Kane Cornes believes North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey is one of the most “exciting prospects” in the game in 2022.
Taken with pick 73 in the 2016 draft, Larkey’s 2021 season saw him kick 42 goals in a struggling side, finishing with more majors than Josh Kennedy, Aaron Naughton, Tom Lynch and Jeremy Cameron.
Speaking on SEN’s Breakfast, Cornes feels the time the 23-year-old spent in the VFL at the start of his career has shaped him into the player he is today.
“Nick Larkey is a player that really interests me from North Melbourne,” Cornes said.
“He did a nice feature with AFL Media and he spoke about his first 2.5 years at North Melbourne and how it did take him that long to be considered a regular player for selection and then we saw him break out last year.
“I think he’s one of the more exciting prospects in the game, he kicked 42 goals last year in a really ordinary side and I mean there’s upside to North Melbourne and we like their talent but playing as a key forward, particularly in that side, would be a complete nightmare.
“Have we lost the art of sending a player back (to the VFL), particularly the key position players to develop, 2.5 years it took him to even really get a look in and then you get the benefits of that.”
Larkey has kicked 82 goals from his first 51 games for the Kangaroos.
He assumed the number one key forward role at the club in 2021, with Ben Brown moving on to Melbourne.
The Roos will be hoping to develop a partnership between Larkey and Callum Coleman-Jones in 2022.
