It's been another year of disappointment at Arden Street, as the Kangaroos have seemingly failed to make any major progress toward a potential finals campaign in the near future.
North Melbourne had an active 2024 trade period, targeting a trio of established veterans on the market, namely former Bulldog Caleb Daniel, Swans legend Luke Parker and Eagles key forward Jack Darling, in the hopes that their leadership would fasten the development of their budding young core.
However, that hasn't exactly happened, and while the likes of Harry Sheezel continue to dominate for the royal blue and white, there are certainly some key areas that need strengthening.
We take a look at five trade and free agency targets for North Melbourne to consider this year.
2Jake Lever
North Melbourne has reportedly already begun weighing up a potential move for contracted Melbourne premiership player Jake Lever in a bid to bolster its leadership at Arden Street.
Despite being locked away at Melbourne until 2028, Lever could request an exit this off-season after a nightmare season at the Demons, which has seen him dropped and his premiership coach sacked.
North Melbourne would be landing an elite intercept defender to dramatically strengthen their backline, with Lever ranking in at least the top 15 for intercept possessions per game in the AFL between 2020-2024. In that same time, North Melbourne has ranked either 17th or 18th in intercept possessions each season, highlighting how impactful Lever could be, even in the twilight years of his career.
