North Melbourne possesses the most powerful draft hand heading into November's much-anticipated count.
Currently boasting five selections within the first 18 picks, the Roos figure to have a lot of say during this year's proceedings in what shapes as a critical count for the Arden Street cellar-dwellers.
There is still plenty of ambiguity surrounding how the Kangaroos will choose to utilise their bevy of first-round selections; the most pertinent query revolving around whether or not they stage a serious pursuit of the opportunity to select Harley Reid with the No. 1 pick.
However, if not, there's another Reid who the Roos might be eyeing in the first round; and he arguably plays a position of greater need for North.
We've explored the Kangaroos' domineering draft hand, crucial list needs, and potential draft targets heading into November 20's opening night.
Draft Hand
Picks: 2, 3, 15, 17, 18, 57, and 82.
The Roos have the extremely rare opportunity to acquire as many as five first-round talents on the first night of the 2023 National Draft, holding a quintet of selections among the first 18 picks to set up their count, with a further pair to come much later on in proceedings.
Following speculation regarding the justifiable extent of compensation, North Melbourne received Pick 3 from the AFL as a result of Ben McKay's departure to Essendon.
A second top-three draft choice represents an incredibly fruitful return for the Roos, who may approach their first pair of picks with the 'best player available' mindset in place.
The Roos also dealt for Zac Fisher during October's trade period, surrendering a pair of selections in the 20s but gaining one back the other way, plus the speedster, who adds to a forward line in need of additional talent heading into next season.
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List Needs
It's fairly plain to see that North Melbourne needs tall-timber assistance at either end of the ground, following McKay's aforementioned departure and the lack of an emerging partner-in-crime for goalkicking talisman Nick Larkey.
While the Roos arguably need all the help they can get all around the field, their midfield brigade appears to be the most stable heading into the new season, having added castaway Swan Dylan Stephens to a fold that includes a salivating core of Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jy Simpkin, George Wardlaw, and the tantalisingly versatile Harry Sheezel.
Further, Tarryn Thomas and Will Phillips are capable of doing plenty of damage through the middle, as is hard-nut Hugh Greenwood, while Bailey Scott is typically found manning a flank in Alastair Clarkson's side, and ex-Docker Darcy Tucker remains as depth.
Key-Position Forward:
It was painfully evident in 2023 that burgeoning spearhead Larkey needed a helping hand, even despite a handful of dominant performances throughout the year.
Cameron Zurhaar hasn't yet proven he can be the Jordan De Goey-like bullocking midfielder-forward the Roos are likely still hoping he can be, while tall forwards Callum Coleman-Jones and Charlie Comben, in addition to consistency issues, have battled their fair share of injury hindrances, preventing them from truly breaking out at the professional level.
The Roos also sent tall forward Jacob Edwards packing, delisting the 20-year-old after this season wrapped up.
In the way of forward-half additions, North Melbourne added the ex-Blue Fisher via trade in October, adding more foot speed to a goalscoring brigade that already includes pace merchants Jaidyn Stephenson and Paul Curtis, as well as Robert Hansen Jr. as depth.
However, from a key-position perspective, the Roos have remained quiet on the forward front, fuelling suggestions they may target one or more of this year's crop of talented key-forward prospects.
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Key-Position Defender:
Following their export of McKay to the Bombers, the Kangaroos addressed their key-position defensive need; acquiring former Swans defender Toby Pink and out-of-favour Richmond backman Bigoa Nyuon as delisted free agents -- representing low-risk-high-reward recruitments for a team that needs plenty of contributors in 2024 and beyond.
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However, with the previously mentioned pair likely to fill needs as positional depth, there's still an overarching hole at a key defensive spot alongside current occupants Griffin Logue and Aiden Corr.
Ex-Giant Aiden Bonar was one of the seven cuts made by North's list management trust at the end of the 2023 season, while contracted 2022 Mid-Season Draft acquisition Kallan Dawson was kept around and shapes as part of that aforementioned defending depth.
While improvement needs to come from North's established stoppers -- particularly Logue, whom the Kangas invested second, third, and fourth-round draft choices in -- they should also be heavily examining this year's crop of draftees for long-term defending prospects.
Potential Targets
Duursma is indubitably one of the most talented hybrid prospects waiting to be chosen at this year's count, having consistently displayed an ability to play as a makeshift key forward in addition to a developmental midfield capability.
