North Melbourne's horror week has taken another turn, with yet another AFL great teeing off on the club's recruiting strategy.
The Kangaroos have been under a microscope all week following their 101-point loss to Geelong and apparent lack of progress under coaching great Alastair Clarkson.
A day after Fremantle great Paul Hasleby whacked the recruiting team and called for Alastair Clarkson to walk away from the Roos, Adelaide legend Mark Bickley has now joined the pile-on.
Bickley, who captained the Crows to two premierships in his 272-game AFL career, questioned the moves to recruit veterans Luke Parker, Caleb Daniel and Jack Darling ahead of the 2025 campaign.
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“How are we judging Jack Darling? Tick or fail, I don’t know. Has it moved the needle? No," Bickley said on SEN'S SA Breakfast.
“Caleb Daniel, I’m not sure he’s moved the needle all that much.
“The one thing North Melbourne have a plethora of is midfielders and so, when Luke Parker at 31 is in the midfield, is there another young midfielder that’s not playing in that position?
“I’d be more interested in spending some of your salary cap on a 25-year-old up-and-comer.”
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The Kangaroos have so far failed to compile a list of young talent and established veterans that can push the battling club up the AFL ladder.
So Bickley also had major concerns after a story emerged this week linking North with 29-year-old Melbourne defender Jake Lever.
“I would like to think that you could go maybe a little bit younger,” he said.
“Jake Lever has been dropped by the Melbourne footy club, who are a pretty basic footy club at the moment as well.
“They’re not one of the high-flying clubs.”