‘No doubt' on big North improvement
North Melbourne skipper Jy Simpkin has 'no doubt' the Roos will improve on their successive three-win seasons in 2025.
The Roos have narrowly dodged the wooden spoon in back-to-back seasons, edging out West Coast in 2023 and then Richmond.
But with the addition of premiership trio Jack Darling, Luke Parker and Caleb Daniel, as well as No.2 pick Finn O'Sullivan and internal growth, the Roos are hopeful.
Simpkin, fresh off winning the best-on-ground medal for the Indigenous All Stars, is certain the Roos will climb the ladder this year.
'I think at the moment we're focused on the process, we obviously have a lot of talent coming through, so I have no doubt we will improve,' he said.
'We won three games last year. I have no doubt we will improve on that – but to have an expectation on where we'll finish on the ladder, it's not something we look at.
'We're focused on the process over the outcome because we know if we get the process right, then the outcome will take care of itself.'
Simpkin has noticed a lift in leadership at Arden St that has allowed four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson to take a step back.
The player-led Roo revival is focusing on three facets of the game but particularly their scores against.
'He's (Clarkson) put a lot more time into us and the assistant coaches to step up, taking a bit of a back step for us to take control of our future and destiny,' Simpkin said.
'The pre-season has been really good, we had a good hitout against Melbourne and we're looking forward to getting over to Bunbury to play the Eagles.
'We've just got to continue to work on our offence, defence and contest – those are the three facets of the game.
'Our defence, we were I think 18th in the competition for that last year, so it's something we need to step up.
'We've been training and finding different ways we can improve that sort of stuff.'
Simpkin's 'no doubt' attitude about North Melbourne's improvement extends to the contract status of star midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke.
Davies-Uniacke would become one of the hottest free agents of the year if he didn't extend with the Roos before the end of the season, but Simpkin expected him to sign on.
'I'm confident with LDU, but it's up to him. The club has put an offer in front of him, so he'll make his decision in due course, but I've got no doubts he'll sign on,' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Oracle Park briefly evacuated due to vendor booth fire
The San Francisco Fire Department said crews responded to Oracle Park for a fire at a vendor booth on Sunday. SF Fire said it was a cooking fire, and it was confined to the cooking area. The park was briefly evacuated, and at 10:50 a.m., SF Fire said the park would reopen. No one was injured. **FIRE ACTIVITY AT ORACLE PARK** The San Francisco Fire Department responded to a cooking fire in a vendor's booth at Oracle Park. The fire was confined to the cooking area, and no injuries were reported. The park was evacuated but will be reopened shortly. We thank the… — SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) June 8, 2025 "We thank the fantastic staff and fans for their cooperation during the evacuation at the directions of park staff and fire personnel," SF Fire said. "There was no extension of the fire, and the game will continue as scheduled." The Giants vs. Braves game at Oracle Park is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
'We went safe' admits Eagles coach after latest loss
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says his players need to become more vulnerable and open to risk if they are to learn how to win close games. The Eagles overcame a woeful afternoon in front of goal to lead North Melbourne by 18 points early in the final quarter of Sunday's match in Bunbury. But with victory in sight, they imploded from that point on, committing a host of costly errors as North Melbourne stormed home with the final four goals to snatch a 10-point win. The result left West Coast in last spot with a 1-12 record - two wins adrift of their nearest rivals Richmond. It was also the third close game West Coast have lost this season, following two-point defeats to Essendon and Richmond. Cam IN FRONT!#AFLNorthEagles — AFL (@AFL) June 8, 2025 McQualter feels his players went into their shells when the game was there to be won. "We're going through this little period at the moment where we're clearly playing better football, but we need to learn how to win," McQualter said. "We need to be able to put those games away. "We need to keep being really vulnerable and open about our thoughts and the feelings we have in those moments. "When you're in that position at three-quarter time, you need to keep attacking the game. "I felt like we went safe. We went away from what we had done and it just fuelled North's game. "We need to be able to lean into those moments. You need to look forward to those moments as a player, rather than trying to save the game." McQualter wants to use the club's latest heartbreaking loss as a significant teaching point. "Our players want to win, but we've just got to teach them how," he said. "Sometimes it's just by, 'You don't have to do more'. "Sometimes people try and throw the team on their back and try and do it all themselves, and it's very rare that it happens like that. "We'll use those moments in the last quarter as education points and ensure that we just have to get better." Brockman bobs up in the pocket to get the Eagles going in the final term.#AFLNorthEagles — AFL (@AFL) June 8, 2025 West Coast's horror goalkicking came back to bite them. The Eagles had 1.13 to their name by midway through the third quarter before finally finding their groove. But their inability to apply significant scoreboard pressure earlier in the match proved costly, with North storming home to grab the 9.8 (62) to 5.16 (52) win. "It can be a bit contagious, that's for real," McQualter said of the inaccuracy. "We were 1.11 at one stage. It breaks your heart." McQualter heaped special praise on defender Harry Edwards, who kept star North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey scoreless from 11 disposals. West Coast will be back in action on Sunday when they host Carlton at Optus Stadium.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Kangaroos keen to muscle in on footy-mad WA
North Melbourne want to become Western Australia's third-favourite team, and coach Alastair Clarkson hopes the club's rich Sandgroper history will help make it a happy marriage with fans. The Kangaroos' three-year deal to sell two games a season to WA got off to the perfect start on Sunday when they beat West Coast by 10 points in Bunbury. North Melbourne will "host" Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday night, with each game the club has sold to WA worth a reported $1m. The contract helps replace the deal North Melbourne previously had with Tasmania, and coach Alastair Clarkson says WA is a good fit for his club. Cam IN FRONT!#AFLNorthEagles — AFL (@AFL) June 8, 2025 "We have seven or eight West Australians on our list," Clarkson said. "Historically our club has had a strong link - Brownlow medallist in Ross Glendinning, the Krakouer magic of Jimmy and Phil and many others. "Our connection to the west has been strong. "To get an opportunity to play some home games here - it has been such a fertile football state in terms of their passion for AFL footy. "It seems for the state two teams aren't enough, so we've provided them with the third team, and we're happy to do so." The Kangaroos will host one game a year in Bunbury and the other one at Optus Stadium. Sunday's match at Hands Oval attracted a sell-out crowd of 12,715 fans and was the first time an AFL regular-season game had been played in regional WA. The deal appears to create a win-win situation, with North Melbourne receiving vital funds, and West Coast and Fremantle being able to play an extra game in WA, without their usual rigours of travelling to eastern states. "With Tassie (the new club in Tasmania) coming in, we had to find another base to provide us with the opportunity to have a nice, happy marriage," Clarkson said. "We get paid some money to play games here, but we love coming here and fostering relationships with people in the south west. "There are a lot of locals here and a lot came from Perth - Eagles fans - and there are a stack that have jumped on planes that must please Tourism WA, who made the significant investment in getting North to come here and play games of footy." SIMPKIN SEALS IT 🫡#AFLNorthEagles — AFL (@AFL) June 8, 2025 The Kangaroos trailed by 18 points in the last quarter before kicking the final four goals of the match to snatch the 9.8 (62) to 6.16 (52) win. It means North Melbourne, with three wins and a draw to their name, are now two-and-a-half wins clear of wooden spoon favourites West Coast (1-12). Kangaroos defender Charlie Comben was sent off for scans after sustaining a knee to the back in the third quarter.
