North Melbourne skipper Jack Ziebell and Roos fans elated after Ziebell’s match-winning goal against the Western Bulldogs in round 14. Photo: AFL MEDIA

NORTH MELBOURNE 2018 record: 12 wins, 10 losses (9th).

THE INS
Jared Polec (Port Adelaide), Jasper Pittard (Port Adelaide), Dom Tyson (Melbourne), Aaron Hall (Gold Coast), Tarryn Thomas (North Launceston), Curtis Taylor (Calder Cannons), Bailey Scott (Broadbeach), Joel Crocker (Sandringham Dragons), Tom McKenzie (Northern Knights), Tom Wilkinson (Southport), Red Og Murphy (Sligo – GAA), Tom Campbell (Western Bulldogs)

THE OUTS
Ryan Clarke (Sydney), Braydon Preuss (Melbourne), Jarrad Waite (retired), Billy Hartung (delisted), Daniel Nielson (delisted), Josh Williams (delisted), Oscar Junker (delisted), Gordon Narrier (delisted), Tom Jeffries (delisted), Mitch Hibberd (delisted), Declan Mountford (delisted), Alex Morgan (delisted)

THE STRENGTHS
You could start here with self-belief given North Melbourne’s finish of ninth with 12 wins in a year virtually all pundits had tipped it to finish bottom two, coupled with the fact even six of the Roos’ 10 losses were by 17 points or less. Structurally, however, North has a rock-solid core of durable and consistent senior players through its spine, key defenders Scott Thompson and Robbie Tarrant, Shaun Higgins and Ben Cunnington midfield and Ben Brown and skipper Jack Ziebell in attack. The Roos are strong on the contested ball front, ranked fifth in the differentials in 2018. They’re also efficient with their scoring opportunities, ranked fifth for percentage of goals per inside 50 entry. This was also a year when North improved its depth of contributors, Jed Anderson enjoying a breakout season at senior level, finishing top 10 in the best and fairest, Majak Daw finally finding a home as a key defender, Paul Ahern getting his chance after injury woes and grabbing it, and Jy Simpkin continuing his development. Now, the influx of another quartet of readymade senior contributors in Aaron Hall, Jared Polec, Jasper Pittard and Dom Tyson should mean that barring and injury epidemic, North has the cattle to push even the best sides week in, week out.

THE WEAKNESSES
Whilst the Roos certainly added some depth to the senior core in 2018, there’s still plenty of inexperience on the books, North going into next year with nearly half a playing list of 45 having played fewer than 15 senior games. This year, they had the least-seasoned list in the AFL, and even with the additions of Hall, Polec, Pittard and Tyson, they’ll still rank only mid-table next season, meaning there will still be a heavy reliance on the leaders who have ritually dominated the best and fairest count. In terms of structure, the one glaring shortfall remains a dangerous small forward who can hit the scoreboard hard. If the Roos are to not only lock the ball near goal but get some returns on that pressure, they need the likes of Kayne Turner and Nathan Hrovat to contribute more offensively than they have to date. Outside run and spread isn’t a strong suite, either, which is where the recruitments of Port Adelaide pair Polec and Pittard can have a genuine impact on the Roos’ fortunes next season.

ONE TO WATCH
There’s no doubt Hall’s recruitment from Gold Coast is a calculated gamble. Though he possesses explosive pace and good skills, his work ethic and application to the defensive side of the game has regularly been criticised, and his performances erratic, 2018 a particularly disappointing season for the Suns not only due to injury but also poor form, after he’d turned in some of his best football previously. But a more stable club in a more intense football environment might also be the perfect solutions to those issues. Certainly, in terms purely of natural talent, Hall, still only 28, offers plenty of what the Roos need, speed, brilliance and a bit of x-factor.

UNDER THE PUMP
The arrival of a large clutch of ready-to-go senior players is going to put a number of senior North players under the pump in 2019, and if you were to single one out, it might be Luke McDonald who will most feel the heat. Expected to play a more pivotal role coming into the midfield in 2018 after a great 2017 off half-back, the 23-year-old didn’t really deliver. Though he played every game, McDonald’s key numbers went backwards and he struggled to exert much presence. With Pittard pressing for half-back, and Hall, Polec and Tyson seeming midfield locks, McDonald is going to struggle for game time unless he can return to his levels of two seasons ago.

BEST 22
B: Majak Daw, Robbie Tarrant, Marley Williams
HB: Jasper Pittard, Scott Thompson, Trent Dumont
C: Jared Polec, Ben Cunnington, Aaron Hall
HF: Jed Anderson, Mason Wood, Dom Tyson
F: Jy Simpkin, Ben Brown, Jack Ziebell
R: Todd Goldstein, Ben Jacobs, Shaun Higgins
Inter: Shaun Atley, Jamie Macmillan, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Paul Ahern
Emerg: Luke McDonald, Sam Wright, Ed Vickers-Willis, Will Walker

This is a really tough best 22 to select, testament to the amount of depth the Roos now possess. And the arrival of a quartet of seasoned players from others clubs certainly shakes things up. I’ve found room for all of Hall, Polec, Pittard and Tyson in the starting 18, squeezing veteran Jamie Macmillan on to the bench and the likes of McDonald and Sam Wright out of the 22 altogether, Dumont shifting back to a defensive flank to accommodate Hall on a wing, North’s centreline particularly now with a lot more zip.