelaide, Essendon, West Coast and Carlton in the first month, the Roos probably need to be 3-1 if they are to be taken seriously and anything less than 2-2 would be catastrophic. 

For all of the questions about North Melbourne, though, Craig McRae deserves significant credit.

Again, the Magpies have been doubted entering 2026 due to the age of their list, with punters always failing to give requisite credit to the system that has almost always held up well under the premiership coach. 

Dan McStay's three goals would have buoyed Pies fans given the responsibility he will hold following the departures of Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox, while Ned Long and Ed Allen were other younger players to gain confidence. 

Collingwood opens its season next Sunday against St Kilda, while North Melbourne will play Port Adelaide on March 15.