NORTH Melbourne believes it is in a better position to land a big name in the off-season after its impressive 12-win campaign in 2018.
The Roos were tipped by many to be in the bottom four this season but finished ninth on the ladder and only one win out of the finals after their round 23 victory over St Kilda.
The club has been prominent bidders for rival players in recent years without being able to clinch the signature of some of the competition's hottest properties, including Richmond superstar Dustin Martin and Greater Western Sydney gun Josh Kelly last year.
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North has focused on adding to its midfield this off-season and has targeted West Coast's Andrew Gaff and Port Adelaide speedster Jared Polec, while out-of-favour Gold Coast midfielder Aaron Hall has also been linked to Arden Street.
Coach Brad Scott said after the Roos' 23-point win over the Saints that the club was focused on adding support for important midfielders Shaun Higgins and Ben Cunnington.
"A 12-10 season with a percentage of 109, at the start of the year you'd say you were going to play finals with that sort of record. You look back at the 'what ifs?' – we played Gold Coast in round one in a monsoon," Scott said.
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"You look back at all the 'what ifs?' and we as coaches look at what we have to do and we've got to build a better, deeper midfield."
Scott would not comment about his confidence of attaining Polec or Gaff but said the Roos' improved results this season – they doubled their six-win 2017 season – made the sell far easier.
"We've put ourselves in a position over a number of years to be in the market place. As I've said all year I think it's unfair to comment on individuals and particularly given those players are contracted to other clubs at the moment," he said.
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"I won't engage in the commentary around individual players, other than to say to our supporters, as we've seen this year people will build it up as though 'You've got to get one, or else'.
"Or what? Or we play Paul Ahern? Or Will Walker and Luke Davies-Uniacke play a full season? Or our first-round draft pick comes in? We've put ourselves in the position to be in the market place and I'll leave it to the powers that be to get that done.
"Our job this year was to play a style of footy that players thought: 'The Kangaroos are a place I wouldn't mind going'.
"Not too many players in the prime of their career want to go help build or rebuild a struggling club."
The Kangaroos farewelled former Carlton forward Jarrad Waite in the comfortable win over the Saints, with Waite booting three goals to finish with 32 goals from 13 games in his final season.
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Fellow key forward Ben Brown kicked three goals to close the year on 61 goals – four short of Coleman Medal winner Jack Riewoldt.
Scott said the race for the goalkicking award had entered his mind but that Brown was unfussed about the personal honour. The 25-year-old went goalless in the second half.
"It looked good early, I'll have to speak to 'Richo' (Saints coach Alan Richardson), he was a bit of a killjoy for double-teaming him when 'Browny' was on fire," he said.
"A player like Ben Brown is a player you can build a forward line around, but I thought a Coleman Medal would have done justice to his season. He's still an All Australian in my eyes."
Mason Wood injured his hamstring in the first half but the club does not believe it is a serious setback.
