MANY in the football world are almost daring Brad Scott to wield the selection axe this round, but while it's easy to pinpoint the Roos under the pump, it's far harder to identify their replacements.

The Roos' woes are largely due to a misfiring midfield, but in the continued absence of Daniel Wells, Nick Dal Santo and, possibly, skipper Andrew Swallow, their on-ball stocks are hardly overflowing.

North's inability to break into the AFL's upper echelon under Scott can be attributed to many things, but perhaps the biggest factor in the Roos' arrested development has been the lack of progress made by players drafted since 2007.

Scott has shown remarkable faith in the youngsters he inherited after taking over from Dean Laidley at the end of the 2009 season, and in those drafted since.

But after North let a 39-point lead slip against Collingwood last Sunday to fall to 13th on the ladder with a 4-5 record, the question has to be asked: is it time Scott and North's list management team questioned that faith? 

THE MISFIRING A-GRADERS
Midfielders Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington have shown they are A-grade talents at their best, but have failed to hit such heights consistently.

Gut feel suggests Ziebell will get there if he gets the continuity that injuries and suspensions have denied him in the past. When Collingwood piled on nine consecutive goals in the third quarter last Saturday, the joint vice-captain more than anyone tried to stem the tide.

Cunnington's statistics that quarter read well enough – six possessions (three contested), three clearances and three tackles – but, as he has done for much of this year, he struggled to impose himself on the contest as he did so regularly in his 2014 best and fairest year.

Jack Ziebell hasn't shown his best with any consistency. Picture: AFL Media. 

Similarly, defender Scott Thompson is struggling to perform at the elite level he did in 2012-13.

When the game was on the line against the Magpies, Thompson made some uncharacteristic mistakes that ended up costing his team dearly.

North needs its leaders taking charge in these sorts of moments. 

IN NEED OF SOME TOUGH LOVE
We're not for one second doubting the talent of Shaun Atley or Luke McDonald, and fully expect that both will be key members of North's team for a long time to come.

But it's time they were sent to the VFL to regain form and confidence.

Atley has looked a star-in-the-making since his second AFL season in 2012, when his explosive run from half-back gave North's defence an attacking edge it had been lacking.

Atley, then 19, finished fifth in the Roos' best and fairest that year, averaging 18 possessions and impressing all with his scything runs from deep in defence.

But this season – with another three years' experience – Atley is averaging 15 possessions. Tellingly, he is averaging less than one running bounce a game.

Against the Magpies, just three of his 15 possessions were kicks.

Shaun Atley has struggled to replicate his career-best form of three years ago. Picture: AFL Media.

McDonald could scarcely have made a more impressive start to his AFL career last year,but the 20-year-old has displayed strong symptoms of the second-year blues in 2015, with his usually reliable disposal deserting him at crucial stages in games.

McDonald is yet to play a VFL game since debuting for North in round one last year, while Atley has not played there since his debut season, 2011.

Ryan Bastinac spent a few games in the VFL in 2011 when he was returning from a pre-season knee injury, but has not played there since. He was dropped after the Roos' round one belting by Adelaide this season but did not play a VFL game before his recall in round three.

Bastinac has started 2015 in better form after a disappointing 2014, but is not the star midfielder he promised to be when he finished fifth in the Rising Star award five years ago.

If anything, he's gone backwards since he had 44 possessions against Greater Western Sydney in round two, 2012, and backed it up with 26 possessions and four goals the following week against reigning premier Geelong.

Bastinac's form is good enough to retain his spot for now, but if it dips again, North's selectors should not hesitate to give him a spell. 

OUT-OF-FAVOUR BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
When you look at the players spread across North's VFL affiliates, Werribee and North Ballarat, Aaron Mullett and Aaron Black stand out as two who still have a lot to offer the Roos.

Both have stagnated since excellent 2013 seasons – Mullett finished equal fourth in that year's Rising Star award and Black kicked 33 goals in 18 games – but both have qualities North is sorely missing.

Mullett has a bullet-like left foot that would have been invaluable in the error-strewn final minutes of the Magpies' loss.

The 23-year-old is building fitness and form in the VFL after undergoing shoulder surgery in January, but needs to demonstrate he has eradicated the defensive deficiencies that saw him dropped five times in 2014.

Similarly, Black's combination of height (192cm), speed and agility give North's forward line an added dimension it has been lacking this season.

However, the West Australian was a shadow of his 2013 self when he played his one senior game this season, against Hawthorn in round five.

Black is too big a talent not to find form eventually.

The Roos also have high hopes for their first pick in the 2012 draft, Taylor Garner, but he will take time to be AFL-ready after playing his first game in 15 months last weekend following a string of hamstring and hip injuries.

So too Leigh Adams, who returned in the VFL last weekend after finally overcoming lingering side effects from repeated concussions.

Forward/ruckman Majak Daw's VFL form has been outstanding this year, but it is in the midfield and across half-back that North most needs reinforcements.

Ben Jacobs offers the Roos another option across half-back, but he has been unable to cement a regular senior spot despite becoming a more prolific ball-winner in seven games this year. 

Majak Daw hasn't been able to force his way into the side despite solid VFL form. Picture: AFL Media.

ON THE WAY OUT?
In his first two seasons at Arden Street, Kieran Harper looked capable of giving the Roos the X-factor and class they desperately needed through the midfield.

But Harper has not played a senior game since round three, 2013, with a string of ankle injuries and poor form leaving him stranded in the VFL.

The Roos are hopeful Harper can return to form in 2015 given he was moving as well as he has in years late in the pre-season.

However, a knee injury has sidelined him since March and, with his contract set to expire at the end of this year, he faces a race against time to re-establish himself.

North's first pick in the 2011 national draft, Brad McKenzie, is in a similarly precarious position.

The South Australian was one of the best kicks to come out of that year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, but has averaged just 11.6 possessions in 22 senior games with the Roos.

Unless he turns things around dramatically in the second half of 2015, McKenzie is unlikely to get a contract extension.

THE WRIGHT APPROACH
Scott prides himself on being a 'players' coach', but Sam Wright is a good example of how some tough love at the selection table can spark a form revival.

Wright was dropped three times in the first half of last season but has not missed a game since returning in round 16. In that time, he has averaged more than 20 possessions a game and has been North's most reliable kick in its back half.

Although there don't appear to be many Roos in the VFL demanding a senior game, Wright's experience shows that tough love at selection can sometimes be the cattle prod the team needs.