Picks: 9, 27, 43, 59, 71
Departures:
Leigh Brown, Ben Davies, Shannon Grant, Blake Grima, Alan Obst (rookie), Eddie Sansbury, Jess Sinclair, Nathan Thompson, James Wilsen (rookie)
Where’s the club at?
North made the finals for the second time in as many seasons in 2008, but suffered a straight exit at the hands of the Sydney Swans. The competition's form team for six weeks, the Roos looked shaky at other stages with players sidelined. Sinclair missed most of the year, however, the retirement of regulars Grant and Thompson means at least two developing players need to step up. Who they are and whether they can will have some bearing on the club's September chances, but avoiding injuries to their best 18 is crucial.
Needs:
Almost 900 games' experience was lost in list changes and the squad will get younger again in the coming weeks. Kids picked need to be close to match-ready, rather than requiring development time given to Gavin Urquhart, Todd Goldstein, Ben Warren, Robbie Tarrant and Levi Greenwood. In fairness, the latter pair has battled injuries. North's first selection (No. 9) and possibly second (27) should be used on midfielders, who can be groomed by senior teammates Adam Simpson, Brent Harvey and Brady Rawlings. There are still glaring vacancies in the key positions – Tarrant will fill one soon, Josh Smith will get more game-time and Nathan Grima and Michael Wundke have been elevated, but another should be taken as insurance. Ruckmen? Not a must.
Recent drafts:
The Roos historically net a handy cross-section of players. They took Tarrant, a forward prospect, with their first pick (No. 15) in 2007. Glenn Archer-style defender Greenwood was next (32) and Dean Laidley still has the pair up his sleeve. Mature age talls Scott Thompson (37) and Smith (62) rounded out the additions, while Blake Grima (72) was given another chance. Small forward Ben Ross landed via the pre-season draft. Key position player Lachlan Hansen was the Roos' first selection (No. 3) in 2006 and is primed for a full season.
Chance of taking recycled players:
Reasonable. Laidley has done it regularly, reclaiming Daniel Pratt (Brisbane Lions) in 2004, and opting for ex-Eagles Kasey Green and Aaron Edwards in 2005 and 2006 – though Edwards had spent a season in the VFL. Full-back Nathan Carroll, cut by the Dees, is looking for a new home and second-tier players including dumped Saint Charlie Gardiner could also fit. Younger midfield-types Jace Bode (Melbourne) and Jason Davenport (Geelong) are roughies. Discarded rookie Obst is still training with the Roos.
What chief of football Donald McDonald says:
"Our recruiters are putting them (potential draftees) in an order of preference. Once they get to the draft, it'll just be a matter of sitting there and calling out the names as they present themselves. They've gone through an exhaustive process so they'll be really clear in their minds as to who they want. I think that's all that matters. We'll use all of our picks in the national draft. The only reason that will change is if they got to that fifth pick and felt that we might let a pick go through to the pre-season [draft]."
We say:
Recruiting manager Bryce Lewis, overseeing his first draft, will be hoping one of the players expected to figure in a settling top eight slips through to nine. That could be Hamish Hartlett or Jack Ziebell, both midfielders, but utility Steele Sidebottom and forward target Lewis Johnston are closer to likely. Even if North gets a midfielder with its first pick, it may go for another in the second round – depending upon what key position players are still about. Jayden Post and Mitch Brown – a bolter from Sandringham Dragons – might be chances, while Dan Hannebery, Luke Shuey and Sam Wright are among a clutch of highly-rated midfielders expected to be around the mark at North's No. 27 selection.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
