The views in this article are those of the author and not those of the North Melbourne Football Club.

Leigh Adams: Knew it was his make-or-break year and delivered. Had to work hard to return from a mid-season hamstring injury, but did enough to suggest he can cut it with workmanlike efforts in the midfield.

Liam Anthony: Looked ominous before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in round seven. Had continued to surprise with his ball-winning ability, with the side also missing his outside running. Has re-signed for two years.

Ryan Bastinac: Should figure in the NAB AFL Rising Star award after playing every game in a superb debut season. Became a key player at stoppages, showing he can attack and negate. Great reader of the ball and very popular with the coaches.

Warren Benjamin: Struggled at times at VFL level and was even dropped to North Ballarat's reserves. Has the physical attributes to succeed but would be lucky to earn a third year on the list.

Aaron Black: Dogged by injury in his first year but has enormous upside and has adjusted well to the move from WA. Could push for regular opportunities as a key forward in 2011 despite minimal VFL experience.

Matt Campbell: Frustrating year for the small forward, who was expected to spend more time in the midfield. Showed glimpses of his trademark burst, but struggled to win the football. Defensive pressure is a strength.

Ben Cunnington: Rebounded from a pre-season foot injury for a round-five debut and held his place. Lacks pace but is hard at the contests and clearances and has huge capacity to learn. Could become a handy option at half-forward.

Majak Daw*: Was always going to be a development year for the Sudanese key position prospect, despite the hype. Yet to play regularly at senior VFL level, but his skills and game sense have clearly improved. Nice kick.

Luke Delaney*: Has the size and strength needed to become an AFL full-back, and may have been given an opportunity if he didn't break his wrist in May. Should be elevated to the senior list for 2011.

Aaron Edwards: Worked harder in games to have a greater impact outside the forward 50, though his best football came closer to goal. Too small for a key position but remains the side's best marking target. Clearly has a future.

Michael Firrito: Looked far more comfortable in his return to defence after a disappointing 2009 and should push for top five in the best and fairest. So important to team structure with his rebound and grunt.

Cruize Garlett: May have hoped to play more than 11 games after a strong finish to 2009, but had his share of injuries. Clean at the stoppages, he can win a lot of the ball but also goes missing. Better suited to the midfield than forward line.

Todd Goldstein: Would have been granted another development year but was one of the season's biggest success stories. Formed a damaging ruck combination with Hamish McIntosh and caused opponents some headaches in the forward line. Tap work is first class.

Levi Greenwood: Midfield presence takes some heat off Andrew Swallow, and is becoming a better user of the ball after relying on the physical side of his game. Kicked the winning goal against the Brisbane Lions in round 11.

Nathan Grima: Has become the club's most important defender. Composed under pressure and with a huge engine, he rarely wastes a ball. North lost the five games he missed with injuries this season.

David Hale: Struggled to rebound from a disappointing 2009, though he kicked 17 goals in the first seven rounds. Suffered a back injury and was then dropped to the VFL, where he played well in the ruck. Has two years to run on his contract but may be on the trade table.

Lachlan Hansen: Spent the first half of the season in defence, but should now focus on a forward role. A strong contested mark, he kicked five goals against Port Adelaide and bags of four on two other occasions. Having just turned 22, Hansen shapes as a star of the future.

Leigh Harding: Touch and go as to whether he deserves a new contract. Unique in that he can play in the forward line, midfield or defence, but struggled to reproduce his form of the last two seasons. Spent time in the VFL.

Brent Harvey: Reached the 300-game milestone with no signs of slowing down. Will push for his fifth Syd Barker Medal. Continues to grow as a leader.

Corey Jones: Was overtaken by teammates and cut back on his club commitments with the understanding it would be his last season. Deserved to play more than two games after dominating at VFL level.

Ayden Kennedy: Highly-regarded key position prospect whose first season was marred by a foot stress fracture. Had a promising finish to the year with Werribee's reserves side.

Ed Lower: Fractured his leg during the pre-season and had to wait until round 11 for a recall. Natural aggression bolstered a young midfield until he missed the last four weeks with a broken collarbone. Future seems safe.

Jamie Macmillan: Did well to break into a settled defence for four games, and should be equally pleased with his performances for struggling Werribee. Capable of playing a full AFL season in 2011.

