The Club: Kangaroos
Formed: 1869 (as North Melbourne)
Joined AFL: 1925
Premierships: Four - 1975, 1977, 1996, 1999
Last finals appearance: 2005, Elimination Final
2007 to date:
The Kangaroos started the season as one of the competition's big stories for all the wrong reasons, losing Nathan Thompson and Jonathan Hay in the pre-season, then going 0-3 for in their first three outings. Flash forward 14 weeks and the Roos are still making headlines – now for the right reasons.
Dean Laidley's side has won 12 of its last 14 games – starting with a Round 4 win over the Lions – to sit outright second. Along the way, the Roos have beaten Geelong, Sydney, St Kilda and Hawthorn among others and won their past five outings. Veteran midfielder Brent Harvey is second in betting for the Brownlow Medal behind raging favourite Gary Ablett.
Last time they met the Lions:
In a strange game on a slippery evening at Carrara, the Lions had plenty of chances but ultimately paid the price for kicking 1.6 in the first term. The Roos led by 22 points at the opening break and were able to hold off the “visitors” to record their first victory of 2007. Ruckman Hamish McIntosh was influential for the Kangaroos.
The coach:
As a player, Dean Laidley was a survivor and so it is proving in his coaching career. Laidley overcame a knee reconstruction and limited opportunities at his first club, West Coast, to become a premiership winner with the Kangaroos. The man known as the Junkyard Dog was considered the coach most likely to be sacked after three rounds but is now firmly in charge of a seemingly finals-bound side. He has amassed a 53 win, 52 loss and one draw record in his time at the helm – admirable figures considering he inherited an ageing side coming off an enormously successful decade.
Missing in action:
Key forward Thompson has been out all season with a knee reconstruction. Other than that, the Roos are relatively clear of injuries tom their front liners – although star midfielder Daniel Wells is listed for a test on his knee and Josh Gibson is sidelined indefinitely with bleeding on the brain.
The gun:
Brent Harvey entered 2007 as a two-time All-Australian and fairest-and-best winner. But this season he has taken his already impressive record to another level. The 29-year-old is averaging almost 25 possessions per game and has kicked a very accurate 25.8 while playing largely through the midfield. Over the last six games he's been close to unstoppable, averaging 29 touches an outing and topping the 30-mark three times.
The bolter:
Hamish McIntosh had only 18 games to his credit at season's start – he's now being talked about as a likely All-Australian. The ruckman's rise has been meteoric and he hasn't only made his mark at the stoppages, where he ranks sixth in the competition at hitouts. Very mobile for his 203cm, 107kg frame, the 22-year-old has had the fifth most kicks of all Roos and averages 17 disposals per game.
Strengths:
Many doubted the Kangaroos' firepower post-Thompson but they have kicked 15 or more goals in eight games and less than 10 only twice. A big reason for this is a strong spread of goalkickers – seven Roos have booted double-figure goals to date, led by Corey Jones' 41. The Kangaroos' flock of experienced runners, headed up by Harvey, Shannon Grant and Adam Simpson, offer plenty of drive and their defence, marshaled by Michael Firrito, is underrated. Younger Roos, like Andrew Swallow and McIntosh, are really starting to make their mark.
Weaknesses:
The question for every Lions opponent from here on in will be 'who is going stop Jonathan Brown (and, of course, Jared Brennan)?'. Firrito has been outstanding, but better credentialed defenders than he have been torn apart by Brown. The Kangaroos are unfashionable but they have few real weaknesses. Perhaps there remains a question over whether the kids can step up to the plate when the likes of Harvey, Grant and Simpson are down on form. So far in 2007, the Roos' veterans' consistency has meant that query hasn't had to be answered.
The Queensland factor:
Contrasting fortunes for the Roos' two Gold Coast products – David Hale and Brad Moran. Hale has been in excellent form, playing mainly at centre-half-forward, while Moran is yet to play a game this season.
