K Rock Football | North Geelong coach Peter Riccardi believes 2024 has exceeded expectations at Keith Barclay Oval, whether or not the club returns to finals for the first time since 2017.

The Magpies enter their Round 13 meeting with Anakie holding a 6-6 win-loss record, with two losses by less than a goal.

Their most significant loss came to finals-bound Belmont Lions by 37 points in Round 8.

“To be honest, if you’d have told me we’re 6-6, and we’ve got an outside chance of playing finals late last year, you’re silly,” Riccardi said.

“We recruited pretty young, which wasn’t about contending in the first year.

“It was about education and teaching these kids how to play footy, with a bit of experience thrown in with the Fazios (Damian and John) and (Paddy) Cleary.

“It was all about building momentum, and, hopefully, the core group sticks together, and in two or three years time, that’s when we want to contend.

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