It’s time for North Melbourne to start repaying the likes of Larkey with on-field success in 2025

North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey was happy to see the Kangaroos get aggressive on draft night.

The Roos traded away next year’s first-round pick in exchange for Pick 27 and a future second-round pick. That pick 27 was then used to draft Murray Bushrangers tall Matt Whitlock.

While the move was criticised at the time as many expect North’s first-rounder next year to again be near the top of the draft, Larkey took it as a sign that the club is ready to win now as they no longer plan on taking selections at the pointy end of drafts.

The key forward told the media on Monday that everyone at the club is sick of losing and that there’s enough talent already at Arden St to begin moving up the ladder in 2025.

Former Roos forward Cameron Mooney and SEN Breakfast host Sam Edmund loved hearing that from the 26-year-old.

Edmund in particular credited Larkey for showing his faith in the club back in 2023 when he inked a contract extension until the end of 2029.

The duo both hope that Larkey and his North Melbourne teammates begin to taste success with the club not playing finals since 2016.

Edmund: “Nick Larkey is now 26, so footy’s biological clock is ticking.”

Mooney: “I’d love to see them rise up that ladder very quickly.

“The players and supporters deserve it … you sing the song once, twice, three times a year. 

“It is a tough workplace when you're going through that year after year.”

Edmund: “I reckon it's amazing that Nick Larkey re-signed, it might be one of the most amazing re-signings ever.”

Mooney: “He probably had every right to look elsewhere.”

Edmund: “Probably? He’s re-signed until 2029 on a team that hasn’t had success.”

Mooney: “I’m a big advocate that when you get drafted to a football club, it is their job and their duty to make sure that by the time you finish, you've played finals.

“Right now for Larkey, Zurhaar, Davies-Uniacke and Simpkin, they’re probably thinking, ‘Are we ever going to play finals?’.

“But I can promise you if everything gets right and is done right, it can turn like that.”

North Melbourne opens their 2025 campaign with a Round 1 clash against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, March 15 at Marvel Stadium.