Hamish McIntosh: Flirted with his form of 2007 but lacked the consistency needed in the No.1 role. Strong overhead, has a good engine and can do damage in the forward line. Finished the season well. Just needs to get angry.

Scott McMahon: Seemed to carry niggles which prevented him from bettering his 2009 season. Again showed again he can play on taller and smaller forwards. Generally makes good decisions.

Conor Meredith*: Solid contributor in Werribee's reserves but had limited impact when elevated to the senior VFL team. Unlikely to be retained after two years on the rookie list.

Brayden Norris: Was on the verge of being named for a late AFL debut after a string of strong performances for North Ballarat. Probably had a better year than expected. Needs to add more size but has a huge tank.

Nathan O'Keefe: Overcame a pre-season bout of glandular fever to earn an AFL debut in round nine, and held his place for a second game. Can expect regular opportunities in 2011 if his recent development is anything to go by.

Alan Obst*: True depth player. Did not add to his five AFL games and, at 23, may have run out of time. Regularly in Werribee's best.

Drew Petrie: Year to forget for the club's most important player. Broke his left foot before the season started and suffered the same injury to his right foot in two failed comebacks. Left a gaping hole in the forward line.

Daniel Pratt: Looked like he was on the outer before getting the call-up in round eight. Certainly plays his part in the backline but is vulnerable to those youngsters pushing for selection.

Brady Rawlings: Proud clubman who produced another excellent season. Had the high-possession pressure role of rebounding from the backline, but can also shut an opponent completely out of the game. See Stephen Hill in round 19.

Ben Ross: Started in the side and played two games before a nagging hip injury killed his season. Still only 21 and contracted for next year but some of his teammates, including Leigh Adams and Cruize Garlett, have gone past him.

Matthew Scott*: A development year for the last player taken by North from the 2009 pool. Dominated for Werribee reserves but took some time to find his feet in its senior side.

Josh Smith: Looked OK in four AFL games but didn't do enough to keep his spot. Shifted from the forward line to defence at North Ballarat to strengthen his prospects. Could be moved on though he still has something to offer.

Ben Speight*: Broke his jaw in the VFL soon after his elevation to North's senior list. Played two AFL games late in the season but fractured his clavicle when he returned to Werribee. Deserved better.

Andrew Swallow: Proved last year's best and fairest award was no fluke. Took his influence on games to another level and should now be considered an elite midfielder. Reliable in front of goal and the competition's No.1 tackler. Captaincy material.

Robbie Tarrant: Ended a horror of run of shoulder injuries with a reasonable year in defence for Werribee. Made his awaited AFL debut in round 15 but broke his thumb a week later. Still worth a shot as a forward at senior level.

Lindsay Thomas: Breakout season was eventually spoiled by a knee injury. Bettered a five-goal performance against Fremantle with seven against Carlton. Consistency is still his biggest obstacle.

Scott Thompson: Often looked overwhelmed at full-back, with his better performances coming against smaller opponents. Round-nine altercation with Barry Hall encouraged him to pull back on his niggling and focus more on his game. Disposal could be better.

Gavin Urquhart: Disappointed when he could have moved from half-back into the midfield. Drifted in and out of the senior side even when he wasn't injured. Must repay the club's faith in his fifth season.

Ben Warren: Played 16 games in a promising campaign, but was twice dropped to the VFL. Is certainly capable of playing at the level, but needs to be more than a support act in the forward line. Lacks nothing in hardness.

Daniel Wells: Won his 2009 battle with osteitis pubis to recapture some of his best form. Spent the early part of the season as a forward before shifting into the midfield. Classy delivery made him a weapon at half-back too. Priority is to now re-sign him.

Marcus White*: Thrived as a tagger with VFL affiliate North Ballarat and was promoted for a round 18 debut. Seemed to struggle with the tempo of his two games but would be hungrier for the experience.

Sam Wright: Moved closer to goal as the season unfolded, but could still be groomed as a running half-back. Has grown in confidence with his overhead marking his biggest strength. Kicked 12 goals in four weeks to earn the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for round 21.

Jack Ziebell: Kept from delivering on his potential after breaking his leg for the second time in two seasons. Looked good in patches until round 14, but could build on the attacking side of his game. Fear not: it will come together for him.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.