The club's 11-point win over Collingwood on Sunday pushed the Kangaroos into 10th position on the ladder – leaving them with selection eight at November's NAB AFL Draft.
Under the father-son bidding system, the Roos will nominate the talented McDonald, son of former player and current chief of football Donald.
But if a club with a top-seven selection bids on the 18-year-old, North will have to match it with its first draft pick if they want to recruit him.
It is believed at least two clubs inside the opening seven selections will strongly consider making a first-round bid on McDonald, who has spent a year training at North Melbourne and playing with the club's VFL affiliate side Werribee.
If a club which holds a selection after North's No.8 pick bids on McDonald, North would be able to use its second draft pick (approximately pick 26) to secure the talented half-back.
Most recruiters believe McDonald to be worth at least a top-10 pick, with many suggesting he is one of the best five or six players in this year's draft.
Last weekend, he had 26 disposals, 11 inside-50s and kicked a goal in Werribee's elimination final win over Essendon.
He captained Vic Metro through this year's under-18 championships, having also starred for the side in 2012 as a 17-year-old.
Click here to read AFL.com.au's updated phantom draft guide
With Essendon and Adelaide's expulsion from the first two rounds of this year's draft, the first round has taken a different shape to recent seasons.
Greater Western Sydney holds the first selection and will also have a mid-first round compensation pick, which will fall at selection nine. Gold Coast has activated one of its end-of-first round picks as well.
The first nine selections of the draft are now wedded to clubs ahead of the trade period, with the positions 10-17 to be decided based on the finals.
Compensation picks for clubs that lose free agents may also be awarded, which could change the draft order.
DRAFT ORDER (Picks 1-9 confirmed, 10-17 to be determined by finals placings)
1. Greater Western Sydney
2. Melbourne
3. St Kilda
4. Western Bulldogs
5. Gold Coast
6. West Coast
7. Brisbane Lions
8. North Melbourne
9. Greater Western Sydney (activated compensation pick)
10. Eighth-placed team after finals
11. Seventh-placed team after finals
12. Sixth-placed team after finals
13. Fifth-placed team after finals
14. Fourth-placed team after finals
15. Third-placed team after finals
16. Runners-up
17. Premiers
18. Gold Coast (activated compensation pick)
Twitter: @AFL_CalTwomey
