The holes in every club’s list ahead of the AFL Draft

As a team that has committed to a tortoise-type rebuild, locating logical holes in North Melbourne’s list isn’t exactly a challenge.

However, lambasting the Arden Street side for this course of action, or its current outcomes, is completely misguided.

While David Noble's first year saw the wooden spoon land in the Kangaroos' pouches for the first time since the early 70s, an outcome of this sort was never going to surprise anyone that was conscious for the opening half of 2021.

Though the quantifiable lowlights outweighed some impressive highlights across the course of the club's 152nd season, the mantra from within the four-walls could well have been Ted Lasso-esque, in that success probably shouldn't have been measured by the wins and losses column.

After ceremoniously severing ties with 11 players at the end of 2020, the Shinboners showed the footballing world their cards and revealed that their plays at the next handful of pots would be made without consistently holding aces.

And while none of the departing names that included the likes of Daw, Macmillan, Pittard, Wood, and Williams could ever be misconstrued as elite-level talents, the fact that they were replaced by less experienced quantities was sure to stunt their competitiveness in the short term.

Still, as their fleet of picks and trades shored up vital positions with brighter talents, this public cull looks as though it will pay strong dividends across the board.

By bringing in names such as Stephenson, Corr, Phillips, and Powell, the Roos made plays to tighten up their defensive unit and an engine room that already contained the key talents of Cunnington, Ziebell, Hall, McKay, Simpkin, Davies-Uniake, Anderson, and Thomas.

Though this approach has allowed blue and white backers to see what the future holds across the middle and back thirds of the ground, Noble's forward line is still far from the finished article.

While some may argue an offensive unit led by twinned spearheads Nick Larkey and Charlie Comben has the potential to provide a sustained return to glory, with just one outing ever produced between the pair, it's probably a tad early to be popping corks just yet.

This isn't to say the pair, along with Cameron Zurhaar, won't fill these offensive roles for the next decade and change, but given that North only managed to produce 210 goals across their 22 outings - the second least in the league - the microscope must remain fixed inside forward 50.

As the finish line for this rebuild remains out of sight, it is tough to know how many current names will still be on the club's roster when a fifth flag is unfurled over Errol Street.

But irrespective of our lack of crystal ball, the Roos' forward 50 set-up still requires beefing up.

Whether GM Brady Rawlings decides to attack a gun prospect at this year's draft or to continue rolling the dice elsewhere is a choice I'm not privy to.

Still, as Noble's public admission that his squad required further forward line aid earlier this year, it shouldn't shock any Roo boys or girls if a series of your club's selections this November are used on players that are brought in to kick goals.

Some saw fit to chastise North Melbourne for their decision to opt against selecting Logan McDonald during last year's draft, but irrespective of the Western Australian's ability, the side that lodged themselves in the competition's cellar this season should be commended for their narrowed approach to adding young talent.

The side whose September drought is likely to extend into a sixth season in 2022 has a plan for a prolonged return to prominence and should be afforded an unimpeded right to implement it.

And despite holding no allegiance towards the club, I am still excited by the prospect of what such a young offence can produce with another summer of training and bonding under their belts.