The younger brother of new Essendon wingman Xavier, the versatile Gippsland Power product booted 29 majors across ten home-and-away appearances this year and earned Coates Talent League team of the year honours after claiming the competition's goal-kicking title.
Duursma shapes as an ideal potential running mate for Larkey; able to provide a different dynamic to the conventional leading and marking forward trade.
The 18-year-old creates havoc and chaos for opposing defenders with his incredible athleticism, as well as his proficiency aerially and as a crumbing forward.
McKercher is one of, if not the most dynamic prospect of this year's crop of draftees, possessing the capability to explode away from stoppages and create forward-half opportunities for his teammates.
Speed kills at the top level, and McKercher has consistently shown his ability to utilise his damaging pace in conjunction with his talents with the Sherrin in hand.ย The Tasmanian has also shown a definite eye for the big sticks and has showcased on multiple occasions his ability to finish in front of goal, particularly on the run with his penetrating left peg.
Despite North Melbourne's aforementioned stability through the midfield, potentially opting for McKercher with one of their top-three choices would be representative of a 'best player available' approach, and if that 'best player' is McKercher, the Roos could be forgiven for not thinking twice about picking the Apple Isle native.
While he continues to develop his inside game, the outside is where the 18-year-old should be able to thrive from the get-go at the professional level.
If ultimately chosen by the Roos, watch for McKercher to make an immediate impact as an outside runner, speedily weaving in and out of traffic and damaging the opposition by foot.
Archer Reid is preparing to enter November 20's first-round count as one of the leading key-position forward prospects of this year's talented class.
The Gippsland Power spearhead enjoyed a strong middle-third of the Coates Talent League season this year, booting 11 goals over a three-game span that would, unfortunately, fall between early and late dry spells that have probably resulted in him slipping down the prospective order slightly.
In addition to his evident key-forward traits, such as his athleticism and impressive overhead marking, the Inverloch-Kongwak local displayed his versatility as a forward-ruck hybrid, capping his 2023 campaign with an average of 13.1 hit-outs to go with his 13.5 disposals per game.
While Reid is the younger brother of rising Essendon backman Zach, Archer appears a decent chance of landing at the rival Roos with one of their five early picks. His addition at Arden Street wouldn't just support Larkey long-term, but it would also provide rucking depth behind the burgeoning Tristan Xerri after Todd Goldstein's departure to Essendon.
Ryley Sanders is just as good a midfield prospect as the aforementioned McKercher, who he played alongside in the Allies' groundbreaking Championships triumph this year.
The tandem worked wonders through the middle of the ground, with Sanders showcasing his head-turning capability to play as a true inside ball-getter.
The 18-year-old's play gives shades of Port Adelaide's Jason Horne-Francis, and it's not just because of the pulled-up socks and blonde locks. Sanders is electric when emerging from stoppages, is a ball magnet around the ground, and is accurately crafty by foot.
While, again, the midfield isn't a position of extreme need for the Roos, Sanders is a unique case, as he is Next Generation Academy-linked to Arden Street.
As with any standout player, a coach will figure out a way for them to fit in their side, regardless of how many like-minded players there might be. The same goes for Sanders' potential fit at the Roos.
Amongst a large prospective group of talented North Melbourne midfielders, 'Clarko' will find a way to integrate him from the get-go -- as he did Sheezel this season -- if Sanders does in fact become a Shinboner.
If the Kangaroos prove bold enough to pass on a hybrid defensive talent like Western Australia's Daniel Curtin, Sandringham Dragons product Ollie Murphy shapes as one of the next-best options from a key-position defensive standpoint.
The 200-centimetre-tall Victorian possesses the height to play on the AFL's towering forward opponents.ย However, one of Murphy's potential early-career challenges is likely to revolve around a probable strength disadvantage.
The key-position pillar weighs in at just 86 kilograms, culminating in a very slight frame that could be exploited by bigger, seasoned forwards at the next level.
Murphy's aerial talents are difficult to ignore, though, especially as the youngster has experience playing in the forward half and loves to clunk the Sherrin.
While he undoubtedly projects as a developmental project across his first year or two in the league -- irrespective of where he lands -- the 18-year-old could slot into North Melbourne's long-term plans nicely.
