AAMI Practice Match Review: North Melbourne vs Collingwood — SuperCoach 2026 Takeaways

This is why I watch every minute of every practice match. Because sometimes a kid you've been tracking since draft night kicks the winning goal with sixty seconds left and you get to say you saw it coming.

North trailed by 30+ at half-time against a Collingwood side missing half their best 22. Then Lachy Dovaston, Cooper Trembath, and a bloke who was only signed to the list this week — Tom Blamires — dragged them back to win by a point. 12.18 (90) to 14.5 (89). One point. Practice match. Shouldn't feel this significant. Does anyway.

The Match in 60 Seconds

Swirling wind at the half-constructed Mars Stadium made kicking difficult. North dominated territory in the first quarter but couldn't convert (2.7 from 21 inside-50s). Collingwood made them pay with ruthless efficiency — six second-quarter goals turned a tied contest into a comfortable Pies lead.

Then North showed heart. Cooper Trembath came on at half-time and kicked two immediate goals. Dovaston snapped his second from long range. Sheezel and O'Sullivan lifted. Five goals in a row gave North a two-point lead at three-quarter time.

The last quarter was frantic — Perryman bombed one from 50 for the Pies, but Dovaston and new captain Larkey answered to seal a memorable one-point comeback.

Three Players to Watch for Round 1

1. Lachy Dovaston (FWD, $290,000) — North Melbourne

The numbers: 3 goals (game-high, equal), 81 Fantasy points, including the winner.

Already drawing Nick Watson comparisons and it's easy to see why. Dovaston plays with the confidence of someone who doesn't know he's a rookie — the long-range snap for his second goal was pure instinct. At $290,000 as a FWD, he's a legitimate cash cow if he plays Round 1, and this performance makes that almost certain.

The only concern is a small forward's scoring ceiling. Watson averaged 60-70 in his breakout year — Dovaston's floor might be similar. But at basement price, you only need 55+ to profit.

Verdict: Strong Round 1 debut candidate. Lock and monitor — if named, he's in your team.

2. Cooper Trembath (FWD, $167,300) — North Melbourne

The numbers: 2 goals after coming on at half-time, changed the game's momentum.

Trembath only played the second half but was the spark that ignited North's comeback. He's a key forward target who plays with power and confidence inside 50 — exactly what North needs alongside Larkey and Zurhaar. At $167,300 he's absurdly cheap for a player averaging 71.7 from 6 AFL games last year.

His scoring profile as a key forward means high variance (big ceiling, low floor), but the price is so low that even 55-average generates value. North's improved midfield should give him better supply in 2026.

Verdict: Underpriced key forward with proven AFL output. One of the safest cheap FWD options available.

3. Tom Blamires (MID, $230,000) — North Melbourne

The numbers: 24 disposals, 6 marks, 92 Fantasy points off half-back.

Blamires was only signed to the senior list this week and immediately looked like he belonged. The 24 disposals playing off half-back mirrors his VFL average (92 Fantasy points at Frankston last season). At $230,000 he's a genuine cash cow if he earns Round 1 selection.

The risk? He's a pre-season supplemental signing, not a guaranteed starter. If North's defence gets healthy (McDonald, Corr, Spargo all out today), Blamires could be squeezed. But the talent was obvious.

Verdict: High upside, moderate job security. Monitor team selection closely.

Other SuperCoach Notes

• Luke Davies-Uniacke (MID, $920,000): 33 disposals, 119 Fantasy points. Controlled the midfield. If this is his year to crack 100+ averaging, he's a steal at that price.
• Harry Sheezel (MID/FWD, $1,145,000): 34 disposals, 105 points. The second most selected player in Fantasy Classic for a reason. Set and forget premium forward.
• Nick Larkey: 3 goals as the new captain. Looked like a man with a point to prove.
• Joel Cochrane (Collingwood): One of the Pies' best in the absence of the big names. Rested in the last quarter — speculation he'll debut in Opening Round vs St Kilda.
• Josh Daicos (DEF, $988,000): Led Collingwood's scoring in an undermanned side. His consistency is remarkable even in meaningless games.

Injury Watch

| Player | Club | Issue | R1 Impact | |--------|------|-------|-----------| | Darcy Moore | Collingwood | Calf | Unlikely for Opening Round | | Jeremy Howe | Collingwood | Calf | Unlikely for Opening Round | | Colby McKercher | North Melb | Finger | Missed — monitor | | George Wardlaw | North Melb | Hamstring | Missed — monitor | | Charlie Spargo | North Melb | Shoulder | Missed — monitor |

The Bottom Line

North Melbourne is a cash cow factory right now. Dovaston at $290k looks like a near-certain debutant. Trembath at $167k is proven AFL output at a laughable price. Blamires at $230k is the speculative play — job security is the only question, but 92 Fantasy points off half-back answers everything else.

Three rookies, three price points, all from the same club. If North name all three for Round 1, your forward line and bench just sorted themselves out.

-AG

The AAMI Community Series wraps up the 2026 pre-season. Round 1 kicks off Thursday, March 5. For the full pre-season landscape, check our complete AAMI Series wrap and the Rookie Power Rankings Traffic Light Guide.