Roos rebound: After almost joining St Kilda, North Melbourne’s Tristan Xerri is in fine form

With Callum Coleman-Jones traded to North Melbourne from Richmond following the mid-season signing of versatile young tall Jacob Edwards, ruckman Xerri thought his senior future at the Kangaroos was clouded.

With a year still to run on his contract at North, St Kilda came knocking, keen to add an extra young ruck option to their mix given Paddy Ryder’s age and injury issues.

Xerri was interested in a move and the Roos were open to a deal, but only at the right price. They demanded a future second-round selection be involved in the potential trade.

The Saints, keen to preserve their draft hand after several seasons of consistently coughing up picks for mature-age recruits, weren’t willing to hand over such a selection.

So Xerri, 22 at the time and with just 12 AFL games to his name in four years on the North list, stayed.

The Roos made it clear that Xerri was very much still in senior calculations. In a February interview with the AFL website, coach David Noble said that with veteran Todd Goldstein the established first ruckman in the Kangaroos’ side, Coleman-Jones and Xerri would be vying for one spot in the seniors.

As it turned out, Noble ended up playing all three in round 1 against Hawthorn. The coach suggested afterwards that the plan worked reasonably to half-time, but the experiment of playing three 200cm or taller men in the same side ultimately lasted just one week, with the Roos opting for a shorter and more mobile outfit against West Coast on Sunday.

North had wanted to keep Xerri and at selection, the Roos walked the walk. It was Coleman-Jones who made way, leaving Xerri and Goldstein to share the ruck duties.

The move paid off. While it must be stressed that the Eagles were badly undermanned in the ruck, relying primarily on Bailey Williams, Xerri played what statistically at least was far and away the best AFL game of his career, finishing with 20 disposals, five clearances and 24 hit-outs, all personal bests at the level.

“It was good. Obviously I did a lot of work in the pre-season to get my body right, get my ruck craft going,” Xerri said after the win.

Having kicked two goals against the Hawks, Goldstein was quieter against West Coast, kept to eight disposals and forced into some running repairs after copping a stray boot to the jaw from Eagle Jeremy McGovern.

“It really helps to have Goldy out there, give me a chop out whenever I need. I know he’s going to help me out in every way,” Xerri added.

“Full credit to West Coast. Obviously not ideal conditions for them leading up to it and I thought they really gave it to us. We went into it the exact same as we’d go any other opposition.

“I think it’s just reward for effort. We put in the hard yards in the off-season and it’s just really good to put a win on the board and get the first one for the year.”

It was early vindication both of the Roos’ decision to keep Xerri and of his attitude when he returned to the club after the foiled trade.

“Obviously a bit of noise in the trade period last year. It didn’t pan out but I’ve got one heck of an opportunity here and as soon as it didn’t go through, I was back in the gym the next day working with the boys. I love the boys here, so I’m really keen to finish off the year and see how we go,” Xerri said.

The Caroline Springs product added that the club had made things as normal as possible as soon as he got back.

“They were fine. They were really good. And I think that’s part of the reason why I had such a good off-season. They welcomed me back with both arms. And same with the players, we were lifting weights, having a laugh in the gym the next day.

“It’s like nothing really happened, just business as usual.”

As for what the ideal structure of talls looks like, Xerri is unflustered. He just wants to keep playing well, and leave talk about his future for later in the year.

“I don’t mind either way. Obviously CJ missed out [this week], played last week. He’s been really good in the pre-season. He’s really, really good up forward and he can go in the ruck too,” Xerri said.

“I just want to play footy. I haven’t really cemented my spot in the team, that’s my big focus this year. Whatever happens from there happens from there.”

Coleman-Jones isn’t about to lie down and let Xerri keep the spot without a fight though. On Sunday in the VFL, Coleman-Jones had 25 disposals, 17 hit-outs six clearances and kicked a goal against Williamstown. It is a situation which will keep providing Noble with plenty of food for thought.

In his draft year of 2017, Xerri was listed at 93kg. He has pushed diligently to boost his strength since, and the AFL season guide this year has him tipping the scales at 99kg to match his 201cm frame.

It is still a work in progress.

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“Since I got drafted, I’ve been working hard; as you probably need to in the position I play. This off-season was no different, making sure I got my diet right to really use the work I was doing in the gym. I’ll continue that for the rest of my career and hopefully it will put me in good stead.

“I guess you can always improve. It’s very scientific these days, eating at the right times. Not just what you’re eating can be that little detail that changes everything. Just fine tuning it, really.

“Having protein at regular intervals instead of the bigger, shorter intakes at the main meals.”