Former Lion and Zillmere alumni Daniel Pratt continues to be a fixture in the Roos' defence. Last year's Queensland under 18 draftees Gavin Urquhart (Morningside) and Ben Warren (Zillmere), like Moran, are yet to taste senior action in 2007.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
The Kangaroos started the season as one of the competition's big stories for all the wrong reasons, losing Nathan Thompson and Jonathan Hay in the pre-season, then going 0-3 for in their first three outings. Flash forward 14 weeks and the Roos are still making headlines – now for the right reasons.
Dean Laidley's side has won 12 of its last 14 games – starting with a Round 4 win over the Lions – to sit outright second. Along the way, the Roos have beaten Geelong, Sydney, St Kilda and Hawthorn among others and won their past five outings. Veteran midfielder Brent Harvey is second in betting for the Brownlow Medal behind raging favourite Gary Ablett.
Last time they met the Lions:
In a strange game on a slippery evening at Carrara, the Lions had plenty of chances but ultimately paid the price for kicking 1.6 in the first term. The Roos led by 22 points at the opening break and were able to hold off the “visitors” to record their first victory of 2007. Ruckman Hamish McIntosh was influential for the Kangaroos.
The coach:
As a player, Dean Laidley was a survivor and so it is proving in his coaching career. Laidley overcame a knee reconstruction and limited opportunities at his first club, West Coast, to become a premiership winner with the Kangaroos. The man known as the Junkyard Dog was considered the coach most likely to be sacked after three rounds but is now firmly in charge of a seemingly finals-bound side. He has amassed a 53 win, 52 loss and one draw record in his time at the helm – admirable figures considering he inherited an ageing side coming off an enormously successful decade.
Missing in action:
Key forward Thompson has been out all season with a knee reconstruction. Other than that, the Roos are relatively clear of injuries tom their front liners – although star midfielder Daniel Wells is listed for a test on his knee and Josh Gibson is sidelined indefinitely with bleeding on the brain.
The gun:
Brent Harvey entered 2007 as a two-time All-Australian and fairest-and-best winner. But this season he has taken his already impressive record to another level. The 29-year-old is averaging almost 25 possessions per game and has kicked a very accurate 25.8 while playing largely through the midfield. Over the last six games he's been close to unstoppable, averaging 29 touches an outing and topping the 30-mark three times.
The bolter:
Hamish McIntosh had only 18 games to his credit at season's start – he's now being talked about as a likely All-Australian. The ruckman's rise has been meteoric and he hasn't only made his mark at the stoppages, where he ranks sixth in the competition at hitouts. Very mobile for his 203cm, 107kg frame, the 22-year-old has had the fifth most kicks of all Roos and averages 17 disposals per game.
Strengths:
Many doubted the Kangaroos' firepower post-Thompson but they have kicked 15 or more goals in eight games and less than 10 only twice. A big reason for this is a strong spread of goalkickers – seven Roos have booted double-figure goals to date, led by Corey Jones' 41. The Kangaroos' flock of experienced runners, headed up by Harvey, Shannon Grant and Adam Simpson, offer plenty of drive and their defence, marshaled by Michael Firrito, is underrated. Younger Roos, like Andrew Swallow and McIntosh, are really starting to make their mark.
Weaknesses:
The question for every Lions opponent from here on in will be 'who is going stop Jonathan Brown (and, of course, Jared Brennan)?'. Firrito has been outstanding, but better credentialed defenders than he have been torn apart by Brown. The Kangaroos are unfashionable but they have few real weaknesses. Perhaps there remains a question over whether the kids can step up to the plate when the likes of Harvey, Grant and Simpson are down on form. So far in 2007, the Roos' veterans' consistency has meant that query hasn't had to be answered.
The Queensland factor:
Contrasting fortunes for the Roos' two Gold Coast products – David Hale and Brad Moran. Hale has been in excellent form, playing mainly at centre-half-forward, while Moran is yet to play a game this season.
Former Lion and Zillmere alumni Daniel Pratt continues to be a fixture in the Roos' defence. Last year's Queensland under 18 draftees Gavin Urquhart (Morningside) and Ben Warren (Zillmere), like Moran, are yet to taste senior action in 2007.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
