Simpson: The former Roos captain that “looks way off”

North Melbourne’s performance against Adelaide on Saturday was fairly disappointing.

After showing positive signs in recent weeks, including a narrow defeat to the Sydney Swans in Round 9, the Kangaroos were expected to take it right up to the Crows at the Adelaide Oval.

At quarter-time things looked in decent shape when they trailed by just four points (22-26) after winning the inside 50 battle 13-10.

But things changed quite dramatically after the first break with the Crows piling on 10 goals to none in the second term. All of a sudden the Roos were down by 66 points on their way to a 68-point defeat.

Former captain Jy Simpkin had just two handballs in that second term and his lack of output was questioned by club great and two-time premiership player Adam Simpson.

Simpson was critical of Simpkin who attempted to leave the club for Collingwood last trade period.

“We have not seen Simpkin fire a shot this year,” Simpson said on AFL Nation’s broadcast.

“He just looks way off. He’s been squeezed out of the inside mid, he’s playing on the wing.

“He tried to leave the club in the off-season, let go of the captaincy.

“He just looks a step off. I’m sure he’ll work his way into the year but he hasn’t really given us a lot as a North Melbourne supporter.”

SEN Fireball pair Kane Cornes and David King, also a North great, assessed the side’s subpar showing.

They highlighted a number of Roos players who they believe have been underachieving in various positions of late, including Simpkin and fellow 2029 contractee Cam Zurhaar who has been playing defence in recent weeks.

King: “If Cam Zurhaar can’t make it as a half-forward, that’s it. He can’t make it as a half-back.”

Cornes: “If Zurhaar is not a forward, he’s not a defender, then what is he?”

King: “He’s not in the team!”

Cornes: “What do you do with them (Zurhaar and Simpkin)? Big bucks until 2029 for these two.”

King: “I don’t care about the money. You’ve got to reward the role. If you’re performing in the role, you play. If you’re not, you’re out.”

King put forward Cooper Harvey, son of legendary Roo Brent, as one youngster that Alastair Clarkson should look at across half-back.

Harvey had 23 touches, 10 intercepts, three rebound 50s and three inside 50s in the VFL on the weekend.

“They’ve got a handful of half-back flankers in the twos,” King said.

“You’ve got to have a look at Boomer’s young fella, Cooper. They’ve been playing him half-back for six weeks. Is he there or not?

“I just think you’re wasting games on guys who are not the long-term answer at half-back.”

The conversation then turned to several other Roos with the discussion centring around some positional queries.

King: “If Caleb Daniel can’t tackle, can’t spoil, can’t play loose man, can’t kick the footy, move on.

“Riley Hardeman can play that role as a young player. It’s time to pump 60 games into these kids.”

Cornes: “Caleb Daniel, they try to free him up. They gave Adelaide the extra (player) at stoppage in order to free up Daniel.

“Why are they the only team going with the shortest player of all-time to try and free him up behind the ball? Everyone else is going Tom Stewart or James Sicily or Nick Blakey.

“North are going with Caleb Daniel! They want him free.”

King: “Is there any danger of the key posts holding up?

“Wil Dawson, why is he playing second ruck? If he’s going to be a backman then play him back. Just punch these games into them.”

Cornes: “I tell you what, Cooper Trembath is a defender.

“He is North Melbourne’s Daniel Turner. Have a look at Trembath as a defender. Athletic, can catch it, struggling in the last month as a forward. I know he burst onto the scene with a number of goals early.

“I want to see Trembath as a defender. At least have a look at it. That’s your biggest vulnerability in your side right now. Have a look at what it looks like behind the ball.”

King: “I won’t want to be too critical but Charlie Spargo and Jacob Konstanty are not really doing it for me either as small forwards.”

All in all it was a very disappointing day for the Roos who had been showing so much promise.

Next on the agenda for the 12th-placed Kangas is the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.